Today, Kathi writes:

I have seven cats - two males and five females, ages 3-17. All have been spayed and neutered. They are house-cats with a cat-door for access to the backyard only.

I have several cat boxes spread throughout the house and garage and one in the backyard and I clean them several times a day. The cats have a cat-door to go in and out of the house but the escape artist male wears an Invisible Fence Collar so he never leaves the yard. (The collars have been removed from the other cats because they don’t want to leave the yard). We have coyotes in the area and I don’t want my cats to be a nuisance to neighbors or hit by a car.

The 8-yr old male intermittently urinates on the carpet (normally to let me know he’s “pissed off”, usually because a neighbor’s cat has come into the yard or on the fence).

When we moved in this house 7 years ago, the previous owners had cats that marked in a few places around the house.

It’s getting to the point, I get tired of trying to get the smell out of the carpet when product after product does not do what it says it will or only works for a short time. The odor still lingers and I’m embarrassed to have visitors in the house. Most visitors do not realize I have 7 cats (maybe they’re just being polite) but I can still smell some odor.

I’ve debated between completely removing all carpeting and replacing the carpet or just using tile throughout . My husband prefers carpeting. If completely re-carpeting will finally rid the house of the previous owners’ pets odors and my male cat’s “accidents” — I’m interested. If you think this carpet will work for my situation, I’d be happy to try it.

Thanks for giving me hope.

Kathi (the cat-woman)

Kathi,

Carpet called Puresque by Beaulieu, will work well for your situation, however there are a couple of things you should do to help prepare the area, before putting down new carpet and pad. So you are not setting yourself up to be in the same situation. This may be overkill, but when dealing with a pet who is territorial or moody, I say it’s better to be safe than sorry :)

Check to see what type of a sub-floor you have, if you have a particle board sub-floor you may want to consider changing it, depending on how bad the damage from the cat urine is. Because you don’t have a lot of options for cleaning it. Particle board sub-floors can turn into a big gooey mess, if you try to use any liquid based product on it. So hopefully you have a plywood sub-floor. First clean the sub-floor with bleach and water. This will help reduce the odor your cat can smell, that will make him want to mark his own territory. Next use a paint primer, I suggest Kilz . Because it will seal your sub-floor and help protect it against other accidents. As well as helping to keep any residual odor at bay.

The other preventive measure you can use, is to use an all rubber pad. Because typical carpet pad, such as a recycled Berber bond pad, may be partially made out of recycled carpet pad, that may or may not have had the same problem you’re experiencing with your male cat. In short, it is not the best carpet pad for your money. And the all rubber pad will add a nice feel under foot as well, as give you the added protection to your sub-floor, if you cat urinates again.

I know a lot of people who would tell you to get rid of the cats. Being a pet owner myself, I know that is not possible. Or at least not probable. Instead we can use our brains and find a solution that both us and our furry friends can live with! Pet safe wood floors are even more challenging!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Flooring Diva Blog!

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