Any poop collector can vouch that there is nothing more frustrating than the lingering smell of cat urine. Cat urine has a distinct, strong odor that can be difficult to eradicate from carpets, furniture, floors and other areas. The good news is that you can easily eliminate cat urine odor from your home by using the right techniques and avoiding some common mistakes.

Why is it so hard to get rid of cat urine odor?

Dog urine is not easy to clean up and certainly doesn't smell good, but cat urine is more pungent and difficult to clean up for several reasons. First, cat urine is very concentrated. Cats generally don't drink a lot of water (unlike dogs, who can drink an entire bowl of water after a romp in the backyard). Dog urine is usually diluted, which means it has less odor. In contrast, cats typically produce only small amounts of strong-smelling urine.

Urine from unneutered male cats is even more offensive because it contains hormones like pheromones and testosterone. An unneutered male cat's urine smells strongly. In nature, this allows cats to send messages to other cats - females know it's here and available to mate, and males know they should stay away from it unless they want to fight. However, there are few things worse than the smell of intact tom cat urine at home.

The smell of fresh cat urine is bad enough, but you may have noticed that it seems to get worse as time goes by. This is because your cat's urine contains bacteria that break down the urea in the urine, creating another unpleasant odor: ammonia. The longer it goes, the more urea is consumed by the bacteria, and the more ammonia you'll smell. Therefore, the sooner you clean up cat urine, the better your chances of eliminating the smell.

How to get rid of cat urine smell?

When your cat pees outside the litter box, it is important to remove the cat urine odor. If the smell persists, your cat may return to that area and continue peeing there instead of his little box. Plus, as much as we love cats, no one wants their house to smell like cat urine. Cats have a much better sense of smell than we do, so be sure to remove any lingering odors. Eliminating cat urine odor serves a dual purpose. First, you must clean and remove the urine as much as possible. Then, you need to neutralize the odor-causing compounds.

Type of product used

The best cleaning products for cleaning cat urine are those that neutralize odors. Never use ammonia-based cleaners, which can make the smell worse. A word of caution: Never use bleach to clean cat urine. Bleach combined with urine can cause a chemical reaction that releases dangerous gases.

Baking Soda: A well-known deodorant, baking sodaIt absorbs urine and odors. It can be used on carpets, furniture and laundry rooms. Some commercial pet cleaners contain baking soda, or you can use regular baking soda.

Vinegar: Distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar can neutralize pet urine odor. If you use vinegar, you may smell the vinegar itself, but this smell will disappear in a few days.

Enzyme-Based Cleaners: Enzyme-based pet odor cleaners are specially formulated to clean pet stains and neutralize pet odors. Special enzymes in these products break down the odor-causing compounds in urine, leaving nothing behind.

How to remove cat urine smell from carpet?

If the urine is fresh and still wet, try to blot it up with a paper towel or towel. If it's been a while since you peed on the carpet, you can skip this step.

Rinse the dirty area with cool or cold water, then use a towel and/or carpet cleaning equipment such as a handheld carpet cleaner (wet vacuum) to absorb as much water as possible. Think twice before using a steam cleaner; heat can create odors and make them harder to remove.

Use enzymatic cleaners according to directions on the label. Be sure to use enough detergent - it should soak into the carpet.

Let the cleaner sit on the label for the recommended time, then blot the stain with a cloth or paper towel to absorb as much liquid as possible.

Alternatively, you can use a spray bottle to spray a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water onto the affected area, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then blot as dry as possible. Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area, let it dry for a few hours, then vacuum up the baking soda.

If the urine odor persists after these efforts, contact a professional carpet cleaning service immediately.

How to get cat urine smell out of clothes, sheets and blankets?

If your cat pees in your laundry basket or bed, wash these items thoroughly in cold water .

Put regular laundry detergent in your washing machine plus one cup of baking soda or one cup of vinegar. Alternatively, use an enzyme-based laundry detergent.

Dry in the sun to further remove residual odor.

If you want to use a dryer to dry clothes, give it a sniff first to make sure no odor remains. Heat-drying washed clothes will still smell like cat urine, which can leave stains and make the smell harder to remove.

How to get rid of cat urine smell from beds, sofas and other furniture?

If the urine is fresh, try to blot it up with a cloth or paper towel. If the urine is already dry, you can skip this step.

Rinse the affected area with cool or cold water, then use a towel and/or carpet cleaning device (such as a handheld upholstery cleaner) to absorb as much moisture as possible.

Use an enzymatic cleanser on the affected area according to the directions on the label. Spray generously and let it saturate the entire spot.

Let the cleaner sit on the label for the recommended time, then blot the area with a towel or paper towel to remove as much liquid as possible.

Alternatively, use a spray bottle to soak the affected area with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then blot it dry with a towel to absorb as much liquid as possible. Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area, let it dry for a few hours, then vacuum up the baking soda. If you peed on your couch cushions or mattress, take them outside in the sun and let the baking soda dry.

If the urine odor persists after these efforts, contact a professional house cleaning company as soon as possible.

Cleaning up your cat's pee can be frustrating and time-consuming, but consider this: If your cat pees outside the litter box, it's probably sick. Take him to the vet to check if there are any feline health issues that could cause him to pee outside the box. If no medical problem is identified, inappropriate urination may be behavioral. Your veterinarian can give you some advice on how to stop it.

Can vinegar get rid of cat urine smell?

Vinegar is a natural way to neutralize cat urine odor. Although vinegar itself has a distinctive smell, it usually disappears after a few days. If vinegar doesn't do the trick, an enzyme-based pet cleaner is a more effective option for neutralizing cat urine odor.

What else smells like cat urine?

In addition to actual cat urine, there are a few things that can have a similar smell, including certain plants, sewer problems, and even certain types of mold.

How to get rid of urine smell in your home?

Getting rid of cat urine odor requires two steps. First, clean the area as thoroughly as possible using an ammonia-free, bleach-free cleaner. Then, use vinegar, baking soda, or an enzyme-based pet cleaner to neutralize the odor.