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Nice house - downstairs smelt of pets (cat!!)

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  • csh_2
    csh_2 Posts: 3,294 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Cats smell in general their fur has a particular odour (not just cat pee) but agree the smell will be in the soft furnishings so once things have gone and the place has had a good airing it should be OK.
    Dogs smell too but it wouldn't put me off unless it was really bad/ several dogs
  • DVardysShadow
    DVardysShadow Posts: 18,949 Forumite
    When we moved in it was dogs. They had been kept in the utility room which smelt the worst. It took months to get rid of it - the dogs had been gone about 4 months. Stripping down the boiler casing an vacuuming made a huge improvement - it was full of doggy dust.

    We too did not rule the house out because of it - although we sort of got the impression that many buyers would.
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • Strapped
    Strapped Posts: 8,158 Forumite
    Bicarb of soda on the carpet followed by a wash gets rid of the smell of cat pee. (We had an old and confused cat :o) Only works on "pile" carpets though, not the trendy "flat weave" ones.
    They deem him their worst enemy who tells them the truth. -- Plato
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If a house is otherwise very desirable, the presence of animal odours, just like naff decor, shouldn't put anyone off buying it. Indeed, these things are almost to be welcomed, because they will help to remove competition from faint-hearted souls.

    This advice does not extend to cars, however. :( Avoid doggy cars like the plague!
  • go_cat
    go_cat Posts: 2,509 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    The house we bought had a dog living there, and my DH is allergic to dogs it didn't put us off buying it.

    We invested in a VAX machine, on the first day flung all windows open and washed the carpets a couple of times,not only did this stop any doggy smells it also got so much dirt out of it :eek:

    We also painted the walls and prior to this at dog height and below washed the walls down.

    Result : no dog smells at all and I would know as I have a very sensitive nose to dog smells

    Don't discount an otherwise perfect house
  • joolsybools
    joolsybools Posts: 1,595 Forumite
    Just to throw a spanner in the works, are you sure the smell is not the result of damp? Can be similar imo.
  • [FONT=&quot]The natural way to get rid of cat smell from a house is to keep your window open and allow the fresh air to fill your house thoroughly. If you smell cat’s urine on the ground just soak it with paper or cloth and throw it away in a dustbin. If the stairs is carpeted it is little bit difficult to get rid of the odor from the carpet. [/FONT]

    [FONT=&quot]Wash the carpet twice or thrice with vinegar/baking soda/peroxide/dish detergent along with some sprays. But don’t use bleach for cleaning purposes since it is extremely useful to human kind. Make use of products that is made up of enzymes since these enzymes are used to break down the bacteria and helps to defuse the bad odor. [/FONT]
  • I know someone who had about 40 cats and the house had to be fumigated and floorboards replaced as they were urine soaked. That is an extreme case but even there the smell was removed. I think if it is just one or two cats you will easily be able to get rid of any smells. It will be worth it if it is a nice house.
  • oystercatcher
    oystercatcher Posts: 2,358 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Apologies in advance for not helping.....

    Why does everyone assume pet owners are immune to their pet's smell? One of our dogs smells terrible, the vet says it's just the way some dogs are. We love him so we tolerate the smell. Just as child owners tolerate noise and snot ;)

    Fortunately we are not trying to sell the house as it seems he would put people off. I'm pretty sure the smell would remain with the dog and not the house though !
    Decluttering, 20 mins / day Jan 2024 2/2 
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Why does everyone assume pet owners are immune to their pet's smell? One of our dogs smells terrible, the vet says it's just the way some dogs are. We love him so we tolerate the smell. Just as child owners tolerate noise and snot ;)

    Fortunately we are not trying to sell the house as it seems he would put people off. I'm pretty sure the smell would remain with the dog and not the house though !

    No, my experience with a 'doggy' car suggests at least part of the smell of a dog remains with the objects it's been in close bodily contact with, especially when the sun heats up fabrics you thought you'd cleaned really well....:mad:

    It's not usually economically worthwhile to take the seats and carpets out of a car and put new ones in, which is why I said "avoid doggy cars like the plague." Houses are different. ;)

    As for children being noisy: well, I've just spent the day with two delightful youngsters, who were definitely much quieter than us adults. :o
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