If you’ve ever been a cat owner, then you already know that if the litter box isn’t clean, your furry, feline friend will find somewhere else to poop. If you’ve forgotten to clean the litter box, you’re likely to find a pile of kitty poop on your floor.
That’s not so bad if you have tile flooring and can pick the fresh kitty poop up, sweep, mop, and disinfect, then change the litter box. What’s really bad is when the cat poops on your carpet, and even worse is when that cat is a repeat offender. While you can get the poop up, it does stain, and over time those stains start to stink to high heaven.
Whether it’s a new kitten, a senior cat that can’t quite make it to the litter box, or your cat’s just being ornery because he’s mad at you, no pet owner wants poop stains and smells in their carpet. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get the stains and the smells out. We’ll go into a few of those tips and tricks in this article.
10 Steps for Getting Cat Poop Stains Out of Your Carpet
There are a few steps you can use to get the poop stains out of the carpet. We’ll go through those steps in our section below.
1. Safety First and Foremost
You should never clean up cat poop or try to remove the stains and smell without first taking the proper safety precautions. Get the following items before you start cleaning.
Now that you’ve gathered all the materials you need to clean the cat poop and smells from your carpet, you can move safely on to the next step in the process.
2. Get the Mess Up Before It Begins to Dry
While you want to gather all your supplies and be completely safe when taking on this task, it’s essential to try and get the bulk of the mess up before it air dries. The longer the poop is allowed to sit on the carpet, the harder it’ll be to remove. The particles of the poop itself will come apart and start to stick to or sink into the carpet, and that’s when you’ll really have a mess on your hands.
3. Clean a Small Area with the DIY Solution
Now that you’ve gotten the bulk of the poop up from the carpet, you’ll want to test a small area of the carpet with the DIY solution below.
This mixture will work on most carpets. However, you want to test it in a small area that can be hidden first, just to make sure it doesn’t ruin or bleach your carpet. Never use bleach or anything containing bleach to remove stains on your carpet, as the bleach will leave a spot behind.
Also, regardless of what myths are circulating out there, bleach does not effectively draw the smell of cat poop out of carpets.
4. Spray the DIY Solution Directly on the Stain
Once you’ve determined that the DIY solution doesn’t stain or bleach out your carpet, spray the solution directly on the stain you’re trying to remove while trying not the get the solution anywhere but in the affected area.
You’ll want to leave the solution to soak into the stain for a few seconds for it to loosen any dried feces that picking it up left behind.
5. Blot the Area Thoroughly
Once the spray has soaked into the stain, about 5 minutes should do, blot the area gently and thoroughly to soak up the liquid. At this point, you should be able to see the poop coming out of the carpet.
6. Repeat Until the Stain Is Lifted
Keep adding the solution and blotting the feces until it’s lifted from the carpet. The best way to tell that the carpet is clean is when the paper towel you’re using has no residue on it after blotting.
7. Do a Water Rinse
Once you’re satisfied that there’s no dried poop left in the carpet, you’ll want to be able to remove your DIY cleanser from the carpet as well. The best way to do this is by lightly rinsing the area with clear tap water. Then, once you’ve blotted the area one more time with a paper towel, leave it alone and let it dry before moving on to the next step in the process.
8. Place Baking Soda on the Stained Area
Most people already know that baking soda is an awesome neutralizer. It’s good for everything, including carpets. So, take a bit of baking soda, sprinkle it on the stained area, and leave it alone for an hour to sink in.
9. Vacuum the Area
Once the baking soda has had time to sit, vacuum the area and the rest of the room completely. This should leave the carpet poop, stain, and odor-free.
10. Use an Odor Deodorizer
There are also quite a few odor deodorizers you can use to make the room smell good. In addition, there are scents made specifically for cat odors, essential oils, and any other scent you could imagine.
We’ll give you a couple of our top choices for odor-blocking products in our next section.
Odor-Blocking Products to Try
If your furry feline is making using your carpet as a litter box a habit, then you might want to try some of the difficult odor-blocking products below to take care of the smell.
Candles
There are candles that are specifically designed to help block cat odors. Try one of these candles to make your home smell great and keep the cat poop scent at bay.
Enzyme Cleaners
Enzyme cleaners work to break down the sources of stains and odors. Many cat owners use them to rid their homes of urine stains and odors, but enzyme cleaners also work to remove messy poop stains and smells.
Our favorite enzyme cleaner is the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray because it permanently removes even the very worst pet stains and smells you can imagine (and makes clean-up a breeze). They even offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle and freshen up your home today.
- ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...
- FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...
- FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical...
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
Absorbing Gels
There are also gels that you can put out that absorb the cat odor before they have a chance to waft their way throughout your home.
Scent Diffusers
Most everyone knows the value of a good scent diffuser. However, there are diffuser formulas that are designed to deter cats from using the bathroom anywhere but inside of the litter box.
In most instances, if your cat is constantly using the carpet instead of his litter box, there is a reason. However, if the problem continues, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your vet to determine the cause of the problem and see if he or she can help you find a solution.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning cat poop out of the carpet is not the best part of being a cat owner. However, it’s bound to happen at some point. Following the tips above and using an excellent odor-blocking product should cure the problem for you. If not, it’s best to contact your vet for an appointment to find out if there’s an underlying problem with your poor feline.
Featured Image Credit: Kristi Blokhin, Shutterstock
