How to get rid of cat pee smell: Effective ways to remove the stench

2022-07-30 05:38:31 By : Mr. HE KIMI

On the list of unpleasant odors, cat pee lingering in your home ranks pretty high. If you happen to have a feline housemate you know all too well the challenge of getting that cat urine smell out of a couch or carpet.

So, what works best? Are there any proven home remedies? Here’s everything you need to know about how to get rid of the cat pee smell.

First off, the rule of thumb is the sooner the better. If your cat pees outside of the litter box, you will need to ‘neutralize’ that spot immediately after, not just cover it up with a better smell. It's important that you don't just spray perfume and call it a day. 

Blot up the mess first and foremost, then spray the spot with an bacteria or enzyme-based cleaner. These will break down the bacteria that is causing the odor. You can also use a vinegar solution – a mix of vinegar and water. Arm & Hammer also advises that using club soda to scrub the area and the sprinkling baking soda can be used as a home remedy. 

The best route depends a bit on whether you’re dealing with clothing, carpets, or furniture. 

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Act fast. Blot out the stain. If you can, put some pressure on the spot so the towel fully soaks up all of the urine. The last thing you want is remaining urine that builds that pervasive ammonia smell the longer it sits there. 

Then, either spray on an enzyme or bacteria-based cleaner or a vinegar solution with water, vinegar, and optionally a bit of dish soap. This will break down the odor which attracts cats to come and pee in the same location over and over.

Once again, act fast. You can try to rinse it in cold water and then throw it in the washing machine. If this doesn’t work, soak the clothing with water and a cup of baking soda or a bit of apple cider vinegar.

It’s best to keep the clothing out of the dryer as heat can exacerbate the smell – opt for an air dry instead. Repeat these steps until the odor is gone.

P.S. An enzyme cleaner can be used in this process as well.

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For a home remedy, you can use a vinegar solution. According to Yahoo news, the vinegar smell deters cats from peeing in that same spot again and as it evaporates takes the cat urine odor with it.

Yes, you should be able to neutralize old cat urine smell with the methods above. If it isn’t working, make sure you are using a detergent with enough enzymes to break down the smell and make sure you are covering the entire area of the stain. 

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If your cat is continuing to ‘miss the litterbox’ you might want to consider taking them to the veterinarian as this could signal an underlying health condition.

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WedMD offers a guide to some easy at-home solutions you can use to stop cats from peeing in the house, including:

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