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Leather is a beautiful and expensive textile that lasts for years. Unfortunately, it is also naturally porous and absorbs odors and stains easily. There are several plausible reasons why your cat might be going to the bathroom outside their litter box, and it’s painful to discover that they did so on your fine leather boots!
The quicker you can remove the urine stain, the more likely you are to save your boots and other leather goods from permanently smelling like ammonia.
The 4 Ways to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots
1. Commercial Enzyme Cleaners
There are plenty of enzyme cleaners for cat urine on the market. Since water alone isn’t enough to eliminate the nasty smell, enzymatic cleaners are one of the next best options. The cleaners are designed specifically for cat urine, and some are formulated for leather goods.
Spray your leather boots with the enzymatic cleaner and follow the label’s instructions. The cleaner usually sits for 15 to 20 minutes for the best results. You have to be careful, however, that the cleaner doesn’t change the color of the leather permanently.
- 1. Use the paper towels to blot away any urine on the boots. This will help you avoid issues with the excess running down while you work or settling in on the soles of the boots.
- 2. Spray your enzyme cleaner on the stain. It is vital to cover the entire area. You need to go slightly over the edges to ensure the cleaner does its job and begins the breakdown of the urine. Once covered, allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
- 3. Using a damp cloth, wipe the entire area thoroughly. It is best to use a circular motion to work the enzyme cleaner thoroughly and penetrate the stain.
- 4. After thoroughly cleaning the stain, allow the boots to dry overnight. The area should be dry to the touch before continuing to the next step in the process.
- 5. Once dry, you need the saddle soap and a damp cloth. Carefully work the saddle soap over the affected area, again going beyond the affected area to thoroughly condition the stain. This will leave the leather looking better and eliminate any stains the cleaning process may have caused.
- 6. With the saddle soap applied, allow the boots to dry thoroughly again.
- 7. Apply 2–3 drops of olive oil to a clean cloth. Gently apply the oil to the leather to add moisture and protect against discoloration the cleaning process and urine may have caused.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
2. Create an All-Natural Cleaner
Here’s a list of what items you’ll need at your side to clean cat urine out of leather boots using the all-natural cleaning method.
DIY All Natural Cleaner for Cat Urine
Materials
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Water
- Clean spray bottle
- Towel or absorbent cloth
Instructions
- Take a towel or absorbent cloth and soak up as much of the urine as possible, if possible.
- Mix up a concoction of one part vinegar, one part water.
- Add a teaspoon of baking soda to remove the odor.
- Pour the mixture into your spray bottle.
- Shake the spray bottle vigorously to mix the components.
- Lightly mist the affected area. Be careful not to over-saturate.
- Allow the vinegar baking soda to sit for 15 minutes.
- Gently blot off the mixture.
- Take a fresh damp cloth and gently remove the mixture fully.
- Allow the boots to dry.
- If the boots still smell of urine, repeat.
- If the boots still smell of urine, repeat.*Additional Tip: If you need extra cleaning power, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to your mixture to help take care of both odors and stains.
Notes
3. Baking Soda
Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is a safe and natural solution for cleaning cat pee off your leather boots. Baking soda is powerful against cat pee and other strong odors. Place old newspaper or paper towels on a work surface and set your boots on top of them.
Liberally sprinkle the baking soda on your shoes, the inside, and even the bottom soles. Allow the powder to sit on the shoes for a couple of hours or overnight. Vacuum up the loose powder and smell them to ensure that all the odor was absorbed. If they still stink a little, repeat the process or try another cleaning solution.
4. Vinegar
Vinegar is another natural product that helps neutralize bad odors and is something that any pet owner should keep in their house at all times. To clean stained leather boots or shoes, mix one part of white vinegar with two parts of warm, soapy water. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mix.
Once stirred together, rub the solution all over the shoes to help the pores absorb it. Wipe the shoes down with a clean, damp cloth and allow them to dry in a well-ventilated area. You can also leave them outside for a few hours to air them out.
Why Did My Cat Pee On My Leather Boots?
Cats don’t usually go to the bathroom outside the litter box unless they have a good reason. What may seem minor to you is usually a big deal to your cat. One of the most common reasons that they urinate outside their litter box is because it’s dirty.
Cats are clean animals and don’t want to stand in their filth. Another reason may be that you don’t have enough litter boxes for the number of cats in the house. Most veterinarians recommend one litter box per cat plus one extra in multi-cat households. If neither of these is an issue, your cat may have a medical or behavioral issue.
Afterthoughts on Potty Issues
While cleaning the cat urine out of your leather boots is important, it is also crucial to understand why your cat is peeing outside their litter box. While it could be a behavioral issue, there could be more to it.
Litter Type
Another issue cat owners face is a cat who doesn’t like the type of litter. This can happen when you change litter frequently. Some brands can bother their paws or smell bad to them. If you find the litter your cat prefers, stick with it, especially if they are older.
Size & Location
Your cat needs a litter box that is easy to reach and big enough for them to use. If you’re a cat owner, you know most cats don’t immediately hop in and go. They turn once or twice and scratch the area. Ensure their litter box is large enough and in an area they can reach without going through many obstacles.
Stress
Cats are not fans of changes in their world. Whether you’ve brought home a new pet, expanded your family, or moved your cat, their stress can cause them to urinate around the house or on your personal items. Your cat may need time to adjust to the new situation.
Medical Problems
When a cat isn’t feeling well, they can act out. It is the best way they have of showing their owners there’s something wrong. When they choose to pee outside the litter box, the problem may be with their kidneys. If you notice the behavior and have addressed all other possible issues, contact your veterinarian. They will help you determine the underlying cause of the problem.
Dirty Litter Box
One of the most common reasons a cat will pee or poop outside of the litter box is untidy conditions. If you aren’t on top of scooping duties, they will find another place to go if they feel the box is too full. Unfortunately, one of the places can be on expensive leather boots. Disinfecting the litter box between changes with an enzyme cleaner will also prevent odors from lingering.
At Catster, 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!
Final Thoughts
While we love our feline friends, there isn’t much that smells worse than cat urine. Thankfully, there are a few simple, easy, and affordable options for cleaning urine stains and odors off of leather boots. Still, you can’t forget to address the real issue and need to spend time determining why they peed on your shoes in the first place.
Featured Image Credit: Piqsels
