Removing Pet Stains and Odors

You know how it goes: The minute you turn your back, your pet decides that your new carpet is the perfect place to relieve himself. You clean and clean, but you can't get rid of that smell. What can you do?

Well, for starters, you need to find which areas are soiled and then re-train your pet to avoid eliminating in those areas. And to do that, you'll have to clean those areas, and clean them well. Here are the steps you'll need to take:

• Find all soiled areas using your nose and eyes. A black-light bulb will usually show even old urine stains. Turn out all lights in the room; use the black-light to identify soiled areas and lightly outline the areas with chalk. Black lights can be purchased at home supply stores.
• Clean the soiled areas appropriately to remove the odors. To do this successfully, follow our recommendations below.
• Rule out medical causes for the behavior by visiting your veterinarian.
• Figure out why your pet is urinating and/or defecating in inappropriate areas. (For help, see our tips on Solving Litter Box Problems, Housetraining Your Puppy, and Reducing Urine-Marking Behavior in Cats and Cats.)
• Make the areas unattractive and/or unavailable. (For help, see our advice on using aversives to modify your pet's behavior.)
• Make the appropriate "bathroom" area attractive. (For help, read our information on Positive Reinforcement: Training Your Cat or Cat with Treats and Praise, Housetraining Your Puppy, and Solving Litter Box Problems.)
• Teach your pet the appropriate place to eliminate by using positive reinforcement techniques.

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Finding a Lost Pet

When your beloved Cat or cat strays from home, it can be a traumatic experience for both of you. Here are some tips that we hope will help you find your pet.

• Contact local animal shelters and animal control agencies. File a lost pet report with every shelter within a 60-mile radius of your home and visit the nearest shelters daily, if possible. To find your local shelter go to www.pets911.com or check your phone book. If there is no shelter in your community, contact the local police department. Provide these agencies with an accurate description and a recent photograph of your pet. Notify the police if you believe your pet was stolen. More>>