Effective Cat Urine Smell Removal Methods

As you’ve no doubt noticed, cat urine smell removal isn’t easy to accomplish using ordinary household cleaners. Even harsh chemicals like bleach can’t effectively break down the odor-containing crystals in cat urine and eliminate the smell. On the other hand, some very gentle, natural cleaners can break down these crystals so you can wash them–and the smell–out of your carpets, furniture, hardwood floors or wherever else your kitty piddled.

Find All of It

Cats are naturally drawn to urinate wherever they smell cat urine. Keep in mind that your cat’s nose is a lot more sensitive than yours. You may have removed the stains and maybe the cleaned item even passed the “smell test,” but there may be traces of leftover urine in the area where the cat wet. And a tiny trace may be enough to indicate to your cat that the area is appropriate for use as a litter box. You won’t find these traces by smelling for them.

Instead, use the easier and more effective method of darkening the room as much as possible and shining a black light (UV light) around the room. The cat urine, as well as any other organic stains like blood, will glow a dull yellow or white. You’ll probably see specks on the walls and furniture you didn’t even know were there. These should all be cleaned so the cat doesn’t stike there again.

Apply an Effective Cleaner

Both homemade and store-bought cleaners can be effective for cat urine smell removal. When combined correctly, certain household products like baking soda, mouthwash, and vinegar can break down and remove tough cat urine. A commercially made cleaner containing enzymes is another option. Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that break down organic material like proteins, fats and carbohydrates. For urine, you’ll probably end up with a formula containing protease and/or amylase enzymes. Just make sure the formula you choose specifically states on the packaging that it’s effective on cat pee. Otherwise, it may be too weak to do much good.

Follow the Correct Cleaning Procedures

Homemade cleaners are dependent on specific chemical reactions, so as long as you follow the basic procedure for mixing and applying the blend, chances are it will work. For instance, if you use white vinegar to mop up a fresh puddle on the linoleum, as long as you use a strong enough solution (1 cup vinegar per gallon of water), it should remove the odor.

Enzyme cleaners are a bit tricker. These cleaners contain biologically active material (enzymes) that area sensitive to temperature, moisture levels and chemicals. Applying such a cleaner to a carpet you’ve already tried to clean with chemicals could deactivate the enzymes, making them useless. If you’ve already applied chemicals, rinse the area with plain water before using the enzyme cleaner. These cleaners should also stay moist and at least room temperature the entire time they’re left to work, which should be at least 12 hours.

Keep in mind, though, effective and long-term cat urine smell removal depends on ensuring that kitty doesn’t wet in the same place again. You can solve your cat’s inappropriate urination problems and get your home completely free of cat urine odors, but the solutions may not always be obvious. Instead of wasting time learning by trial and error, read the book Cat Urine Problems Eliminated to discover proven-effective ways to retrain your cat and regain your home.

Cleaning Cat Urine: Removing Old Urine Stains

Cats identify appropriate areas to urinate based on the odor of cat urine, whether their own or another cat’s. If you’re trying to get your cat to stop using a particular location as a litter box, it’s essential to remove all traces of cat urine smell. The same goes if you’ve just moved into a new house or apartment where the previous owners had cats. If those cats wet on the carpets anywhere, your cat will most likely detect that odor and start wetting there simply because she thinks that’s where she’s supposed to go.

And finally if you move into a place with detectable cat urine odor, you’ll need to get rid of that odor for your own health. Cat urine contains a high concentration of ammonia, which can irritate and even damage your lungs. Keep in mind, too, that if you wait too long, you may become so used to the smell that you cant even detect it…but your guests will be able to.

Find it All First

The first way to find cat urine stains and odor sources is to simply look and smell around. The problem with this method is that not only is it unpleasant (who wants to walk around inhaling cat pee smell?), it’s also ineffective. Older cat urine spots probably won’t be visible, especially on dark carpet, and the smell may have dissipated so much that you can’t smell it, but your cat can.

To prevent future problems, you’ll need to find all the stains and remove them completely. The easy way to do this is by making the room as dark as possible and shining a black light flashlight around the room. These flashlights are normally sold for finding scorpions in the dark, but they also show organic stains including urine, blood and vomit from human or animal. Outline the soiled areas with tailor’s chalk or tape so you can find them once you turn the lights on. If you try this, though, be prepared to find lots of nasty stains on the carpet, especially if it’s an older one.

Apply the Proper Cleaning Solution

Not all pet urine odor removal products work on all pet urine. Dog urine isn’t quite as tenacious as cat urine, so products for dog urine may not work well for you. Don’t think a cleaner that gets rid of most of the odor is enough, either. Some cleaners remove the odors humans can smell, but leave a trace the cat can smell, so kitty will keep returning and urinating on that spot. In the right combination and applied correctly, certain household products like baking soda, mouthwash, and vinegar can break down and remove tough cat urine. Alternatively, you can use a store-bought cleaner based on enzymes or bacteria that break down the crystals in cat urine.

You can solve your cat’s inappropriate urination problems and get your home completely free of cat urine odors, but the solutions may not always be obvious. Instead of wasting time learning by trial and error, read the book Cat Urine Problems Eliminated to discover proven-effective ways to retrain your cat and regain your home.