Can Cat Pee Cause Mold?

If you notice that your cat is on a peeing spree at in your home you should wipe and clean the pee immediately to prevent the moisture from seeping through the floor or wall. Can cat pee cause mold? The answer is, Yes. Cat pee can cause mold but only if it has been soaked for a while in absorbent materials like carpets, wooden floors, or walls. Mold needs moisture to grow and cat’s pee, especially when it’s not wiped off when it is concentrated on a certain spot allows mold to thrive. 

What is mold?

Molds are organisms that belong to the fungi kingdom. They digest or east the material that they grow on and its role is to break down decaying organic matter like dead plants, leaves, or animals.d

Types of mold

There are countless species of molds and out of these, there are about 16 species that are referred to as toxic molds. 

These are the most common toxic molds:

1. Aspergillus

This type of toxic mold causes minor damage if inhaled and severe reactions may include respiratory infection, inflamed lungs, and allergic reactions. 

2. Fusarium

This toxic mold grows in colder and wetter areas especially under carpets and similar types of fabric. Aside from the allergic reaction, it can cause respiratory infection and inflammation. 

3. Paecillomyces

This type of toxic mold and filamentous fungus inhabits the soil, decaying plants, and in some food products. It can cause human infections such as oculomycosis, a type of eye infection. 

4. Penicillium

This type of toxic mold is usually found inside insulation, furnishings, carpets, and water-damaged furniture. It spreads quickly inside the home and may cause a sinus infection, allergic reactions, and lung inflammation. 

5. Stachybotrys Chartarum 

Also called black mold, this type of toxic mold creates toxic compounds called mycotoxins. It causes sinus infections, breathing issues, depression, asthma attacks, and fatigue. It has a musty smell and usually thrives in damp areas like airconditioning pipes and ducts. 

6. Trichoderma

This type of toxic mold is usually found in damp areas such as carpets and wallpaper. It produces mycotoxins that cause allergic reactions and sinus infections.

Other common types of mold include the following:

Alternaria

This type of mold usually grows in the sink, shower, and in other dark areas around your home. It may cause allergic reactions, hay fever, and asthma attacks.

Aureobasidium

This type of mold often grows on painted walls, wallpaper, caulk, and wooden furniture. It’s identified by its spotty pink and black color and may cause health issues like allergic reactions.

Chaetomium

It’s commonly found in water-damaged drywall and characterized by a musty or old odor inside the home. It may cause skin and nail infections and may be dangerous for people with compromised immune systems. 

Cladosporium

This type of mold thrives in both cold and warm areas like wooden floorboards, wooden cabinets, old fabrics, and carpets. It may cause breathing and respiratory problems. 

Serpula Lacrymans

This mold is usually found outdoors but can also grow inside homes. It feeds on wooden surfaces, leads to dry rot in wood, and identified by its yellow appearance. It may cause health problems affecting the respiratory and immune systems and those most at risk are young children and the elderly. 

Ulocladium

This mold is found both inside and outside the home and grows in areas that have been damaged by floodwaters such as walls and floors. It may cause infections and allergic reactions.

What causes mold?

Mold grows and increases in areas that have moisture, warmth, darkness, and oxygen. It begins to grow in 24 to 48 hours. 

These are the common causes of mold:

• leaking pipes
• humidity 
• leaking roofs
• condensation
• poor ventilation
• wet clothes 
• flooding
• damp basement
• water on the foundation of the house

Can cat pee cause mold?

Yes, cat urine can cause mold because it has moisture but only if it’s in concentrated quantity, has not been wiped off, and has been soaked for a while in material like carpets, wooden floors, and walls. 

Symptoms of mold exposure on cats and pets:

While mold exposure can cause health issues on people, it can also cause detrimental effects on our pet cats.  Here are some common symptoms of mold exposure on pets:

• pulmonary hemorrhage
• bleeding in the nose
• respiratory illnesses like coughing, wheezing, and difficulty in breathing
• excessive scratching resulting in sores and bleeding
• excessive chewing of extremities or their skin which could lead to sores and bleeding
• loss of appetite
• runny nose
• extreme lethargy 
• excessive licking of the fur which may cause hair loss 

How to prevent mold growth at home?

While it’s impossible to completely mold-proof your home, there are steps and measures that you can do to protect your family and pets.  Here’s what you can do to prevent mold from taking over your home. 

• repair leaks immediately
• clean, disinfect, and dry off areas that are prone to mold growth 
• control moisture and keep humidity levels under 60%
• dry up wet materials and items before storing them
• monitor your basement’s ventilation
• improve airflow at your home

Bleach and distilled white vinegar are known to kill mold spores in porous materials like wood and rubber while bleach can kill mold on non-porous materials like marble, glass, and plastic. Just pour bleach on a spray bottle and spray on affected areas with mold growth, let it sit for 15 minutes then thoroughly scrub the area. To make a stronger mixture, simply add vinegar to the solution. 

How to protect your pet cats from molds?

You can protect your pet cats from mold exposure by taking proactive measures to mold-proof your home. Here are some ways how you can protect your pets and the household as well:

• keep pet cats away from moldy food and environment
• store your pet cat’s food and treats in sealed containers to keep out moisture and mold growth 
• purchase cat beds and toys that are washable in hot water to prevent mold growth 
• use pet shampoos that deter allergies
• if you suspect that your cat shows symptoms of toxic black mold poisoning such as changes in eating patterns and energy levels, bring her to the vet at once for a thorough check-up and treatment
• if you suspect mold growth in your home clean the area by mixing water and detergent, however, if the affected area is larger than 10 square feet you should contact a professional mold remediation company immediately.

Cat urine components and health risks 

Cat pee is composed of substances such as ammonia, sulfate, phosphate, chloride, sodium, uric acid, urea, creatine, and water. It’s very concentrated that’s why it has a strong and pungent smell especially when it dries up and becomes crystallized. Long term exposure to the cat urine smell could cause allergic reactions.

Other health hazards include sneezing, red eyes, dizziness, coughing, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Prolonged exposure to ammonia in cat urine may even cause bronchitis and pneumonia. Kids are at great risk because they have lower immune systems as well as body weight and may suffer from eye and skin problems due to ammonia inhalation. 

Conclusion

It’s of utmost priority to protect our family and pets from possible health hazards that could invade our homes like toxic mold poisoning. While mold growth is usually caused by humidity and moisture, cat pee can also become a culprit why mold thrives in our home. Cat pee can cause mold if it hasn’t been dried off well and has already seeped in between wood floors and even carpets. Proper preventive measures should be made or better yet, seek professional help from mold remediation companies.