My husband was convinced that the kids must've let a stray cat into our house while we weren't looking (with our kids I suppose that's slightly possible), and it immediately ran around the front room pissing all over everything to mark their territory, and then the kids snuck it back outside before we discovered it (not very likely if you ask me).
I'll admit I too was intrigued as to why we were gagging on cat pee fumes when we don't even own a cat. The previous owners of our house did have cats, but we've lived here a while and haven't smelled cat pee except for occasional faint whiffs here or there. However, this smell was like someone was holding your face down in a bucket of cat urine. It was up your nostrils, throat burning, I think i'm going to barf because I can taste cat pee on my tongue kind of a smell. I was sick to my stomach and didn't feel good. My head hurt, the room was spinning a little and my hubby and I were literally on our hands and knees crawling around on the ground smelling everything. I'll admit….I even smelled myself a couple of times. Hey, it's a stretch, but I was desperate to find the source.
On the ground next to the front door sat two pairs of dirty, gross, soccer cleats. On Monday, the girls had practice in the pouring rain. The cleats were wet, and muddy, but we figured they would dry off. What we didn't realize, is they were also covered in cat pee from the field (I didn't realize soccer fields also doubled as a toilet for the neighborhood cats). My hubby stuck his nose into my 13 y/o daughter's cleat, and literally jumped about 3 feet back. Then he yelled out, "OH MY GOD. I found the smell." I don't know why I couldn't just take his word for it, but of course I had to stick my nose into the cleat as well. I damn near vomited. It was bad.
I have washed these stupid cleats 3 times now. I've hosed them down with vinegar, detergent, soap, etc. They still freaking stink! Even the neighborhood squirrels cleared the yard when I set those puppies out on the back patio last night. So now the big question is, do I buy new cleats even though soccer season is over in a couple of weeks, or do I hold my breath and tell my girls to suck it up and put on their cat pee cleats? This is reason number 10, 451 as to why i'm not a soccer mom. Cat pee cleats! Seriously?!
