5 Quick Ways to Get Rid of Cat Urine Smell

What will you learn from the article?

1. Causes of unpleasant odor
2. How to remove the smell of cat urine Traditional methods

If your beloved pet really likes to mark any things in the apartment (car) (sofa, chairs, shoes, carpet), after which not only stains remain, but also an unpleasant smell of urine, then this article is especially for you. We will tell you how to remove the smell of cat urine at home.

Causes of unpleasant odor

The unpleasant odor from a cat's mark appears for one main reason - the composition of the urine:

• Urochrome is what colors urine
• Urea is what makes urine sticky (after it dries)
• Uric acid is what causes cat urine to crystallize quickly. These “crystals” do not dissolve in water, making urine difficult to remove.

When you carefully try to wash away stains and eliminate the smell of urine, you only get rid of the first components of the “mark.”

That is why, after some time, the smell appears again.

The intensity of the odor depends not only on the presence of uric acid in the urine, but also on the surface on which the “tag” is located. It is very difficult to remove the smell of urine from surfaces that absorb moisture well.

It is important to know why the cat stopped going to the toilet.

What are the consequences of not removing a stain in time?

Sometimes you can feel immediately that a pet lives in an apartment when you walk into the hallway. The fact is that family members get used to the unpleasant aroma, but guests immediately feel it. Cat urine contains caustic substances that make the odor difficult to remove. Sometimes it's easier to get rid of something than to wash it.

Trying to remove the smell of cat urine from clothes should be done immediately. Often the situation becomes more complicated because the marks were not noticed immediately, but after drying. Then you will have to spend more effort and time, but you can really cope.

You should not put the item in the wash at the same time, as the unpleasant aroma will transfer to the entire product. If the stain is wet, you need to blot it well with paper napkins or unnecessary rags that absorb liquid. You can pour absorbent for your pet's tray onto it, and then shake it off or vacuum it up. The marks should not be rubbed, otherwise they will become larger.

How to remove the smell of cat urine

Proven folk methods and effective professional remedies will help you.

Traditional methods

If the “trouble” takes you by surprise, you do not have time to purchase a special remedy for cat odor - use homemade remedies. Those who do not want to buy expensive detergents can also do the same.

Important! Test the chosen method on a test area so as not to spoil the entire item or surface. Non-standard reactions of surfaces to the method you choose are possible.

Folk remedies for eliminating unpleasant cat odor:

• Mineral water with salt;
• Potassium permanganate;
• Vinegar;
• Lemon juice;
• Hydrogen peroxide and soda;
• Iodine;
• Glycerin soap;
• Laundry soap;
• Vodka.

Below is a detailed description of each method.

Potassium permangantsovka

Manganese breaks down ammonia crystals, eliminating odor. When using it, keep in mind that it may stain the surface. Therefore, use it only on non-absorbent surfaces (floors, countertops). Wipe the mark area with a saturated crimson solution and wash off the potassium permanganate with water. You need to make sure that all the crystals are dissolved - they can leave stains on surfaces.

Vinegar

Vinegar, diluted in water in a ratio of 1:2, does an excellent job of removing odors and removing stains on fabric surfaces and carpets. The vinegar solution is poured into a spray bottle and the areas of “embarrassment” are sprayed. After this, you need to thoroughly wash the treatment areas. Clothes treated in this way are washed.

Lemon juice

Freshly squeezed juice of one lemon is mixed with a glass of water. Wipe the marked area with this solution. There is no need to rinse off - the remaining smell will scare away the cat.

Hydrogen peroxide and soda

An effective stain remover for upholstery and carpets.

1. Method : Sprinkle soda on the stain in a thick layer. It is filled with peroxide on top. Do not be alarmed, during the chemical reaction a strong smell of ammonia is released - it disappears. The mixture is left overnight, and in the morning the residue is removed with a damp, soapy cloth.
2. Method : 2 tablespoons of soda mixed with 15 g. peroxide and dissolve in liquid soap. Treat the stain with the resulting mixture, then rinse with warm water.

Iodine

Suitable for cleaning textiles and dark carpets. 20 drops of iodine are diluted in a liter of water. The mark is treated with this solution. After a few hours, the treatment area is washed with warm water. The product cannot be used on light-colored items.

Glycerin soap

Glycerin successfully fights urea. The product is suitable for cleaning furniture upholstery. Moisten a soap bar with water and thoroughly wipe the stained surface with it. Then the area is treated with a coarse bristle brush, rinsed with warm water and dried thoroughly.

Laundry soap

The soap is grated and poured with a small amount of warm water. This paste is applied to the stain and thoroughly rubbed into upholstery, shoes and textiles. Wait 30 minutes and wash off with warm water.

Vodka

It is not particularly effective as a stain and odor remover, but its main role in this case is to create an unpleasant odor for the cat. There are substances in vodka that the cat really doesn’t like, so you don’t have to worry about him wanting to leave his “mark” here again. Use undiluted vodka to treat stains on the floor, furniture and carpets. The disadvantage of this method is that the smell of alcohol takes a long time to dissipate.

Sparkling water with salt

The method is suitable for mattresses and carpets. The surface is poured with soda and sprinkled generously with salt. Wash off after a few hours with warm water.

Stories from cat owners

Nikita: “Our cat is sterilized and we didn’t have any problems with the smell of urine before, but a couple of months ago a terrible smell of ammonia began to come from the litter box. At first we thought that the new food was to blame. But after a visit to the veterinarian, it turned out that our girl had an inflamed bladder. The strong odor was caused by this particular disease. The veterinarian prescribed us a course of antibiotics (Monural), the cat recovered, and the smell disappeared.”

Anton: “We took the cat to the veterinarian without a carrier, he puffed up on the leather car seat in fright. I removed the smell with hot mineral water (Borjomi) and salt. I watered it with mineral water, sprinkled it with salt and rubbed it all. After treatment, I thoroughly washed the interior and seats. In order not to spoil the leather, you need to try this mixture on a small piece of upholstery.”

Maria: “I removed a stain from the sofa with a solution of potassium permanganate. They say that a vinegar solution works well - I was afraid of ruining the upholstery. My sofa is brown, potassium permanganate did not leave any stains on it. I wouldn’t experiment like that with light furniture.”

Professional remedies for cat urine odor

If you are unable to remove the smell and stain using home remedies, you will have to turn to a professional. The pet industry offers a large selection of domestic and imported odor neutralizers, some of which not only drown out the unpleasant “aroma”, but also destroy it completely.

Read more about the most popular ones below.

SmellOff

The most popular and effective remedy is SmellOff for cat odors.

SmellOff can boast of a large number of advantages:

• Safety;

This neutralizer does not contain aggressive substances or strong chemical odors.

• Environmental friendliness;

The composition contains only natural ingredients, and the pleasant aroma after processing is associated with the composition of plant extracts in the composition.

• Harmlessness;

Does not cause an allergic reaction or chemical poisoning in either humans or animals.

• Efficiency;

The odor-removing effect is achieved by destroying particles with an unpleasant odor at the molecular level, and not by masking the odor with a stronger one.

• Cost-effective;

To remove ingrained odors, only 50-100 ml per m² is required, and for prevention, 5-10 ml.

• Cleaning properties;

In addition to the main effect of odor removal, SmellOff removes even the most stubborn stains.

• Versatility;

The neutralizer is suitable for any surface, including the treatment of fabrics and shoes.

• Easy to use.

To treat the surface, clean it of visible dirt and leave it until completely dry, after which the product does not need to be washed off.

Dezosan

They promise that the product kills any odors, including cat excrement. Unpleasant odors are destroyed at the molecular level, and are not drowned out by deodorizing additives included in the product.

By the way, there are not many additives in the composition - these are nonionic surfactants and food fragrance.

Advantages of Dezosan:

• It does not mask, but destroys odor.
• Recommended for use in washing vacuum cleaners.

Dezosan is not yet sold on the Ukrainian market, but on the Russian market the drug is in demand. 500 ml of product costs from 270 to 450 rubles, and 1 liter - from 790 to 950 rubles.

OdorGone

This remedy for the smell of cat urine is patented in the USA and bottled in Russia.

Advantages of OdorGone:

• Naturalness. The composition of OdorGone is quite simple - it is water and a mixture of plant extracts;
• Economical. Up to 10 sprays are enough to treat a small room (15 m²);
• Safety. Approved for use in rooms with pets, asthmatics and small children;
• Hypoallergenic. Does not cause an allergic reaction;
• Efficiency. OdorGone is able to remove even stubborn odors;
• The drug has bactericidal properties;
• Biodegradable.

In Russia, a 100 ml bottle of OdorGone costs 297 rubles, 500 ml – 815 rubles. In Ukraine, similar packaging is sold for 100 hryvnia and 357 hryvnia, respectively.

Zoosan

A detergent with a disinfectant effect is produced in two lines - for large fur farms and for premises with 1-3 pets. Manufacturers emphasize that Zoosan does not contain chlorine, fluorine and phosphates (which makes it safe for pets and children), but contains only fragrances, antiseptics, food coloring and non-ionic surfactants.

Among the stated advantages, we highlight:

• This product destroys “amber” at the molecular level;
• Capable of removing stains from almost any surface;
• Guaranteed to remove territorial tags.

Zoosan is not sold in Ukraine, but in Russia a 500 ml detergent costs from 400 to 600 rubles.

Urine-off Cat & Kitten

The bioenzyme product from American developers works great on hard and soft, horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Manufacturers carefully hide the composition of their product, but they promise that its ingredients destroy uric acid crystals and work as pheromone blockers - cats will never mark the treated area again.

Advantages of Urine-off Cat & Kitten:

• Contains only natural plant materials.
• Does not contain poisonous or toxic components.
• Harmless. Can be used in homes with small children.
• Enzymes and biological agents included in the composition decompose urine into water and carbon dioxide.
• Allowed for use in homes with allergies

A Ukrainian consumer buys 200 ml for 58 hryvnia, and a Russian consumer buys 200 ml for 315 rubles.

Odor kill

Vanilla odor killer. This can be called a destroyer of unpleasant odors, produced in the UK. Odor kill accurately targets not only the smell of urine and feces of pets, but also the smell of fur (and also cigarette smoke, burning, kitchen and similar problematic odors).

The drug itself smells like vanilla and is completely safe for both animals and people.

Odor kill is diluted in water and this solution is used to treat all surfaces, both hard (floor, walls, tiles) and soft (carpets, bedspreads, tablecloths). A room of 400 m² requires 4 liters of Odor kill.

Advantages of Odor kill:

• Efficiency.
• Suitable for hard and pile surfaces.

A large bottle of the product (3.78 l) in Ukraine costs 960 hryvnia, and in Russia – about 4 thousand rubles.

What not to use

It is not recommended to use chlorine-containing products to clean cat tags (chlorine does not evaporate well in an apartment). This can damage the surface being treated and have a negative impact on your well-being and the health of the animal.

We recommend that everyone read how to train a kitten to use the litter box, and also learn how to stop a cat from crapping.

Overlock capabilities

They started producing and producing overlockers back in the Soviet Union, but today those old brands are no longer of interest to anyone. They do not have as many functions as they are presented on the sales market today. For example, the more expensive the model, the more functions it contains.

Important! You can finish edges in 3-5 threads, make an overlock stitch, be able to process carpet runners, knitwear and much more. When choosing an overlocker, there is no better or worse, because everyone has their own goal, that is, the choice is always individual.

A useful tip is when purchasing, do not pay special attention to the design of the equipment, but only to the quality. Try to answer these questions for yourself and the choice will be reduced by identifying your priorities:

1. Why are you looking for an overlocker?
2. What materials need to be processed?
3. What stitches should I use?
4. How often will the device be used?

How to remove urine stains and odor from various surfaces

When removing stains, do not forget to be careful; check the surface with the mark for a reaction with the product used.

From upholstered furniture

Stains and unpleasant odors from cat urine are best removed from sofas (furniture) using potassium permanganate (if the fabric is not dyed), lemon juice or a vinegar solution.

From the floor surface

To get rid of an unpleasant odor on linoleum, laminate or parquet (floor), the same products are suitable:

• vinegar diluted in water in equal proportions. You need to wipe the floor with the solution in such a way that its surface remains wet. After a few hours, simply wipe it dry.
• Use lemon juice from fresh fruit in the same way as vinegar.

From the mattress

In order to get rid of the unpleasant odor on the mattress, you will need sparkling water and salt. Fill the stain with soda, then sprinkle salt on top and leave for several hours. Then remove the salt and rinse off the residue with water. Instead of soda, you can use boric acid diluted with water.

From shoes

Eliminating odor from shoes is a little more difficult. If you witness a cat “crime”, the chance of saving your shoes is much higher. So, if you notice a “fresh puddle” in your shoes, immediately put a towel (crumpled up newspaper) in it to absorb the moisture. After this, wash the shoe in water using laundry soap.

If you do not notice the “mark” immediately, then eliminating the smell becomes more difficult. You will have to wash your shoes several times with laundry soap, after which you should wipe them with a vinegar solution and dry them. Repeat the procedure until the odor is completely eliminated. If the shoes are made of fabric (sneakers, sneakers), then washing them will be enough.

Nothing helps? Buy a urine odor eliminater (spray, liquid) at a pet store and wash your shoes with this product.

From the carpet

It will be easier to deal with stains and odors on carpet or hardwood floors if you notice a “fresh mark.” Use vinegar, lemon juice or laundry soap for cleaning, just remember to first absorb the moisture with a towel (napkin). If the stain is old, then make a solution of vinegar (1/1) in water, pour it on the spot, sprinkle baking soda on top and scrub thoroughly.

From clothes

If the cat left a mark on your clothes, then simply wash the clothes and rinse them in a vinegar solution (1 tablespoon per liter of water).

Prevention measures

To prevent the problem of cat marks from arising again and again, use our tips:

1. Treat the areas where your cat likes to mark with one of the industrial deterrents sold in pet stores:
   "Antigadin";
2. “Shit? No!";
3. "Mr.Fresh." Unlearning to shit”;
4. Beaphar Stop-it Cat;
5. “Don’t shit! Don't tag!";
6. Antipakostin "Happy Cat".

1. Use folk remedies:
   Place a closed container with small drilled holes in the places of the marks, into which place ground coffee and pepper.
2. Place citrus peels in places where the cat has marked - the smell will scare away the animal.

1. Castration/sterilization surgery will help to radically solve the problem with urine odor and unwanted stains.

What can I do to prevent this problem from recurring?

You can put a lot of effort into getting rid of urine stains on clothes and even get the job done. But until it is possible to find out why the cat stopped going to the litter box, he will continue to spoil things. Main reasons:

1. Hormones. If the pet is not neutered, its hormonal levels are at a high level, and it is under great stress. Then only surgery will help.
2. Disease. In the case when surgical intervention has already occurred, such behavior may indicate a serious pathology (hyperthyroidism, cystitis, hepatitis). If the pet is elderly, it begins to suffer from decreased brain activity and physical abilities. Therefore, before scolding an animal, you should take it to a doctor for examination.
3. Psychological reasons. They are quite diverse. This is an aversion to the tray or filler, the place where it is located. If the cat is not the only one in the house, intraspecific aggression is observed. A pet often experiences stress associated with moving to a new apartment, quarrels between family members, and the birth of a child with its owners. First you need to find out what exactly the problem is. It’s worth rearranging the tray and trying to refill it. If an animal is stressed, only time and affection will help. Punishments will make the situation worse.

It is worth using products that will scare away your pet. These are lemon, vodka and special preparations purchased in stores.

Using folk recipes can be more effective than store-bought ones, so it’s better to start fixing the problem with them. They are definitely not dangerous and will not harm the animal. It may take some time and patience, but in the end you will be able to get rid of cat urine on clothes.

Prevention measures

Punishing a pet makes the situation worse; the animal will not stop marking. You shouldn't poke a cat into a puddle with its muzzle. In most cases, there is a reason that explains the appearance of puddles. It needs to be eliminated. To prevent the animal from shitting in the corners, you need to adhere to the following rules:

• When getting a kitten, think about a place for the toilet. The tray should be in a secluded place.
• Treat tags with special anti-cat odor products.
• Place dry tangerine peels into flower pots. They will discourage you from needing them.
• Change the filler regularly.

Hormones

Sexually mature, unneutered cats mark their territory. Sterilization helps solve the problem.

Disease

With diseases of the genitourinary system (cystitis, urolithiasis), the animal is unable to control urination. The pet needs to be taken to the vet immediately. Without timely treatment, he may die.

Psychological reasons

Animals in a state of stress leave puddles. Strangers, sounds, or other animals brought into the apartment can frighten a cat. Sometimes pets shit, taking revenge for insults inflicted on them or protesting against dirty cat litter.

Sewing machine with overlock

If you are interested in how to choose an overlocker for home use, then feel free to immediately skip industrial devices, since they are much more expensive in price and have many functions that are not very necessary for the home.

The main point that you need to pay attention to when choosing a sewing machine is what fabrics can be worked with and what edge design functions are present. As a rule, economy options for home use have all the frequently used functions. More expensive models will delight you with advanced functionality - for example, computer embroidery.

Express methods for cleaning clothes

You can quickly get rid of the harsh cat odor only with special means. They are sold in pet stores.

The most convenient preparations to use are sprays.

The fastest and most effective:

1. Bio-GM. The drug is available in the form of a spray. It contains bacteria that feed on the waste products of living organisms. Immediately after application, the product begins to act. After half an hour, not a trace of the smell will remain.
2. DezoSan in the form of a spray can cope with any, even the strongest and oldest odors. Within half an hour after application, the cat scent disappears.
3. Urine Off is a professional product that is safe for animals and people. This is a biological cleaner that destroys almost all organic contaminants and removes odors. Also suitable for old urine stains.