Cats: they're beautiful companion animals that delight us with their purring and fly-hunting acrobatics. They're not quite so delightful when they leave a mess in the house. While cats are habitually neat creatures, even the most finicky cat will sometimes forgo the litter box because of illness, distress, or a desire to mark territory. Here are some ways to clear up cat urine accidents (and prevent them from occurring again).

Cat Urine Stain Treatment

A cat that is urinating outside the litter box is either an unaltered male trying to mark his territory, or a cat with some sort of problem. Either way, cat urine leaves you with a major problem of your own: the lingering smell. Not only is it unpleasant, it draws your cat back to "mark" the area over and over again. Your plan of attack:

Never let the stain dry!

The best way to stop cat urine stains from becoming unwelcome, smelly houseguests is to treat them as soon as possible. This is especially true on wall-to-wall carpet or upholstered furniture, because the liquid can soak through to the underlying padding or subfloor. It is extremely difficult to remove the odor from these underlying layers.

Blot, Don't Rub, A Fresh Cat Urine Stain

With paper towels or a clean cloth, blot up as much of the offending liquid as you can. Once you've removed it all, wet the area with plain water or plain water cut with white vinegar. Blot. Repeat until the stain fades. Sprinkle baking soda over the area, rub it in well, and let dry. Then vacuum or brush the dry powder away.

Don't Be Afraid To Go To Guns on Cat Urine

And by "guns" we mean renting a wet-vac, steamer, or other commercial carpet/upholstery cleaner. If the stain has set, this may be the only way to rid all the layers of material of the offensive smell. Similarly, on a wooden floor, it might be necessary to sand down and re-finish the spot your cat has fouled.

Never Clean Cat Urine with Ammonia. Never.

Cat urine contains several chemicals that give it that unique funk. One of these chemicals is ammonia. If you try to clean a cat urine stain with ammonia or a product that contains it, the cat will simply assume that some stranger cat has come to your house, and will feel compelled to "mark" his territory again-not what you had in mind!

Don't Try To Mask The Odor

For extra insurance, you'll probably want to follow up your cat urine stain treatment with a deodorizer. But be careful: using products with perfumes could backfire if there's ammonia involved, and if you haven't entirely eradicated the cat urine smell, you may find that the combination with "Elysian Fields Scent" is its own kind of horrible. Pick a deodorizer that does just that: deodorizes.

Cat Urine Stain Prevention

They have a reputation for being mysterious and intelligent, but cats, like all animals, have certain predictable habits. Understanding these habits can help you figure out why your cat is soiling your house in the first place-and keep it from happening again.

Male Cats Want You To Know They're Boss

And they do it by peeing all over the place. If this is your problem, you need to take Tom to the vet, either for some expert advice about housetraining, or-however much you may be against it-for the big snip. The best way to prevent a male cat over the age of six months from spraying is to have him neutered. This also cuts down on the population of unwanted kittens, which is rising every year. Most unwanted pets wind up in shelters, and many are put down.

For Cats, Food and Toilets Don't Mix

One way to prevent your cat from making a repeat visit to your couch, carpet, or just-finished hardwood floor is to place a small bowl of food-not its regular food, but a treat-on the spot (after you've treated the stain, of course) and encourage the cat to eat it. Once he or she has done this for a few days, you can remove the bowl. Since healthy cats won't defecate and eat in the same place, it's unlikely he'll return to the spot.

Repeat Offender? Find Out What's Bothering Your Cat

For some cats, urinating outside the litter box is a sign of unhappiness. In some cases, this is simply because the litter box hasn't been changed in a while. Cats like a clean place to do their business as much as any human, so make sure you are regularly scooping the box of solid wastes. On a weekly basis, the pan should be emptied, washed with hot water and a disinfectant, and filled with clean litter.

Other cats will have a medical reason for their accidents. If there are other signs of your cat being unwell-change in eating and drinking, or changes in behavior, for example-take your feline friend to the vet for a checkup. There could be a urinary tract infection or kidney problem causing your cat's accidents.

Finally, it could be a psychological thing. Their brains may only be the size of a walnut, but when something in your house changes, cats can get upset. Maybe you've recently moved, or your toddler has suddenly become fascinated with hugging and patting kitty. Or possibly you've brought another pet into the household. Your vet can give you advice about how to help your cat adjust to a new situation, and how to help your pet keep the dirty business in the box-not on your sofas and carpets.