Cat peed into camera bag

First of all, do not worry, the cat is fine, I did not kill it. The camera and one lens was not in the bag, but everything else was. The hotshoe socket of the Sigma EF 530 DG Super and the Sigma 30 f1.4 got the biggest portion of urine. Especially the 30 f1.4, which was literally soaking in it, the reversed hood kept a nice "pool" around the focusing ring. Also an old brass tripod with telescopic legs, that fits just on the bottom of the bag was pretty wet. The Sigma 30 f1.4 was out of warranty anyway, so I disassembled it, cleaned all non critical parts in water and detergent and again in water. After careful drying and assembling the lens works just fine and does not stink anymore. Also it does not creep that noisy, I gently greased some moving parts I saw. Maybe I should have greased more. Yet the very little wobbling, which it had since I bought it second hand, remained. I also removed the hotshoe socket from my flash and did the same cleaning. I also cleaned all other lenses with detergent and water, even if they were not directly affected, but could use som general cleaning. The camera bag was washed. So in the end there is no damage at all, I finally cleaned my camera bag, filters, etc. But the stink was horrible!

Anybody ever had a similar experience with his/her camera bag? Just curious?
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Erik
http://jalbum.net/users/eziak

Not anything like as bad as your experience but I gave my wife a Canon G9 for Christmas last year together with a small shoulder bag.

We don't own a cat but my son and his wife do and they asked if we would look after their cat while they went away for a fews days between Christmas and New Year.

On the second morning of our 'cat minding' I picked up my wife's camera bag to discover that it was covered in cat pee and surrounded by a pool!

Fortunately the bag was zipped so the contents were completely dry but it took three washes of the bag to remove the lingering smell, I couldn't believe how difficult it was to get rid of it. In retrospect the few extra £'s I spent on the case were well worth it, the case prevented a much worse incident.

Glad to know that you managed to salvage the contents of your camera bag, and that the cat hasn't had to find a new home!

Joe
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Nil Illegitimus Carborundum

At least you both found that your bags were reasonably water-proof! Not so good if the cat gets INTO the bag!

Lol, Alistair

LOL - at last, a post that is not a 60D rant...

T
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Gone birding... http://picasaweb.google.com/timothyboucherbirder

dopravopat said:

Anybody ever had a similar experience with his/her camera bag? Just curious?

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My three cats don't pee in it but struggle to make it their favorite snooze time hideout - so unfortunately the side bag (not my backpack fortunately) is always in need to be cleaned from their hair...

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regards
Karl Günter Wünsch

I have two cats, never had them pee on anything. I have a 7D, thankfully nothing has happened yet, but insurance covers everything. On my 40D though, I was helping my wife hang the Hummingbird feeders and dumped sugar water all over my 40D and lens. Drenched the entire setup. I keep a stockpile of Denatured Alcohol around and use that to clean anything electronic. Denatured Alcohol is non conductive and will not ruin electronic gear. Cleaned the 40D and lens and never once had a problem with it.

I’ve also used the Alcohol to clean my daughters Ipod….twice now after going through the wash lol. I removed it from the washer, placed it in a bowl full of Alcohol and soaked the Ipod. Before removing the ipod, I gave it a good agitation in the bowl and laid it out to dry for about a week before turning the power on. It has worked perfect since. Denatured Alcohol is the best IMHO. I figured if I can use it to clean the electronics on a $60,000,000 aircraft, then it would work great on my gear and does.

Ashby

Cat psychiatric hat on:

If a cat pees on your stuff it usually means that the cat is unhappy about something or that it needs to be sterilized. Usually it hits something that it thinks you care about. It probably has seen you handle the camera bag a ton of times so therefore it concludes that it is important to you. It might do the same thing again.

Wow I'm just stunned over that story. I thought cats only peed on Nikons

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The solution is always simple. Getting there is the hard part.

Birds will fly upside down over a Nikon because there is nothing worth peeing on LMAO!

Don't be surprised if the smell "returns" and you have to replace the bag... good luck.

Non cat owners may scoff at your theory, but it's right on the mark. Cats will often settle their grudges this way.

The surest answer is to keep items such as cameras out of their reach, but that's water under the bridge for the OP.

On those occasions when I've incurred one of my cat's displeasure and been dealt this hand I've found the product 'Febreeze' to be very effective against the strong and persistent odor of cat urine.
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If you can't say for sure how many cats you have without counting on your fingers and mumbling their names, you may have too many cats.

It used to take a nap on the bag several times, cat hair was all over my gear, but that did not bother me.
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Erik
http://jalbum.net/users/eziak

timmer350 said:

LOL - at last, a post that is not a 60D rant...

T
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Gone birding... http://picasaweb.google.com/timothyboucherbirder

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My cat peed on my 60D.
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Brian Schneider

Ed P said:

Don't be surprised if the smell "returns" and you have to replace the bag... good luck.

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I agree. I would just give the cat that bag and put a Nikon in it and get a new one. Just kidding - but not about the bag. Maybe a plastic toy camera. Weather proofed though

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The solution is always simple. Getting there is the hard part.

Brian D. Schneider said:

timmer350 said:

LOL - at last, a post that is not a 60D rant...

T
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Gone birding... http://picasaweb.google.com/timothyboucherbirder

Click to expand...

My cat peed on my 60D.

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So have a lot of people.

Brian D. Schneider said:

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Brian Schneider

Click to expand...

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The solution is always simple. Getting there is the hard part.

spaltzer said:

Cat psychiatric hat on:

If a cat pees on your stuff it usually means that the cat is unhappy about something or that it needs to be sterilized. Usually it hits something that it thinks you care about. It probably has seen you handle the camera bag a ton of times so therefore it concludes that it is important to you. It might do the same thing again.

Click to expand...

I'd put an electrified grid in the bag and a can of best tuna you can find beside it. That will teach it

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The solution is always simple. Getting there is the hard part.

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Erik
http://jalbum.net/users/eziak

Well I cleaned it with a lot of washing power and flushed several times, until I smelled nothing. I hope that the smell will not return. Maybe it will on a nice day, when I am off shotting and a strorm catches me, the bag gets wet, well you know what I mean.
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Erik
http://jalbum.net/users/eziak

I get this sort of thing happening quite a bit except it's with dogs to my seat/rucksack combo - I do most of my work on a beach where people run and walk their dogs. Some dogs find the seat irresistable and pee all over it, normally when I'm off the seat photographing birds, dolphins, seals etc. A good go in a hot shower with disinfectant normally gets rid of the pee smell.
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Best Wishes from Scotland,

Charlie.
http://www.charliephillipsimages.co.uk
May The Light Always Be Where You Want It.....

It must have smelled like Kodak!

Robert
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How long does it take a vegetable to start loosing its freshness? This happens in the amount of time it takes it to go from its victory party to its congressional office!