Cat Pee Detective
Yeah, that should be my title! Do you know that cat urine phosphoresces (glows) in the dark if viewed under a black light (Wood's Light/UV light)?
If you fear your cat is urinating somewhere in your house, but can't find it, simply wait 'til evening, turn off the lights and grab a black light. Simply by sweeping the area with the light, you'll suddenly notice dribbles on a wall, puddles on the floor, or odd stains on the furniture. If you're not positive it's urine and think it's some other stain, you could be right! You might have to take a sniff of the area to be sure. Don't get too close though! Yecch!
I've use this method many times before and it works well. It also, sadly, works if you got to a hotel and run the black light over the bedding! "Other" stains will appear..the kind you don't want to know about. You might want to leave the black light home!
About Robin Olson
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Robin Olson
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Cats, cats, cats and tacky reality shows. Art, Music, Reading Chick Lit (and GUB), Writing, "shambhala buddhism", Collecting Goofy Stuff, Cars, Technology, Travel (Road trips!/Road Food...so to speak), Cats. Animal Welfare and Animal Rescue, Improv Comedy, Knitting, Cooking (if I have to).
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Seeing Pee
You have to have the light close to the floor, like maybe a few inches at most. That may be the problem. You bring up a point that I'd like to talk about in more detail-how cats communicate with us. Inappropriate urination is often seen as the cat trying to "get revenge" on their owners, when in fact, as we know, it's them trying to tell us they are sick, unhappy, scared, etc.
I'm going to be Blogging about this issue because it just came up in our rescue group. Stay tuned.
-Covered in Cat Hair
Yep, not revenge, usually a sign that something's wrong
Like I posted earlier. Tucker marks when his pancreatitis is flaring up.
My Lucy will mark only when she has a UTI.
I first learned of Tucker's diabetes when I brought him to the vet thinking he had a urinary tract infection, there was sugar in his urine and from there we learned about the pancreatitis and IBD.
Hardwood, Yes!
If they pee, it glows, whatever surface it's on! Yes, it works on hardwood floors. I only know because it happens here, um, too often.
;-)
-Covered in Cat Hair
maybe I don't have the room dark enough
I never see anything on the floors. I'll have to try late at night when it's really dark. That could be scary. Maybe my cats are just angels and only use the litter box :)
Tucker, when his pancreatitis is acting up, inappropriate elimination is his way of telling me it's time for meds. I guess that's better than having him suffer for weeks in pain. And he's nice enough to wait until I can see him doing it. Such a gentleman!
Thanks for the advice.
Does this work on hardwood?
I have the black light but it doesn't seem to pick up anything on my floors. Works great on the fabrics.
But, umm... my cats are angels, I don't have a need for this :)
Is there something that you use for hardwood floor urine detection?
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