Cat ‘accident’

My bet would be baking soda or vinegar, or a disínfectant.

I imagine the carpet was used because you went away, and the cats have not fully got over the death of their brother. My old cat refused to leave our garden after his brother died unless I went with him, even on to the banking that they had more or less regarded as theirs, although it is not part of our property. He also stopped mousing for nine whole weeks and I faced the prospect that we might loose him too, but then he took up hunting again. Nine weeks was apparently the period of mourning he found suitable. He survived his brother by seven happy years.

An earlier cat - a rescue - was so distressed when DH and I went away for a weekend three months after taking her and her brother in, that even although our son, whom she adored, was staying in our flat while we were away, she pulled my bathtowel off the rack and wet it until we came home again, when she reverted to using the litter tray. And she spent the first night we were back home, snuggled down between DH and me in bed.

This behaviour never occurred again, even when we went on longer holidays, so your cats' accidents may too be an expression of insecurity and not re-occur.

I saw a saying once
‘Dogs have owners
Cats have slaves’

Can’t disagree! Bless them

I’ve never been able to stop cats getting on work surfaces! In fact I’ve never been able to stop cats doing anything! That’s why I now have a whippet cat substitute!

Some wonderful advice thank you!
I love the idea of the bath mat turned upside down.
I have just done, and have one more long shift until I have a day off. Then I will be able to go and get some of the things suggested and will tackle it thoroughly.

We HATE the cats getting up on the work surfaces too, but the house is pretty open plan and they do as they like despite us discouraging them

I used to have dogs and they were so much easier! They knew what they could and couldn’t do.
I’m pretty sure the cats do know but carry on regardless 🙄!!

One episode of Clean it, fix featured a house with several cats. I’ll watch it again to see what it says ( any excuse to rewatch an episode….I am a bit obsessed with it!). Animals sense of smell is astounding, isn’t it.

I was going to recommend a liquid biological detergent too. The problem is they have such a keen sense of smell, your cats maybe able to pick up the odour even if you can't.

If it happens again once cleaned, put a plastic bath mat upside down over the area. The cats wont like the feel of it on their paws and it should help to prevent them from returning to the same spot.

Neat fabric softener might work…..or baking soda solution….or both!

Febreeze it, Febreeze it and Febreeze it some more! Repeated soakings with Febreeze have dealt with, cat wee, dog wee, human wee and vomit. Good luck!

Fortunately our cat uses the litter tray but usually goes outside. At night she sleeps in the utility room which has a tiled floor . Just occasionally she has gone on the floor ! No problem though as easy to clean and disinfect immediately! I don't want her on our bed during the night and I certainly don't want her on the kitchen worktops, she has jumped up there once or twice but is immediately removed!! Cats on dining tables and work tops is a definite NO in this house. I call her about 10pm each evening and she runs straight into her ' bedroom ' equipped with bed , food , water and a litter tray - everything she needs. I imagine if your carpet is still smelling you have no option other than to have it removed and replaced. Cat wee is a stinker !!!!!! My lovely affectionate cat is quite happy to sleep in the utility room , I also have a good friend who is frightened of cats so when she calls for a cuppa guess where my cat is ? I don't want my cat on our bed during the night but she has her own cover on a spare bed and is often found curled up there during the day! Good luck with your carpet , hope you find a solution rather than having to replace it. Out cat is an RSPCA rescue and has been with us for three years, found in a cardboard box and pregnant although not fully grown herself. She has gone from a cat who ran each time she saw us to an absolute lap cat who loves attention, such a transformation! Took over 12 months before she began to trust us. Wouldn't like to be without her!
Good luck with your carpet, I hope some of the advice given on this thread solved your problem.

When I had this problem, someone on GN recommended liquid biological detergent because the enzymes would get rid of the smell. It took a few tries but it worked.

MayBee
Oh yes, we have ‘accidents’ occasionally on the work surface 😤
We do have some Feliway but haven’t found it that useful.

I have asked around at work today and have had white vinegar and baking soda recommended. So I will try that.
There are some mats you can buy that have soft spikes that cats don’t like so I might buy one and pop it in that area.

Both cats happily do their business outside so maybe this was a one off as a protest at being left. Fingers crossed!

Have you tried Simple Solution Urine Destroyer? You might have to resort back to providing a litter tray for them again. If you go away again it might be worth using a plug in dap diffuser: the change in routine might have upset the cat that poo’d on the carpet. The smell really is awful, isn’t it. I had a cat years ago that used to wee in all sort of strange places ( she even wee’d on the cooker sometimes). She was the sweetest cat but it really got me down having to clean up after her. In retrospect I think it was because she didn’t like sharing a litter tray with our other cat.