New Zealanders are big fans of pets, with more than half (58%) of Kiwis owning at least one cat and/or dog. With these high levels of pet ownership it is inevitable that most pet owners will encounter some pet related “spills” on their carpet from time to time.
How to avoid Doggy toilet “accidents”
Puppies are notorious for accidents inside which makes it crucial to start toilet training from the day
they arrive. The basics involve ensuring they are set up to succeed. This is done by taking them
outside often (every 30-45mins), through the same door each time and to the same spot on the
grass. This familiarizes them with where to go when they need to get out of the house (i.e. they can
bark or wait at the door), there is a reassuring smell where they feel comfortable and not
intimidated to toilet and they can be given praise when then do it right.
The most important thing to remember is if you do catch your puppy in the act of going to the toilet
inside, do not punish them as this encourages them to be fearful and they will simply find a hiding
place next time in order to not get told off. What you should do, is simply say “no”, pick them up or
lead them outside to the area where they should go and make a big fuss (positive reinforcement)
when they do so.
How to avoid Cat toilet “mishaps”
More and more cat owners are keeping their cats inside at night time to reduce the risk of injuries
from cat fights or road accidents, which is a hugely beneficial for the wellbeing of the cat. However it
does mean they need to have a toilet facility provided for them during this overnight period. Cats are
naturally very clean and fussy animals so they also like a clean toileting area. One of the main
mistakes pet owners make is not cleaning out their cat’s litter tray daily. If there is faeces, remove it
right away. If the litter has changed colour or the tray smells, it is time to change the litter. The
general rule is 1-2 litter trays per cat in a household. So if you have 2 cats, you should ideally have
3-4 litter trays. This is to give each cat a “spare” or a “back up tray” if their other one is soiled. Make
sure the tray is placed in a suitable area and not near their bed or eating area. A high traffic area is
not good either as who would want to go to the toilet with chaos around them!
We have found an awesome website link for you to use. It helps show you where in your house to
place litter trays to ensure your cat uses them and not the carpet!
http://www.feliway.com/us/What-causes-cat-stress-or-anxiety/Cat-friendly-home
What do I do when there has been an accident on my carpet?
If you come home to an accident on the carpet or you find an old one somewhere where it wasn’t so
obvious, then you need to act carefully to try to remove this stain.
Step 1
Using a paper towel or rag, soak up as much of the stain as possible using a blotting type action. If it
is faeces, remove the faeces and use the same blotting technique if there is any remaining on the
carpet.
Step 2
Using cold water, tip onto the stain and do the same blotting action with another clean rag. This is to
try to dilute the stain as best as possible before using a chemical based solution.
Step 3
We have tried out many cleaning products and have narrowed it down to one that seems to remove
the stain every time. Chemdry World Famous Spot Remover is great for removing not only the stain
but the odour as well. Follow the directions on the can and 9/10 times you will have a great result. If
there are multiple stains or very old stains particularly on a lighter carpet, we recommend using a
professional carpet cleaner as they have the tools to be able to clean right through to the deeper
layers which removes bacteria, allergens and stains.
If the stain is on your garage carpet, this is not so serious as there is no underlay and the carpet is not absorbent. The stain sits near the surface so the first two steps of cleaning will be sufficient.
Note:
Remember with cats, it is important not to use an ammonia based cleaner as cat urine has ammonia
in it. By using this type of product, you will simply encourage them to return to this spot again.
Baking soda and water are great for cat urine. Use these in Step 2-3.