By Shelly Allen
Cat urine has a way of announcing itself long before you find the actual spot. Even a small accident can leave an odor that returns whenever the room gets warm or humid.
The good news is that cat pee smell can usually be removed. The key is using the right cleaner, treating everything the urine reached, and giving the cleaner enough time to work.
Before you start cleaning, make sure you have located the entire affected area. Cat urine can spread farther beneath carpet, cushions and fabric than it appears on the surface.
If you can smell cat urine but cannot find it, use your nose to narrow down the room. Then check:
A UV black light may help reveal dried urine, although other household substances can glow too.
Already struggling to locate the source? Read our guide on how to find cat pee in your home.
If the accident is still wet, absorb as much urine as possible before applying a cleaner.
Use paper towels or an old absorbent towel and press firmly into the spot. Do not scrub. Scrubbing can spread the urine and push it deeper into carpet fibers or upholstery.
Continue blotting with clean sections of the towel until you are no longer absorbing much moisture.
Regular household cleaners may make the room smell better temporarily, but they do not always break down the compounds that cause lingering cat urine odor.
An enzymatic pet-urine cleaner is designed to break down the organic material in the stain. The cleaner must reach every layer the urine reached, and it must remain on the area for the amount of time listed on the product label.
A quick spray and wipe usually is not enough.
Always:
Avoid ammonia-based cleaners. Urine contains ammonia compounds, and the similar odor may encourage some cats to return to the area. The ASPCA also recommends avoiding ammonia-based products when cleaning urine-marked areas.
Carpet is one of the hardest surfaces to clean because urine can soak through the fibers and into the padding.
Avoid using a steam cleaner on a urine stain. High heat can set the stain and odor into carpet fibers, according to guidance from the Humane Society.
If the smell returns, the urine may have reached the carpet padding or subfloor. A severely contaminated section of padding may need to be professionally treated or replaced.
Urine can travel deep into upholstery, foam and mattress material.
Start by checking the care label. If the cover is removable and washable, follow its washing instructions.
For the remaining cushion or mattress:
Do not cover the area or replace cushions while they are still damp. Moisture trapped inside foam can create an entirely new odor problem.
Very deep contamination may require professional upholstery or mattress cleaning.
For blankets, bedding, washable cushion covers and clothing:
Do not put the item in the dryer until you are satisfied that the smell has been removed. Heat can make a remaining odor harder to eliminate.
If you can still smell urine after the fabric dries, treat and wash it again.
How you clean hardwood depends on whether the finish is intact.
For sealed hardwood:
For worn, damaged or unsealed wood, urine may penetrate below the surface. Repeated cleaning might not remove odor that has soaked into the wood. In that situation, a flooring professional may need to treat, sand, seal or replace the affected section.
Always test a cleaner in an inconspicuous area before using it on wood.
Urine is relatively easy to remove from sealed tile, but grout and unfinished edges can absorb it.
Blot the area, apply a surface-safe enzyme cleaner, and pay close attention to:
If the smell remains after the surface dries, urine may have seeped beneath the baseboard or flooring.
Leather requires extra care. A cleaner that is safe for carpet may discolor, dry out or damage leather.
Check the furniture manufacturer’s instructions before applying anything. Test the product in a hidden area and avoid saturating the leather.
If the urine has soaked through the leather and into the cushion beneath it, surface cleaning alone may not remove the odor. A professional leather or upholstery cleaner may be the safest option, especially for untreated, delicate or expensive furniture.
If the odor returns, one of these problems is usually responsible:
A clean-smelling surface does not always mean the material underneath is clean.
Cleaning the accident solves the odor, but it does not solve the reason it happened.
Cats may urinate outside the litter box because of:
A commonly recommended starting point is one litter box for each cat, plus one extra. Place the boxes in quiet, accessible locations and scoop them regularly.
Never punish a cat for urinating outside the box. Punishment does not address the cause and may increase stress.
A sudden change in litter-box habits should not automatically be treated as bad behavior.
Contact your veterinarian if your cat begins urinating outside the box, especially if the behavior is new or recurring.
Seek urgent veterinary care if your cat:
A urinary blockage can become life-threatening, particularly in male cats. Cleaning the carpet can wait if your cat is struggling to urinate.
An enzyme cleaner made for pet urine is generally the best starting point because it breaks down the organic material responsible for the odor. The product must reach every layer affected by the urine.
It may fade, but untreated urine can continue producing an odor, especially in warm or humid conditions. Proper treatment is more reliable than waiting for the smell to disappear.
Urine may have reached carpet padding, upholstery foam, grout, wood or the subfloor. The cleaning solution may not have reached the same depth.
No. Heat can set urine stains and odors into carpet or fabric. Treat the area with an appropriate enzyme cleaner instead.
Avoid ammonia-based cleaners because their odor can encourage some cats to return to the same location. Do not experiment with combinations of household chemicals. Use a product labeled for pet urine and follow its directions.
To get rid of cat pee smell, act quickly, blot instead of scrubbing, use a surface-safe enzyme cleaner and treat the entire affected area. If the odor returns, look beneath the visible surface.
Most importantly, pay attention to why the accident happened. A cat who suddenly stops using the litter box may be stressed, uncomfortable or dealing with a medical problem.
How about you? Have any tips you’d like to share? Join our pet community for free and join the conversation below!
Are you looking for a Pet Professional to clean the cat pee for you? Check out our pet business directory now!
If you love cats as much as we do you’ll want to check out our Cat Care Resources!
Introducing The World's Smartest Kitty Litter!
All varieties include signature color-changing health monitor and advanced odor control.
Get The Pet Junction Insider In Your Inbox
Discover South Florida's best pet-friendly places, local events, trusted businesses, helpful pet tips, new videos, and exclusive giveaways, delivered right to your inbox.
You May Also Like
Similar to How To Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell For Good
