I Know This Is A Dog Forum But..

[mr.mister]

We came home from easter camping to find someone had marked their territory through the flyscreen and onto our front door. It seems to be kind of oily and has stained, and smells downright awful when you walk into the house. I originally thought it was a dog but now am leaning more toward cat spray. I can't quite discern the smell.

Does anyone have any tips for removal of this kind of stuff? Not only does it smell bad but it has put a large dark stain on the flyscreen. I would also like to deter whoever it was from leaving their calling card again.

I'd prefer to start off with to use more natural ingredients but if all else fails will go out and purchase a recommended urine-off type product.

ETA: The entire dog next door tends to dig holes under the fence to get into our property, but we also have a wandering kitty who has helped himself into the house when we've accidentally left the flyscreen open, so I have a couple of culprits in mind.

Edited April 5, 2010 by alexhegyesi

[persephone]

Sounds like tomcat pee I can't help, really- sorry.

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

Not sure about cat urine, for skunks (when we lived in the US) we used tomato juice, it was the only way to get rid of the putrid smell.

To deter perhaps use Possoff (for possums).

[cashew]

I tried with vinegar once. I think it sort of worked because I really really washed and cleaned my flyscreen then. But the cat kept appearing to re-spray..it was a huge battle I had for months...awful experience.

[mr.mister]

hmmm... it's not sounding too promising then

i'll try your suggestions and keep looking around. thanks!

[Red Fox]

Yep, sounds like cat pee. We had a tom cat that used to pee on my back flyscreen years ago. We scrubbed it with bleach and then get the hose onto it. Though we eventually did replace the flyscreen which was fairly cheap and easy to do.

[grace]

We get tom cats spraying round here on occasions and have found white vinegar gets rid of the smell.

[oakway]

Vinegar or bleach use full strength.

[jemappelle]

Cats like the smell of bleach so it will attract them back so best not to use it. Urine Off is great and so was Bio Zet but I believe it has changed its formula so not so good any more.

[kirst_goldens]

i would say something like urine off as it also works as a deterent not just a cleaner another product is called Piss Off but that is just an odour absorber i would say go try catworld - its a forum but it is filled with breeders who own male entire cats and would have some really good ideas and some nice natural deterants as well rather then spending a small fortune on these mentioned

[Whippetsmum]

Charming cat!!

Definately don't use anything with ammonia, or it will attract them to remark the area. Hopefully the door was well sealed an it hasn't soaked into the wood!

I know that cat pee is really difficult, for the hard surfaces, if it were me, I'd go for something enzyme based. Enzymes breaks down the protein that cause the stink. When my old cat peed on something, I usually used washing detergent with "enzyme based" on the label, I have also used a carpet cleaner solution with enzymes (Bissell pet stain and odour removal for carpets) to clean up the laundry floor (tiled) when she had an accident. When the dog marked all over the concrete after a visit from mum's dog, I used a bucket of laundry soaker that had enzymes, making sure it is colour safe and not bleach based. The reason why people suggest vinegar is that proteins are denatured (broken down) by acids and theres a type of acid in vinegar.

For the screen, replace the mesh, it costs only a couple of bucks to replace the flyscreen mesh, pop into Bunnings and get some screen and the little roller tool that you need.

[mr.mister]

Charming cat!!

Definately don't use anything with ammonia, or it will attract them to remark the area. Hopefully the door was well sealed an it hasn't soaked into the wood!

I know that cat pee is really difficult, for the hard surfaces, if it were me, I'd go for something enzyme based. Enzymes breaks down the protein that cause the stink. When my old cat peed on something, I usually used washing detergent with "enzyme based" on the label, I have also used a carpet cleaner solution with enzymes (Bissell pet stain and odour removal for carpets) to clean up the laundry floor (tiled) when she had an accident. When the dog marked all over the concrete after a visit from mum's dog, I used a bucket of laundry soaker that had enzymes, making sure it is colour safe and not bleach based. The reason why people suggest vinegar is that proteins are denatured (broken down) by acids and theres a type of acid in vinegar.

For the screen, replace the mesh, it costs only a couple of bucks to replace the flyscreen mesh, pop into Bunnings and get some screen and the little roller tool that you need.

Yes, he's very sweet and friendly.. the times he's snuck into the house he has been very nice - but obviously he's getting a bit to at home here!

Thanks (and everyone else) I will definately give vinegar a go... maybe tomato juice too? If that doesn't work I'll look into other products.

Unfortunately, this house is a rental and and old one at that - the flyscreen door I think is about 50-60 years old and is actually made out of metal weave rather than that thin stuff you can get. Not sure if the landlords would appreciate me sawing into it.

[Tim'sMum]

It's easy to change the flyscreen on any screen door, even old ones. You shouldn't need to saw into it....just pull out the tubing that holds the screen in and replace the lot, screen and tubing.

Vinegar is pretty good on tom-cat pee....or dog if that is the case.

Tom-cat pee has a very distinctive smell, far worse than dog pee.

[CrazyCresties]

When I had 3 cats I had the occasional issue with spraying! I tried Urine Off for a while, but while it stopped the smell to my nose, it didn't seem to deter the odd spray in a particular spot. I tried Urine Oust, which I believe is now called Urine Free, and it made a marked difference to spraying - it pretty much stopped all together

http://shop.urinefree.com.au/

[~*Shell*~]

I just used vinegar on ours when it used to get marked. Then I sprayed a little citronella on it to stop the cat from wanting to re-mark it, though I've heard lemon juice works too. He never came back after I sprayed it!

[mr.mister]

thanks everyone! ;)

I should explain that the flyscreen door - the actual mesh- is actually some sort of cast metal rather than a pliable mesh - that is soldered on as part of the door.

[Turkey Trip]

Had exactly the same problem repeatedly with a neighbour's cat, eventually cleaned it up with Martha Gardner's Wool Wash and hosed off thoroughly. Then sprayed screen door, doorstep and all over the main door base with Aerogard insect repellent. (Cats HATE Aerogard).

Never saw cat again for months - then he tried it one more time, repeated the above with extra lashings of Aerogard on porch mat and the little turd hasn't been back for five years and counting. ;)