When your pet has decided that an inappropriate place is the perfect spot to relieve itself, there are three important actions to take immediately in order to stop the behavior. You must completely clean the area so that the pet will not find it again by scent. You must try to determine why your pet chose that area instead of an appropriate one. Then you must take action to influence your pet to choose an appropriate area instead.
Cleaning
Find the soiled area by scent and visual examination. You can use a black light bulb to highlight even old urine stains. Turn out all lights in the room and use the black light to find the soiled areas, then lightly outline the areas with chalk. Be sure to clean the mistake COMPLETELY. If your pet can find the spot again by scent, it will continue to use it. For fabrics that are washable, add a one-pound box of baking soda to your regular detergent. If possible, allow the fabric to air-dry instead of placing it in the electric or gas dryer. If you can still see or smell the stain, wash it again, adding an enzymatic cleaner from your pet supply store.
For carpeted areas and upholstery, use newspapers and paper towels to soak up as much of the urine as possible immediately. Put a thick layer of paper towels directly on the wet spot, then cover the towels with a thick layer of newspaper. If the rug can be lifted, place newspaper under the rug as well. Stand on the spot, on top of the newspapers, for about a minute, then remove the padding and repeat the process until the area is barely damp. Rinse the area completely with clean, cool water, and then get it as dry as possible by blotting it or using an extractor like a wet-vac. A direct fan will also work.
For stains that are old and have set, try renting an extractor or wet vac from a home supply or hardware store. These force clean water through the carpet, replacing the dirty water. Plain water works better than chemicals for this purpose, because cleaning chemicals, ammonia or vinegar don’t effectively eliminate or cover the odor, and they may actually encourage re-marking. Avoid using steam cleaners, as the heat will permanently set the stain and odor by bonding the proteins into the fibers. When you have thoroughly cleaned the area, use a pet odor neutralizer, and be sure to follow directions, including spot testing to be sure the product itself doesn’t stain your fabric.
For soiled hard floor and walls, if the area is discolored, the urine has reacted with the varnish or paint. You might need to re-paint or re-varnish the area, but be sure to use a pet-safe product to do so. Your best bet to clean these areas is with an enzymatic cleaner, and again, follow the directions and spot test them to be sure they won’t cause a stain themselves.
Why Did Your Pet Make a Poo-Poo Boo-Boo?
Consult your veterinarian to rule out medical causes. If your pet is healthy, watch for other unusual behaviors. If there are other pets or small children in the house, your pet may misbehave to get your attention. If the litterbox is in an area with loud machines such as laundry or fans, your pet may be afraid to go into the room. If your pet is insecure and the room with the litterbox is closed-in, with no easy escape in case of perceived attack (by another pet, a child, or a loud noise), you will need to put boxes in more than one room. Make sure at least one box affords a clear view of the entire room and an escape route. It’s also possible that you’ve chosen a litter with a scent the pet does not like or that is too dusty when pawed. Occasionally, your pet will be "marking" a certain piece of furniture or area to put other creatures on notice that it belongs to them alone. And more than one cat has misbehaved to express its disapproval of the current boyfriend or girlfriend who has been invited to share the home. If the cat soils the visitor’s shoes or pillow, or their side of the bed, this should be considered as a possible cause.
Action to Change the Attraction
If your pet is using a piece of furniture, purchase a cheap, vinyl-backed tablecloth and place it over the furniture, vinyl side up, for a while. The pet will not like the smell, feel, or sound of the vinyl, and you can break the cycle this way. You can also place double-backed sticky tape on the spots your pet is using, as they will immediately withdraw from the sticky feel on their feet and the sound.
Try multiple boxes in different rooms. Try different brands of litter. Take the paper toweling and newspapers you used to soak up the urine and place them in the area you DO want your pet to use. From this, your pet may begin to understand that urinating itself isn’t bad, so long as it’s done in the right place(s).
Restrain your pet in the area where the sandbox or proper area for elimination is located so they will have no choice but to use it for a while. Use positive reinforcement — pets and treats, and loving, encouraging words will work miracles. It may take time to replace their bad habits with better ones, but be patient. Do your best to find out why your pet is behaving this way, as most pets want to please, and there is likely a very pet-logical reason for the marking. Once you have determined the likely motives, put yourself in your pet’s mental and emotional place to determine a solution for them. Then clean, clean, clean; do what you actively can to fix the base problem for them; treat them kindly and patiently; and always provide lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement for good behavior.
