How to Get Rid of Cat Urine Odors

March 5th, 2007 by admin
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How to Clean Cat Urine Odors

Cat urine has earned a reputation for being one of the most formidable of all pet odors. It not only smells horrible, but has a very persistent odor that must be removed entirely. Leaving any trace of it is an invitation for your kitty to re-mark the same area over and over again. Most commercially available pet-odor removers are expensive and also unnecessary unless you're dealing with an aged urine stain or a fragile fabric.

You will need:

Removing Cat Urine from Carpet

Caution: Test this method on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't cause damage or discoloration.
  1. Remove as much of the urine as possible by blotting the stain with a dry towel, re-wetting it with warm water, and repeating. A shampooer, wetvac, or steamer can make this step much easier.
  2. Once you've removed as much urine as you are willing (or able) to, re-saturate the area with a 50/50 water/white vinegar solution and allow it to air dry (use a fan if you're in a rush).
  3. Completely cover the area with baking soda – use lots!
  4. Fill a container with enough water to saturate the stained area and add a drop of regular dish detergent. Pour the solution on top of the baking soda.
  5. Using either your hands, towels, or a scrub brush, work the baking soda, water and detergent paste into the carpet - work it in good and deep, then allow it to air dry.
  6. Once the area has dried completely and the baking soda has returned to powder form, vacuum it up. If the vacuum isn't cutting it, it can be blotted up using water and towels.
  7. Repeat steps 3-6 as needed to remove any remaining odor.

Removing Cat Urine from Upholstery

Caution: Test this method on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't cause damage or discoloration.
  1. Remove as much of the urine as possible by flushing the article/area with clean water and then removing as much of it as possible with either towels of a wet-vac
  2. Once you've removed as much urine as you are willing (or able) to, re-saturate the area with a 50/50 water/white vinegar solution and allow it to air dry (use a fan if you're in a rush).
  3. Cover the area liberally with baking soda – use lots!
  4. Fill a container with enough water to saturate the stained area and add a drop of regular dish detergent. Pour the solution on top of the baking soda.
  5. Using either your hands, towels, or a scrub brush, work the baking soda/water/detergent paste into the fabric – work it in good and deep, then allow it to air dry.
  6. Once the area has dried completely and the baking soda has returned to powder form, vacuum it up. If the vacuum isn't cutting it, it can be blotted up using water and towels.
  7. Repeat steps 3-6 as needed to remove any remaining odor.

Commercial Cat Urine Removers

If the steps outlined above just weren't enough to kill the odor, the next logical step is either to try an odor-removal product, or call in a professional cleaner to contend with the problem. There are TONS of pet odor cleaners currently on the market, and they tend to be expensive so it's a good idea to do some pre-purchase research. Also make sure you check the bottom of this page for tips submitted by other users.

How to Select a Cat Urine Remover

Epinions is a good place to start your search for a product that fits your needs. Different cleaners tend to work better in different situations so search for success stories with circumstances that match your own (Old stains, kittens, fabric types, etc). Once you've found a few that look good, perform some searches using the product name.




 

 
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  1. Ken Says:

    Hayley–

    I hope you haven’t throw your cat outside by now. I had the same problem with my (then) six year old cat last year. She ended up having a Urinary Tract Infection. I took her to the vet and got her some medicine and changed her diet. She’s been back to the litter box ever since.

  2. Not My Cat Says:

    How do I get rid of cat urine smell outside the house. We are not pet owners and have no animals in the house. However, there are ferrel cats and uncontrolled pets in the neighborhood who like to piss behind the bushes surrounding the house - usually under a window.

    We like to open our windows as often as possible and I’m very unhappy having to tolerate that horrid smell.

  3. Hayley Says:

    Help, my 5 yaer old cat peed on my 3 month old lounge which is a dark chocolate brown swede material, she did it on the very top backrest part so it has ran everywhere. The cleaning instructions say not to take the cushion covers off as they are fitted very tight and would be very hard to get back on neatly. I am concerned about using backing soda incase it leaves a powdery mark on the dark fabric, she also pee’d in my leather work shoes the week before. She has always been quite good until now and im ready to throw her outside, please help.

  4. Topaz Says:

    FYI, I’ve had a vacuum cleaner repairman inform me that baking soda and other gritty powders really wear down and wreck the machinery in a vacuum cleaner. Told me never to use those inexpensive Carpet Fresh and Arm and Hammer type baking soda fresheners from the grocery store. Makes sense. Since I have a beautiful new expensive Oreck, I’m now a lot less likely to use my home remedies for pet urine which included baking soda, Ajax, Tide, etc. I’ve gone back to boiling hot water, enzyme cleaners, etc. but to really get the dog and cats to stop peeing over their same spots at my former house I did what the dog trainers recommend- I ripped up the carpet. Harsh, I know, but it worked.

  5. cin32286 Says:

    I tried this recipe out for the carpet. . it worked kind of.. .. my cat had been urinating on a corner of our carpet.. and what i ended up doing was using a wet dry vac to get up as much dry urine out of the carpet.. by soaking it with warm water and picking it up.. i put down vinegar.. and then picked that up with the vac.. that got alot out of the carpet.. i tried the baking soda and the water and dish soap out.. the baking soda only made my carpet a yellowish color.. i thought it would go away once i vacuumed it up after it dried.. but now my carpet is somewhat stained a strange yellowish color.. now it doesnt reak of cat pee but its off colord.. i might have to go over it again with the wet dry vac.. but it did get the stinky smell out .. the cat is avoiding this area now which is good and now he goes to the litter box..

  6. Mary Says:

    I have several cats although only one leaves messes on my LR carpeting. I’ve steam cleaned numerous times thinking this will help. After I clean the area, this one cat just moves to a different spot. Any ideas on how I can break him of this bad habit? All my other cats use the litter boxes but one continues to go on the carpet. PLEASE HELP ME!!!

  7. Tina Says:

    i have horrible trouble getting out the stains, simply because i have 3 cats living in my room. They all make barfy messes everywhere, ive even considered tearing up my carpet. any ideas on how to get my room to smell fresh so that i can actually have friends in my room?

  8. Kathy Says:

    A product called Odo-Ban from Clean Control (http://cleancontrol.com/) works well on all soft and hard surfaces and can also be used in the washer for clothing, rugs, bedding, etc. I have used this product for years and couldn’t have animals without it. Odo-ban is also sold at some Sam’s stores. When my dad was ill and dying, I washed his bedding with Odo-ban to disenfect and leave it fresh-smelling. Use according to directions and it is a very safe product. My cat chose on spot on the carpet to pee and re-pee (or repeat!) - I soaked with a solution of Odo-Ban and water, let dry, used baking soda and the problem was resolved.

  9. Pat Says:

    I have a crawl space in my basement, and my cats have gotten in it and peed and pooped. Now I want to finish the basement and wall up most of the space, but how do I get rid of the odors?
    Would just baking soda work, or charcoal.I’m open for ideas!
    Thanks

  10. Terri Says:

    We have several cats, and they peed all over my oldest daughter’s floor. This is what I used to totally get the smell out of the room.

    about half a box of baking soda
    hydrogen peroxide
    a squirt of liquid dish soap
    tomato sauce, an 8 oz can
    vinegar
    a small scoop of powdered laundry detergent
    water
    about 1/2 cup alcohol-based mint mouthwash
    a scoop of oxygen cleaner, like Oxydol (except mine was generic)
    lemon juice
    black tea

    This may seem like a long list, but nothing else worked, including commerical urine removers. The room still smells fresh. I scrubbed the floor with a scrub brush and rinsed with water. Then, I let it air dry.

  11. kristin Says:

    use baking soda for cat or dog urine. it will absorb the liguid and will also deoderize. just let it dry and vaccum or sweep away. if its an old area make a past and use it the same way

  12. Felicia Bender Says:

    I have two cats and have tried everything. I recently found an amazing new product called Room Shocker. It not only took the urine smell out but it also helped with my husband’s allergies. It seems that it completely purifies the air and eliminates any severe bad odors right at the source. I ordered it online from a website called BiocideSystems.com. The best part was I didn’t have to scrub anything. Very low maintenance just leave it in a room for a few hours, come back and the smell is gone!

    This product seems to work well for all severe bad odors.

  13. karen Says:

    I HAVE USED A PRODUCT FROM DON ASLETT CALLED X-O ODOR NEUTRALIZER. IT’S NATURAL AND ORGANIC AND IT WORKS. I GOT MINE FROM QVC, BUT I’M SURE YOU COULD PULL UP HIS WEBSITE

  14. Heather Says:

    I bought a house and the previous owners had a cat, this whole house STINKS!! The cat was in the vents, even the cupboards stink I have tried every thing

  15. tara Says:

    DO NOT USE AMONIA!! That will only attract the cat to urinate there more, amonia is a naturally occurring component of urine. I use Nature’s Miracle and it works great. And yes, I agree, it is expensive.

  16. ashley Says:

    i have a huge problem i know this is for cats but mine is with our dog! he has urinated sooo many times on our bedroom floor that it just SMELLS i dont even want to be in there n e more its so bad!! HELP i want something that will work thats a home remidy!!!!

  17. Connie Says:

    I have an empty apartment that I need to rid of a horrible cat odor on the hardwood floor. The previous tenant had a copy of cats and I have painted the entire apartment and now I beleive the odor is coming from the hardwood floors that were previously sanded and polyearthained. Can I use bleach or must I have it professionaly sanded and and polyearthained again? Any suggestions?

  18. mary Says:

    umm stop cats doing there business in the yard or the flowers or anything put moth balls around it and they wont go there anymore it works too… but remember to put new ones out when they get smaller!!

  19. amy mayes Says:

    use window cleaner i used it and the smell just went you can also try it with baking soda trust me it works

  20. Bernadette Says:

    I have stray cats in the back yard the neighbor feeds them - and they think that my yard is the litter box - the have done their business on my deck and in and around my flowers - what should I do the smell is bad

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