Cleaning up after a cat

[QuitMoaning]

Looking after a neighbours cats whilst they are away on a very well deserved and much needed break.
One cat has made several dirty protests in the bathroom and he has an upset tummy so it is a real mess. I didn’t realise for several days as no reason to go upstairs until the smell got strong enough for me to notice.
Anyway they are due back at weekend and I really don’t want them to come back to this as they have enough on their plate.

My partner is kindly going to come with me tonight and we shall deep clean their bathroom but please can I have any tips as lots of it is dried on now due to delay.

[DogsSausages]

Cats dont have dirty protests, has it got a litter tray, the upset tummy do you think its stress or has it eaten something bad. Does it seem unwell and needs to see the vet. With the poo you can clean it off with a bleach solution but make sure the door is kept shut as some cats love the smell and taste of bleach and will lick the surfaces, do not use any disinfectant as its poisonous to cats. You can buy litter tray cleaner from supermarkets which might be better, if it's on bathmats or towels wash them on a hot wash.

[QuitMoaning]

Thank you for replying. Whilst I completely understand your questions and welcome your concerns, I don’t want to answer them as it is convoluted and outing and as not my cats, I don’t want to share information about it.
The cats are under appropriate ongoing veterinary care and are well (they cat in question is an elderly cat) and very much loved. Even I have really grown attached to them which surprised me as not usually a cat person.
Please be assured that the situation going forward is resolved, I just would like some tips on cleaning it all up. I have all sorts of cleaning equipment and fluid but any tips? I think I can use the shower itself for the shower piles. Maybe a bowl of hot water and washing up liquid for the tiles? Anti bacterial spray? Bleach?

[QuitMoaning]

Thank you for note about bleach being appealing to cats as didn’t know this so will ensure the cats are kept safe after the clean.
Also will be sure not to use disinfectant.
I think hot water and washing up liquid followed by weak bleach solution followed by lots of rinsing and keep away from the area.
Thank you.

[dementedpixie]

Yes I'd clean using hot soapy water
Zoflora disinfectant is safe around animals as long as it had dried before they walk on it - dilute as directed on the bottle

[NorthernDramaLlama]

Go earlier and spray (just a spray bottle with some washing liquid diluted with water) to 'soften' any mess. If it's been several days it will be solid. At least if it's softened a bit it should be easier to clean. If the litter tray is a mess, I'd bin it and replace (making assumptions as our litter tray is in the bathroom). Good luck!

[Chemenger]

Paper towels to scrape off as much solid as possible, bag and bin, then hot water and washing up liquid is fine. A blast of antibacterial spray at the end won’t do any harm but isn’t really necessary. Proper enzyme cleaning sprays exist for cat mess, there may be some in the house. Are you suggesting that these accidents happened on a hard surface rather than a white rug, a fluffy cushion or a bed? That seems very out of character for a cat.

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

My cat hates using the litter tray despite having two, and always toilets outside. When we go away MIL comes in to feed/fuss her but if she has been stuck indoors she tends to go in the bath - last time we actually moved a tray into the bath which worked well!

Hose everything you can down with the shower, wash anything fabric in a boil wash. Per PP our cat seems to love the smell of bleach if I am cleaning so make sure everything is well rinsed.

[AlfonsoTheMango]

Seconding the hot soapy water. You might need to leave the marks to soak for a while, if that's possible.

And you sound like a good and conscientious person.

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

I always give a good scrub with hot soapy after I've used bleach. Helps get rid of the bleachy smell quicker. Can you open the bathroom window while the door stays shut?

Sensible cat using the bathroom 🤷🏼‍♀️ 😁

[dementedpixie]

Yeah, my cats avoid all the solid easy to clean floors and puke on the stair carpet or the hall carpet instead!

[LalalalalalaLand123]

We use this for cleaning up various cat messes, works well: Johnson's Vet Clean 'n' Safe Cat Litter Disinfectant Tray

I've seen it at Pets At Home, or Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/Johnsons-Vet-Litter-Disinfectant-Purple/dp/B003Y3UI9I/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=cat%20cleaning%20spray&qid=1627556024&sr=8-14&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[QuitMoaning]

Thank you all, this is all good stuff. I do have an update, I heard noises so went in and found their cleaners had arrived so I was able to have a chat and they are very kindly going above and beyond and cleaning it all up. I will go back later to do my normal feeding and meds visit and check it all, clean litter tray, and clean up if there have been any more accidents which I am not anticipating but could happen.
And then I will do maintenance cleaning until they get home.

Your tips are very helpful if I do find any accidents.

Are you suggesting that these accidents happened on a hard surface rather than a white rug, a fluffy cushion or a bed? That seems very out of character for a cat

🤣 I know!

However the cleaners have found that there has been one bedroom accident but this was a solid so different cat. In seriousness it all seems very well behaved, almost all of it is on hard surfaces when it could have been so much worse. The shower took the brunt of it and that must be the best place if you had to choose one place?

I think a PP mentioned nice things about me but in truth, they are very nice neighbours who have had a tough time in lockdown for many different reasons so it is always good to do nice things for good people.

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

You sound lovely and kind OP.

I hope that you and the cleaners get some good karma from this.