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Few things are worse than the lingering smell of cat urine. This stubborn problem requires detailed cleaning and a few good habits. Make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand and always be prepared for any surprises your cat has in store for you.
Steps
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Blot the urine on your carpet with paper towels. Try to remove as much of the urine as possible. This will ultimately make your job easier. Use clean paper towels and apply pressure. Repeat with new paper towels until you are unable to soak up any more urine. [1] X Research source
- Skip this step if the urine has already dried.
- You can also use old throw-away towels instead of paper ones. The thickness of regular towels allows for better absorption, soaking up more cat urine. If available, use a white towel. Once there's no longer a yellow-tint to the liquid being absorbed, you'll know all the urine has been absorbed.
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Use an enzymatic cleaner. Enzymatic cleaners, like Nature's Miracle, contain special biological enzymes that break down the proteins in urine, reducing or even completely eliminating the smell.
- Note that some enzymatic cleaners may not work if other chemicals were used beforehand to try to treat the stain. It is generally a good idea to try the enzymatic cleaner first and saturate the area well. Follow the manufacturer’s directions closely and allow it to dry for several days. You may not have to do anything else.
- Enzymatic cleaner may not work in old urine stains.
- Avoid heavily saturating the carpet. Be aware of the downward migration of liquid, and understand the type of subfloor you are dealing with.
- Allow the enzymes to work, following the label instructions for dwell time.
- Sometimes, it helps to cover the affected area with plastic and allow the enzymes to work for a longer period of time. Always follow the label instructions.
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Mix up a vinegar solution. If an enzyme cleaner didn't completely remove the smell, use a vinegar solution. Combine equal parts of white vinegar and water in a bowl or spray bottle. Saturate or spray the soiled area. Saturate a little bit beyond the soiled area so you can be sure to remove all urine.
- If you have a black light or UV light at your disposal, you can see the urine glow in the dark and find the exact location of the urine spot.
- Always use caution when saturating the carpet—it's important to consider the type of subfloor you have. For example, an OSB subfloor can suffer damage from oversaturation as it's not waterproof or water-resistant.
- Reader Poll: We asked 274 wikiHow readers what their go-to cleaning product is for removing cat spray odor, and 58% said a homemade natural cleaning solution. [Take Poll]
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Agitate the vinegar solution gently into the carpet fibers. Be careful not to cause damage to the carpet fibers.
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Dry the area thoroughly. Again, use paper towels or a clean rag to blot up as much vinegar solution as possible. Let the area air dry completely after you've blotted it.
- To help dry an area faster, use a fan. Position the fan so that the airflow moves over the carpet, not directly at the wet spot.
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Disinfect hard surfaces. Wash the soiled area with a mild disinfectant product that does not contain ammonia. Ammonia smells like urine to dogs and cats.
- Don't use bleach on any surface, as it can cause damage.
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Check clothing for urine. If any clothing has urine, add 1 cup (60 ml) of apple cider vinegar to the laundry detergent in your regular wash.
- Dry cleaning may be necessary. If you can't get the smell or stain out of an item, you may just have to throw it out.
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Sprinkle baking soda over the area. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural cleaner as well as an odor-absorber and deodorant.
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Mix a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and mild dish detergent together. Mix 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with one teaspoon (5 ml) of dish detergent and spread it over the baking soda. [2] X Research source
- You may want to spot test this cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area at first to confirm that there is no discoloration.
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Use a scrub brush to gently agitate the solution into the baking soda. Wear rubber gloves if possible, and wait for the telltale foaming action of the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to kick in.
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Blot the area and allow the mixture to dry.
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Vacuum the soiled area. Vacuuming the soiled area removes both the urine particles and the deodorizer you applied. Extracting wet vacs works the best for this since they saturate the carpet and then vacuum the water back into the vacuum's tank. [3] X Research source In a pinch, you can use your regular vacuum; it just won't be as effective as the wet vac.
- For best results with a wet vac, use cool water in the vacuum tank and always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Avoid using steam cleaners, since the high heat will actually set the stain.
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Re-train your cat. Never yell or punish your cat for urinating in the wrong area. Instead, quickly move her to the litter box. Consistently take her to the litter box and give positive feedback when she uses it. This will reinforce a positive association with urinating and her litter box.
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Replace the cat's litter box more often. Cats like clean litter boxes, just as humans like clean bathrooms. If you're neglecting your cat's needs when it comes to offering a clean litter box, he may find it harder to resist urinating on your sofa or carpet.
- Keep your cat's litter box in a quiet location that is not near its feeding area. This will increase the chance that the box will be used properly.
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Consider getting your cat neutered or spayed. Cats that are spayed will not purposely urinate in order to mark their territory, solving the problem for you in the first place. Plus, you won't end up with a litter of kittens to potty train!
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Have your cat checked by the veterinarian. While accidents do happen, particularly with young or even elderly animals, there may be a medical issue at the heart of the problem if you notice your pet urinating inappropriately. Contact your veterinarian to discuss possible medical reasons that your cat is urinating outside of the litter box. Ignoring a medical issue, such as a urinary tract infection, kidney disease or diabetes, could be life-threatening for your pet.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat else can I do to remove cat urine smells from our home?Nat Ismail is a Cleaning Expert based in Howel Township, New Jersey. He is the President of Pure Surface Care, a residential and commercial cleaning company. Pure Surface Care provides a wide range of professional cleaning services, including carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, area rug cleaning, upholstery cleaning, hardwood floor cleaning, laminate and vinyl cleaning, and pet odor treatment. The company’s services cater to both residential and commercial clients, and they are dedicated to delivering top-quality service for all of their clients.You can also consider using an ozone generator. Some companies offer rentals or services that offer the use of an ozone machine. Ozone treatment targets and clears the odor-carrying molecules from your home, effectively eliminating the cat urine smell or any other unwanted smells.
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QuestionWhat breaks down the enzymes in cat urine?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.There are heaps of commercial products available, but one of the best options remains a solution of biological washing powder, followed by a solution of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). Test any soft furnishings for color-fastness first.
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QuestionHow do you remove cat urine odor from furniture?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Test the furniture to make sure it is color fast. Blot up any fresh urine with disposable paper towel. Soak the area with a solution of biological washing powder then rinse well. Then soak the area with a solution of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). Rinse well. You may need to repeat this every day for 2 weeks to totally remove the odor.
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Tips
- If you have expensive carpeting or upholstery or drapes in your home, a professional should be consulted to prevent damage to your furnishings.Thanks
- Be prepared for accidents when you bring home a new cat. You'll need to train your cat to use the litter box properly, clean up after her if she doesn't, and get medical treatment for her if an illness is causing inappropriate urination.Thanks
- If you're tired of constantly cleaning up after your cat, or you fear that the urine has soaked down to the carpet pad or throughout your hardwood floor, call a professional. Granted, it will cost more, but it is likely to be more effective.Thanks
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Warnings
- Products containing ammonia should not be mixed with bleach, as this can cause a deadly reaction. [4] X Research sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- Paper towels or cloth towels
- Enzymatic cleaner designed for pet odors and stains
- White vinegar
- Water
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Dish detergent
- Vacuum
- Black light, optional
- Household cleaner (without ammonia)
- Bleach
- Spray bottle
- Scrub brush
- Rubber gloves
References
About This Article
Article Summary
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To remove the smell of cat urine, start by sprinkling baking soda on the smelly area. Then make up a solution using 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of dish detergent and spread it over the baking soda. Be sure to spot test this solution on a small space first so you know it won’t discolor your surface! Next, use a scrub brush to rub the solution into the baking soda until you see it foam up. Finally, blot the area, let it dry, and vacuum everything up. To learn more from our Veterinarian co-author, like how to clean the cat urine with a vinegar solution, keep reading the article!
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,468,225 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Helped very much. I have 3 cats, but just one old guy (neutered) sprays on beds, furniture and carpets! He even raises his tail in the litter tray! Will be trying your tips and taking him to vet next week. Still love him, and if the tips work, yippee! Many thanks from Kate in the UK! " ..." more
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"Helped very much. I have 3 cats, but just one old guy (neutered) sprays on beds, furniture and carpets! He even raises his tail in the litter tray! Will be trying your tips and taking him to vet next week. Still love him, and if the tips work, yippee! Many thanks from Kate in the UK! "
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"I've gotten so much useful information from wikiHow regarding pets. I saved two betta fish from dying using info I got from wikiHow. And now I know how to effectively clean up cat urine odor thanks to this wikiHow. This has been very handy. Thank you!"
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"Giving the quantities of solution to remove smell is very clear and it does work. Water, baking soda, and white vinegar, fantastic. Thanks."
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"This was very helpful. I liked how the treatments were inexpensive and with things I already had at home and didn't have to buy. Thanks."
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