Do I have to disclose cat urine when selling my house?

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Master Baiter Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 107

As a follow-up to my post below...

We are trying to sell our house. Over the past couple of years, our cats have at times urinated in the basement. I have sealed the cement parts of the floor and cleaned the carpets thoroughly. Some smell urine faintly, some don't. I'm afraid if I even bring up cat urine, prospective buyers will run the other way. How far do I have to go, if at all, to disclose the extent of the problem? My state's disclosure form doesn't ask any questions about pets, etc.

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:59 pm

I never bring up the subject of cat urine. Laughing

Master Baiter Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 107

Had the same problem? I don't have a problem telling the truth if asked, but I don't want to offer it. I also don't want to be sued later on down the line.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18313

You might be able to get rid of the smell completely, depending on how much there is. That way, you don't have to disclose anything because it's taken care of.

If you dissolve baking soda into hydrogen peroxide until it's a saturated solution, then add one dot of dish soap (use immediately) and completely saturate the afflicted area, the smell goes away. The peroxide will bleach out some fabrics though, so test it first. I've used it on a carpet and it didn't bleach it.

Elite Baiter Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 1407

Our first home was owned by a dog person. Apparently it went in the basement. A LOT. We didn't notice it in the initial walkthrough as it had been a dry summer, and the basement was dry.

After buying, it rained and got a little more humid. About killed us.

I called ChemDry and they came out and applied a product that neutrailzed the oder. Never had an issue with it that afterwords.

Might contact a cleaning company and see what they can do and for what price.

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:08 pm

Hmmm...I know a great flooring compnay if the household remedies don't work. Tile and hardwood flooring do wonders.

Elite Baiter Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 1407

^^^ Still got to neutrilize the ammonia from the pee. BEFORE you tile/carpet.

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:29 pm

I am selling my place in California and I had to fill out a disclosure form.

It did ask about cat urine.

Also whether someone had died in the place in the past three years.

Smile

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:54 pm

If you don't do as has been suggested above to get rid of the smell, cat urine pretty much discloses itself sooner or later. Wink

Better a few dollars spent to neutralize now than several thousand lost to litigation later.

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:03 pm

A lot of states do have a requirement to disclose hauntings as well.

@ Tastysnack - depends on your mud. If you seal the floor solid it shouldn't come through, but if it is ever replaced...

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:06 pm

Buy a bottle of Urine Gone and be done with it.

https://www.urinegone.com/

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:21 pm

As someone who got stuck with a house which cats used the heating vents (floor type) as urnals, do get rid of the smell before you sell, or tell the prospective buyer. We were (parden the pun) very pissed when we discovered the problem and it's location. Sadly, the smell of cigarettes covered the cat smell, until we rid the place of all of the smoke issues. Evil or Very Mad

I will have to look back and see if the seller disclosed the cat issue her (in CA). It was a rental, so they may have marked "don't know"... Confused

For me, cats + pee in the house = an outside cat

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:25 am

The smell isn't the worst of it.

If you let your cats outsde then they most likely have cat fleas. The fleas don't bother humans as long as there are cats about, but once the cats leave it seems that a nice pair of hairy man legs are the next best thing. It was great going to the gym looking like I had bubonic plague.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:46 pm

^^^ They like non-hairy woman legs, too. Wink

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:12 pm

^^^Ouch!

I've never had a cat and never lived in a home with this problem.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:04 pm

Try scrubbing with white vinegar.
It shifts just about everything and dries odourless.

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:54 pm

^^White vinegar is great stuff. Neutralizing odors, soaking feet in it diluted w/water kills athletes foot, soaking tools in it takes the rust off, kills mold, etc. etc. And it's dirt cheap Very Happy

Baking soda's good for a ton of things too!

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:33 pm

Ah... Gomer click

Yeah.. but for the record. My cat neither has fleas nor pees on the floor. She is very good about using her box and her box has a top. She's a proper lady.

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:09 pm

Just blame the smell on the wife Twisted Evil

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