How To Clean Cat Spray: Recipes & Tips

If you’ve ever had a tomcat stroll by and spray around your basement window or front door, you know what a stink that is!

Cat spray is pretty potent stuff and the smell is not something that dissipates easily. The quicker you clean it up, the better chance you have of avoiding a repeat performance (the spray from one cat can trigger more spraying from other cats).

Here are a couple recipes I have on hand for cleaning both indoor and outdoor messes along with some cat deterrent suggestions.

Cat Spray Cleaning Recipes

Recipe #1

This recipe is to clean cat spray outside the home, be aware that this treatment may affect lawn and plants that the cleaner comes in contact with. If it’s on surfaces like the house, windows, patio, sidewalk, deck, etc., scrub the cleaner in with a scrub brush before rinsing off with clear water.

• 3/4 cup Original Tide (or any laundry detergent with enzymes)
• 1 quart hot water

After cleaning the area, spread a thick layer of baking soda over the spot after the surface is mostly dry or a mix of 50/50 vinegar and water. This will help dispel odor and (hopefully) deter the cat from spraying there again.

Tips:

• You could also try spraying the area with a garden hose then pouring straight vinegar around the spot, this might just do the trick for you (may also affect plant life).
• If you can’t clean the spray immediately, try to at least throw a bucket of water on the area to dilute the urine until you can get to it.

Recipe #2

This recipe is to clean cat spray inside the home, test an area for colorfastness first.

1 16-oz. bottle Hydrogen Peroxide
1 TBS Baking Soda
1 tsp dish detergent (liquid)

More recipes and cleaning solutions can be found here: How to Clean Cat Urine Smells & Stains.

Cat Deterrents

There are various plants and methods you can use to try and deter the neighborhood cats from your property, a few suggestions:

• Citrus rinds tossed in the flower beds (orange and lemon peels).
• Coffee grounds.
• Fill flower beds with a thick layer of pine cones, rocks and cedar chips. If cats can’t dig in the dirt, they’ll look elsewhere.
• Plants: Cats aren’t fond of Lavender, Marigolds and Chamomile. Also try plants that have strong scents, cats don’t tend to like them.

A very effective deterrent is a motion activated sprinkler, they’re not that expensive and cats will scat as soon as the water starts. Each time the cat (or other critter) comes into range, the sprinkler will automatically turn on and spray the cat with water. If you can’t find one locally, they are listed on Amazon.

Many folks try to discourage cats from entering their yard not only to prevent spraying, but also to protect their own house cat from being exposed to nasties like roundworm eggs and the Toxoplasmosis parasite (and to avoid finding cat feces in their garden). If you find keeping cats off your property is impossible, consider planting catnip in a far corner away from where you want them, most cats will happily stalk the area and hang out there .

Did You Know:

• Cats spray for a variety of reasons including marking territory, proclaim mating intentions, as well as a symptom of stress and anxiety.
• Both male and female cats spray, neutered or not, but it is mainly the un-neutered male cat that sprays.
• Cat spray is urine and pheromones.

Don't Miss These Tips:

• How to Clean Cat Urine
• How To Make An Outdoor Cat An Indoor Cat
• How To Clean A Cat Litter Box