I'm trying to sell my mother's house. She passed away last year. She had a lot of cats (11 at one time)and they really ruined the inside. In some places the rugs are brown and stiff with cat pee. I've tried scrubbing the rugs with Pine Sol, Oxy Clean, orange cleaner, Febreze and sprinkling with Arm & Hammer Pet Oder Control powder, or any combination of these. Nothing works. I am now being harassed by the realty brokerage handling the house to get the odor out even if I have to hire a professional cleaning service because several people that came to look complained about the smell. I hesitate to spend money on this service or buying new carpets as there are still 4 cats in the house and they keep soiling the carpets even though I put 6 litter boxes in the house. I like the cats, though, and don't want to get rid of them. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Take the carpet out. Then paint the floor (if it is plywood or particle board) with porch paint. You will be rid of the odor. The paint is easy to clean. Then you can give a carpet allowance to anyone that buys.

I agree with removing the carpet and painting the floors. Even professionals would have a major challenge to try and salvage the carpets at this point, and as you said, it would likely be a recurring problem.

With that many cats making the carpets their litter box, not only should you remove the carpet, but you very probably will have to replace the sub-floors as well. I had a home listed with a cat doing her buisness in the DR. When carpet was pulled up, the padding was still wet, and the sub-floors had crystalized and started to disintegrate.
Cat smell and damage is a major turnoff to buyers, and I don't blame them. Since your mom passed away, why don't you give the remaining cats to new homes? If you go to all the work of correcting the damage already done, what assurances do you have these cats won't start all over again. I guess what you do depends on how badly you need to sell the house. Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by babie boomah:
I'm trying to sell my mother's house. She passed away last year. She had a lot of cats (11 at one time)and they really ruined the inside. In some places the rugs are brown and stiff with cat pee. I've tried scrubbing the rugs with Pine Sol, Oxy Clean, orange cleaner, Febreze and sprinkling with Arm & Hammer Pet Oder Control powder, or any combination of these. Nothing works. I am now being harassed by the realty brokerage handling the house to get the odor out even if I have to hire a professional cleaning service because several people that came to look complained about the smell. I hesitate to spend money on this service or buying new carpets as there are still 4 cats in the house and they keep soiling the carpets even though I put 6 litter boxes in the house. I like the cats, though, and don't want to get rid of them. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Nature's Miracle is a product to try. It costs about $20+/gallon but you should be able to find it at a pet store.

I like the idea of tearing up the carpeting, though. Unless you have a professional come clean it, you're probably better off replacing it or better yet, replacing it with tile or laminate.

Is it possible to keep the kitties off the carpeted area by confining them to a different area? We had such a problem with kitties peeing in places other than the litter pan that we had a sunroom built to house the "peers."

Are you going to take the kitties to your own home?

I agree about removing the cats from the house or your problem will never go away. I like the idea of painting the subfloor that might trap the odor beneath the paint. However I will tell you when I was looking at buying a home two years ago my realtor took me to one house that had brand new berber carpet with a thick pad, completely empty house and the walls were freshly painted my eyes started to water from the stench of cat urine as soon as I walked in. I asked her if a cat was in the house she said no they took the cat when they moved and put new carpets in and painted after they moved, the stench didn't leave the house even though they painted and put down new carpet so I think mamaspoon may be right in the subfloor probably had to be removed, I don't know if painting the subfloor would have made the smell go away before they recarpeted. The house sat on the market for almost 2 years with the owners constantly dropping the price it finally sold a few months ago (the house is down the street from me) and it's now back on the market I wonder if the smell ever went away. Normally I'd tell you to hide bowls of vinegar and separate bowls of baking soda under furniture (I do this to keep the smell of smoke down in the house I smoke in the house and I don't' want my non smoking friends offended by the smell if they come over, it works as I've asked them if the house smells of smoke and trust me they would definitely say if it did, I also wash my curtains every two weeks, wash the windows once a month etc however I doubt even that will help cover up the smell of cats).

on another network it wa claimed the vleanup crew had successfully obliterated the stench of overflowing cat boxes by saturating the bare floor with distilled vinegar, allowed that to dry then applied an enzyme cleaning agent.

Addotionly,I'd open the windows & doors to air out the house; before the house is loked up for security, sprinkle borac powder on the floors and place bowls of baking soda in every room.
I'd try that but do NOT overlook areas (WALLS) where cats may have sprayed urine.

cat urine, uggg. you have my sympathy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tessa89,

The first thing I thought of too was to remove all carpets and drapes. Urine is very strong and it seeps into wood eventually (wood floors). You have to really get rid of things that might be carrying the cat odor (like rugs, curtains, COUCHES, pillows, etc.)
After you have the house professionally cleaned (It's worth it, don't U want to sell the house???) DO NOT BRING THE 4 CATS BACK INTO the house. Give them to friends, co-workers, or put ads in the paper. I'm very sorry and I love my own 2 cats very much, but 11 cats were alot and the house probably reeks to high heaven. I am soooo sorry on the loss of your dear mother and I understand your dilemma, but getting rid of the existing cats is the only way the house will smell nice and clean and you'll be able to SELL IT. Good Luck!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Waverider ;),

I agree with others, the carpet has got to go. There really is no other choice. Carpet soaked urine won't even allow potential homebuyers to even imagine themselves in the home or concentrate on any of the home's good points.

Sorry, I'm sure you were hoping to hear something that involved less work. I know I would be.

I actually have found that with my own allergies along with having pets (who do not urinate in the house) that I'm better off with as little carpeting as possible and hardwoods instead. Of course, pets that urinate indoors will also ruin hardwoods, so that is the real issue that needs to be tackled first.

There is not an easy solution to this problem. I know you are looking for one.

I would remove the house from the market first of all until the problems have been addressed and fixed.

All carpets will Have to be removed.No getting around that.
Subflooring will have to be removed and replaced if it is wood and the cat urine seeped through which it sounds like it has.
If it's concrete that has to be scrubbed with something like Nature's Miracle too.

All drapes and upholstery probably need to be removed ar at the least professionaly cleaned. the odor has seeped into the textiles.It's quite possible the cats soiled them also.

Ductwork should be cleaned professionaly; cat hair and odors have seeped into the ductwork too.

I*'d remove the remaing cats if you are serious about selling.
Aren't they going to have to be removed once the house sells.
That many cats in the house at one time leads me to believe their could have been some health problems that happen when too many cats live together.Even 4 is a lot; may not seem like it to you but it is.

I'd give the house a thorough professional cleaning before it was put on the market again.
Not only is cat urine a turn off to buyers but cat hair can be an allergen to prospective buyers.
Why would you want to limit your pool of buyers?

You can continue to try it your way and be "harrased" by the realtors or do what needs to be done to make the house habitable for a future buyer. it's your choice.

Another vote for getting rid of the carpet.
But any replacement must come after ridding the rooms of the smell.
Before going to too much expense, try the old-fashioned way; vinegar.
Vinegar just about kills most any smell and should prevent the cats from going back to the same place.

If you don't wish to replace the carpet, there are stores that sell remnants; pieces of carpet that has been cut from larger ordered broadloom.
Even if you have to replace the underpad or even the underfloor, the expense will be returned in a quick sale of the house.

In the meantime there are air fresheners that you plug into wall sockets and do a very good job of cleaning the air. 1/2 and 1/2 vinegar and water can be sprayed into the room to rid the obnoxious smells.

I guess you have to be cat lover to appreciate your mother's wish to have so many cats.
For future prospects looking at the house why not take the 4 cats outside and away from the house. At least the evidence of why he or she lifts her nose isn't so obvious.

Thanks for all the advice. I get a consensus of opinion:
1) take up the old carpet
2) clean anything else that might absorb odors like upholstery and drapes
3) clean wooden floor with a 1:1 vinegar solution (I hope hardwood can take this)
4) remove cat's presence from the house

I have contacted a local animal benevolent association to seek advice on what to do with the cats, a least the 2 dirtiest ones, which also happen to be the 2 oldest ones which my mom took in when her mother passed away 10 years ago. My grandmas house was so filthy, from those cats that you couldn't put your foot down without stepping in "something." I guess they were never litter trained. I have yet to hear back from the benevolent assn. I can always have the 2 older cats euthanized. I just hate the idea of giving them to someone that will mistreat or neglect them after they see what the cats do to their house.

Part of the problem with pets - they will go where the odor is. Until you completely remove teh odor it will continue to attract the cats to use that spot.

I hope you are learning a good lesson now and not continuing the family tradition.

I walked into a house with the real estate agent. We took just 5 steps in and HAD to leave. I wasn't sure if the animals hadn't come to some other demise with the odor.

Definitely take the house off the market because it will leave a negative impression until the odor can be removed.

babieboombah, you sound like a very kind and responsible person. My heart goes out to you not only because of the loss of your mom but because you are having to deal with the legacy she left behind. Instead of it being a walk down memory lane, you have a big job ahead of you. Glad to see you found some workable solutions here on these boards. I have a sweet but old kitty and I would hate to put him down but I know it will probably reach that point at some time. I know your mother would appreciate your efforts to make decisions in the best interests of her/your grandma's former pets. I wish you well in your sweet smelling future!

Having a dog that thinks skunks are fun toys I've had some experience with bad smells in my house. Frankly, I'm gratefully unaware of the particular scent of free range housecats. I have a couple of ideas. There is a recipe on the web, I'll try to find it for you, that includes hydrogen peroxide, soap...I don't want to lead you down the wrong road here. It's for skunk. Nuff said.
Ground coffee is a great odor absorber and masker. Get the packages prewrapped in their filters and put them everywhere...under things, all over any suface. I rub them on the dog, too, so if the cats are smelly...
I bought these great solid air fresheners at Target called Citrus Magic for my "doggy" car and withing an hour my car smelled clean, not perfumy, so I keep them on hand. They are shaped like a large hockey puck...you pull back the label and let it do it's job.
These are things that have worked for me. Good luck to you.

I just wanted to add a vote to use Nature's Miracle for cleaning the odors, whether you apply it to the carpet, pad, or foundation. I used it in a room on the concrete foundation, before putting down new flooring, and I haven't smelled anything (of course, I'm not a cat).

Recently, I had two bottles of the stuff in a cabinet that I was cleaning out. I pulled back the carpet and poured it onto the pad. And I mean poured. It has stunk for years, and now I walk in there and there is no smell. Of course, the carpet needs to be re-stretched if we were going to leave it (it is in a breakfast nook and really needs to be replaced with tile - who carpets a breakfast nook???).

I looked into giving our cat away. There isn't anyone to take them. As the vet put it (she was great, talking to me on the phone for half an hour while I cried), if you don't want the cat because he pees on the carpet and you love him, why would someone else who has no history with him want him? I was ready to euthanize, and he wasn't even that old. The vet said that she would put him outside before euthanizing, so now he lives in the back yard. Like a dog. He doesn't go outside the fence.

I'm sorry for your loss. Good luck on selling the house.

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Originally posted by Melbourne:
babieboombah, you sound like a very kind and responsible person. My heart goes out to you not only because of the loss of your mom but because you are having to deal with the legacy she left behind. Instead of it being a walk down memory lane, you have a big job ahead of you. Glad to see you found some workable solutions here on these boards. I have a sweet but old kitty and I would hate to put him down but I know it will probably reach that point at some time. I know your mother would appreciate your efforts to make decisions in the best interests of her/your grandma's former pets. I wish you well in your sweet smelling future!

I agree. And, I applaude you for being responsible and trying to make sure the cat's end up in safe hands.

Keep us posted about the house. I have my home on the market right now and it's no fun, I can tell you that. (5 weeks now)

quote:

I was ready to euthanize, and he wasn't even that old. The vet said that she would put him outside before euthanizing, so now he lives in the back yard. Like a dog. He doesn't go outside the fence.

What a kind sweet vet you have. She's definitely a "keeper". I hate when doctors suggest euthanizing right away.
When I go to work, I always pass this house. On the front porch are 3 wooden boxes with a hole in them on the side They are "cat boxes" and a terrific solution for cats that insist on going outside, but can be taken care of and watched over by providing those boxes right on the front porch. (not on the front porch while the house IS ON THE MARKET!!!) I think that is a TERRIFIC IDEA for the remaining cats. Let them live outside, but provide a 'shelter' for them if you live in a 'cold state' with brutal winters. That's a good idea. The cat will always stay nearby if you continue to feed it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Waverider ;),

Dealing with unpleasant pet smells can be quite annoying. It all depends on the degree of the problem. Vinegar can work. Or a urine neutralizer from the pet shop. If this doesn’t work, you may have to call a professional cleanup crew to get the odor under control and keep it from spreading.

If you bring the cats back (not a good idea) after removing the carpet, do NOT put down tile. The urine will get into the seams. The best bet would be to not return the cats. Are the cats young enough to be box trained? If not, you will have a problem with them no matter where they go.

I know about the tile problem, I am buying a house for 30k under the assessed value because of pet smells from them using the basement rather than the yard or cat box. I will have the expense of cleaning the smell, and sanitizing the basement.

BTW anyone know the ratio of bleach to water for sanitizing?

quote:

Originally posted by kjstrouble:
If you bring the cats back (not a good idea) after removing the carpet, do NOT put down tile. The urine will get into the seams. The best bet would be to not return the cats. Are the cats young enough to be box trained? If not, you will have a problem with them no matter where they go.

I know about the tile problem, I am buying a house for 30k under the assessed value because of pet smells from them using the basement rather than the yard or cat box. I will have the expense of cleaning the smell, and sanitizing the basement.

BTW anyone know the ratio of bleach to water for sanitizing?

If you put down tile, seal the grout first.

For some reason, 30 to 1 keeps coming into my mind for bleach.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Charcoalsmom,

As a former neighbor of a woman that kept cats outside, I DON'T think it's a great idea. Why should everyone else have to deal with them?

sadly I too am afraid you are going to have to remove the carpet and the underflooring. and check other places too. My mother's cat used to "go" on the kitchen counter and it soaked into a seam and the whole countertop AND the cabinet underneath had to be removed.

The smell is in every single soft surface whether they went there or not. if there is wallpaper to be honest that probably will ned to be removed as well.

if the house is worth it, you will need to strip to the subfloor and possibly the wallboard.

The cats have to go.. they are too old and ill to change now and they will not stop pe*ing where they have been.

Beyond animal benevolent places I would make sure the vet checks them out, makes sure they arent ill, then put up ads etc looking for new homes that can care for an untrained cat.

if the house isnt worth it, sell it fast at a lowball price to someone experienced in flipping.

If the house is worth selling as a liveable structure, take it off the market and dont even try to sell it until real estate agents respond to it ONLY positively..

take it off the market, do the basic stuff yourself, (remove carpet and drapes etc) and then hire a professional cleaner.

oh and wear safety gear including masks.