How to remove the smell of cat urine from shoes: what to do if the cat has marked your shoes

Cats are wonderful pets that are full members of almost every family. Along with positive emotions, they can also bring moral discomfort, for example, when putting on your favorite shoes, when the foot feels suspiciously damp inside. Sometimes pets confuse their own litter box with their owner's shoes. There are several proven ways to remove the smell of urine from shoes.

Reasons for the appearance of a specific odor

Eliminating the odor of cat urine is especially difficult due to its composition. It includes urea, uric acid and urochrome. The most persistent part of cat urine is uric acid. It is not able to dissolve in water and alcohol, unlike other parts that are easily washed off with conventional means. Acid crystals remain in the fabric even after cleaning, causing the unpleasant odor to reappear. The most unpleasant fact in this case is that the surface that has absorbed the urine attracts the pet to itself again and again in order to relieve itself.

Attention! The cat will not encroach on shoes if its tray is always clean and contains high-quality filler. To scare your pet away from certain things, you can use perfume or special liquids.

Recommendations for cleaning various materials

The first stage of cleansing is washing with soapy water. It’s great if the stink disappears after drying. It is not always possible to get results so easily. When cleaning, take into account the color and material of the products

Washing fabric and suede boots

Fabric shoes can be washed in an automatic machine. Use a delicate mode or a special one (usually a sneaker is shown).

Powder and rinse aid eliminate unpleasant odors. After drying, you need to wet the area a little; if the unpleasant odor appears again, resort to additional methods.

Suede and nubuck require special treatment. It's easy to ruin fabric. Treat the stain with glycerin, rinse with clean water, and dry. Finally, sprinkle with lemon juice. You can buy gentle cleaning sprays.

Cleaning leather and fur shoes

Professional products are used for the skin. Folk use with caution: for light shoes - hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, lemon juice, for dark ones - potassium permanganate, iodine.

Use pure glycerin:

Soak the stain and leave to dry for at least 8 hours (for example, overnight).
Rinse with clean water so that there are no streaks left.

Fur products must first be frozen - left for several days on the balcony, or in the freezer, first wrapped in a bag. Afterwards, wet the area a little to check for odor. If there is any left, use delicate cleaning sprays, rinse, and freeze again.

Remove the insoles from boots and shoes of any material and soak them with a rag . Add powdered adsorbent agent, soda or mustard.

After 30 minutes, shake it out and fall asleep again. At night, boots are stuffed with newspaper, paper, napkins soaked in any neutralizer - vinegar, lemon juice. You can air it out on the balcony for several days by unfastening all the fasteners.

Be sure to read:

How to get rid of the smell of new furniture: effective elimination methods

Why is it important to quickly remove the smell of cat urine from shoes?

If your cat has marked your shoes, you should get rid of the smell as quickly as possible. Urine can be absorbed into the surface, after which it will be very difficult to eliminate the unpleasant odor. It is also important to demonstrate to the cat that he made a mistake that the owner is correcting. By delaying the process of removing urine, you may miss the moment when the cat compares its action with something bad. As a result, the pet will make the shoe its favorite place to relieve itself.

Preparing shoes for processing

To achieve the best results in eliminating unpleasant odors, before treating shoes, it is recommended to use paper napkins or toilet paper to get rid of as much urine as possible on the surface. If the mark is inside the product, use soda or salt. It is important to remember that using a hair dryer to remove excess moisture can lead to deformation of the shoes.

Before you start processing the product, it is worth testing the effect of the product on a small area. It is not advisable to continue using the chosen method if stains appear or the color of the shoes changes. It is also recommended to avoid direct contact of the cleaning product with mucous membranes or skin.

How to remove urine smell from shoes

There are several methods for removing the smell of cat urine from shoes. You can resort to home, chemical or specialized remedies. These methods will help to significantly reduce the intensity of the unpleasant odor, but in the case of dried stains you will have to put in more effort.

Traditional methods

People who have recently adopted a kitten need to know how to rid their shoes of the smell of cat urine. A kitten, like any child, does not yet know where to relieve itself. And the owner’s task, in this case, is similar to the parent’s task, namely, to teach the baby to go to the tray. During the learning process, a kitten may make the wrong conclusions, which is why you should stock up on special equipment in advance and be fully armed.

If you find a fresh stain in your own sneakers or boots made of fur, you need to:

Wear gloves and wipe damaged shoes with a napkin. If urine gets inside, you should stuff the shoe with napkins: this will reduce the effort that will need to be made in the process of getting rid of the unpleasant odor.
Wash shoes with laundry soap and water to remove stickiness. This point is relevant if the stain is fresh.
Mix vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:4. If you don't have vinegar, you can rub lemon on your skin. However, it is important not to overdo it: otherwise the shoes will deteriorate.
Wet soda will help get rid of uric acid crystals, which intensively eat into the surface. This method can even be applied to leather shoes.
After removing the soda, the shoes should be washed under running water, preferably with soap. Next, the shoes should be dried thoroughly.

Attention! When using special liquids to neutralize the smell of cat urine, you must follow the instructions on the package.

Pharmacy products

Pharmacy products help both remove the smell of cat urine from shoes and repel pets with their medicinal aroma:

Hydrogen peroxide - mix 15 grams of the product with 2 tablespoons of soda and liquid soap. Rub the substance into the stain and rinse under running water.
Concentrated potassium permanganate - apply the solution to an area of leather or suede and then rinse.
Iodine - dissolve 10 drops in 1 liter of water and rinse the shoes in the solution.

Specialized means

When choosing special products to remove urine stains, it is important to purchase a liquid that contains enzymes. These substances help get rid of uric acid crystals and effectively remove the stain. These products include Urine-off Cat & Kitten and OdorGone.

Pet stores also sell liquids that repel pets from interior elements.

Attention! Special aromatic oils provide a temporary effect: after a few days, the marked shoes will stink again.

We recommend:

How to straighten down in a down jacket after washing

The most common mistakes

There are several considerations when choosing a cleaning product to eliminate the smell of cat urine in shoes. Product processing should be approached responsibly, so it is important to avoid common mistakes.

Air fresheners and other fragrance products do not eliminate, but only temporarily hide unpleasant odors. In addition, the problem will reappear in the presence of a small amount of moisture.
Do not use products containing bleach, including bleach. After treatment with bleach, a shoe product will become spoiled, and a pungent odor can attract a pet and cause another stain.
No effect will follow after using essential oils; moreover, the unwanted odor on shoes can only intensify.
Ammonia will not prevent the cat from marking the product again and will not cover the smell of urine due to the ammonia it contains.

First of all, shoes must be treated using reliable methods, and only after removing the ingrained components of cat urine is the use of scented preparations allowed.

How to remove the smell of an old cat urine stain from shoes

Removing an old urine stain is much more difficult than removing a new one, but you can always find a way out.
Method number 1. Laundry soap will help to remove urine from rag sneakers, which must first be thoroughly rubbed into the stain and then washed off with plenty of water. And in the case of leather shoes, a soap solution will help get rid of the stain.

Method number 2. Glycerin will help get rid of urine stains and odors. It destroys crystals that are formed with uric acid. You can also use any detergent that contains glycerin.

A few drops of citrus essential oil dissolved in water will help repel the cat from its favorite place.

Laundry soap

Excellent for removing both fresh stains and old odors. You can also use laundry soap if, after using other products, a residual “aroma” still remains.

First way

The soap is moistened with water and the inside of the shoes is generously rubbed.
Everything is further rubbed to ensure absorption.
If the instructions allow, the shoes are washed in a washing machine or cleaned manually with a brush and water.
Dry on the balcony or outside.

Second way

This involves grinding the soap on a grater. In this case:

Slightly warmed glycerin is added dropwise to the soap dust.
Wet rag shoes (sneakers, sneakers, slippers) and wash them.

Third way

Designed for shoes that cannot be washed (for example, leather or leatherette). For this:

Laundry soap is finely ground and diluted in water.
Wet a sponge and wipe away old stains.
Repeat again, then blot with a dry cloth.
Shoes are dried in air, avoiding open sunlight.

How to prevent the situation from happening again

First of all, it is important to periodically change the filler in your cat’s litter box. Sometimes pets choose a place to satisfy their natural needs because they don't like it. It is important to choose the type of litter that is best for your cat.

Cats are wayward animals. If the owner has offended the pet, he can take revenge on him by marking his shoes. You can't scold or hit a cat!

Sometimes this problem occurs due to the warming up of the cat’s feelings in the spring. Then you need to take care of his castration or selection of a mate. Marked items must be washed or put away in a timely manner so that they do not attract the cat like a magnet.

Protest: why the cat marks shoes

If a cat just shits in your shoe, you can remove the smell in 99% of cases. If an animal marks its territory in this way, then you will have to try hard! The substances with which the animal shows the boundaries of its possessions are very persistent and sharp, as it is designed by nature!

Do not rush to scold your pet, he always has reasons to shit in his shoes, and very serious ones. Well-bred and healthy cats do not go past the litter box, because they are one of the cleanest animals. How to explain a cat protest:

If a cat marks your shoes, then in this way he shows that he loves you, and you are his territory.
Sometimes this behavior is explained by the presence of other animals in the house and the capricious nature of the cat, his resentment towards you.
Cat surprises in the wrong place can signal health problems. This is how the animal is trying to convey to you that it needs help. Old cats often start walking by.
The cat has an uncomfortable or dirty litter box, be careful, it's only your fault.
You just couldn't toilet train your pet. Be patient and start over.

Do cats mark their territory after neutering? If you are late with the procedure, the pet may remember its behavior and continue to crap for some time. Don't delay castration. If the animal continues to mark its boots more than 6 months after castration, take it to the veterinarian - it may be hormonal imbalances.

It is important to immediately clean your shoes from cat urine, otherwise the situation will repeat itself and become a habit for the cat. And even if the smell is not completely removed, your pet will be tempted to pee in your slippers again. Take cleaning seriously.

What is not recommended to use

To remove cat urine from shoes, do not use chlorine-containing products. They will ruin your shoes, leaving white spots and streaks on them. Preparations with chlorine cause allergies. Chlorine is a highly toxic substance that will harm your pet's keen sense of smell.

Aromatic products will not work either. Ground coffee, aromatic oils and deodorants are popular. But they only mask the unpleasant odor. To eliminate the unpleasant aroma of cat urine, it is necessary to use drugs that break down urea crystals. None of the flavorings can do this.

The article has been verified by the editors

Cleaning shoes made of genuine leather and artificial leather

It will not be possible to completely remove the unpleasant odor from leather shoes.

To clean boots or shoes made of genuine leather, you need to use the following method:

Wipe the surface of the product thoroughly with paper or a napkin. If the cat relieves itself inside, then sprinkle the stain with soda or salt and, after waiting 1-3 minutes, shake it out. Repeat this action until the poured powder stops changing color.
Prepare one of the solutions: dissolve 10 drops of iodine in water;
dilute vinegar with 70% water in a ratio of 1:4;
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of citric acid in water or squeeze the juice of 1 lemon.

Wipe the surface of the product with a sponge soaked in the prepared liquid or hydrogen peroxide. Rinse off. substances with a damp cloth.
Dry the treated shoes in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours.

Be sure to read:
How often do kittens poop and pee, how many times a day, how to understand that he wants to go to the toilet

Boots and other things made of leatherette are cleaned in a similar way with one difference: instead of solutions, it is preferable to use laundry soap. The fact is that any reagent can ruin the appearance of the product.

Industrial products

Many housewives trust industrial anti-cat odor products, as they are safe for most shoe materials and act quickly. Our rating of good disinfectants against cat odor:

ZooSan is a good spray against fresh stains, it has almost no smell.
OdorGone is a powerful tool for all types of shoes and other items; it is more expensive than its analogues.
Odor-Kill is an effective product that leaves behind a pleasant vanilla aroma.
Urine-off Multi-Pet – used on both fresh and old stains.
Himola Antigadin is an inexpensive spray that will be a faithful companion when training a kitten to use the litter box. It is better to use in conjunction with other techniques.

Chemicals help get rid of old stains and odors the first time, but require care. Do not forget about the basic rules for working with such sprays: ventilate the room, do not inhale them, spray strictly in the direction of the stain on the shoes.

Tip Before using any product, first remove as much urine as possible from your shoes. Use toilet paper and dry wipes.

Professional odor removers

It is not always possible to remove the old smell of cat urine from shoes using folk remedies. In this case, you should use household chemicals. Such drugs are expensive, but they are effective. Available in spray form, they are easy to use: just clean the surface from sand and dust and spray the spray several times.

After treatment, it is important to leave the shoes or boots in the fresh air for several hours to allow the smell to dissipate.

The most popular compositions:

Mr. Fresh. The product can cope with stains and odors. It is enough to spray the composition at a distance of about 30 cm from the shoes, then ventilate them thoroughly. Do not use the spray near food.
Urine Off. The product is aimed at combating urine stains and odors. It destroys uric acid crystals. It is enough to spray on the dirt and air the shoes. The main feature of the product is that it blocks pheromones, which allows you to avoid the appearance of new marks.
"DezoSan". The product contains nonionic surfactants that destroy urine molecules and do not simply mask odors. Cost about 400 rubles. per bottle of 0.4 l.
"Zoosan." Controls urine odors, but also combats other organic odors. Can be used on all surfaces regardless of material. It is made on the basis of natural ingredients, so it is hypoallergenic and can be used in rooms where children live. The average cost is 350 rubles. The advantages include the absence of chemicals and ease of use.
Odor Kill. The product is in the form of a solution. Effective, suitable for various surfaces.
Bio-GM. A natural product based on vegetable and fruit ingredients. Allows you to quickly get rid of unpleasant odors in the apartment. In addition to removing odors, the composition improves the microbiology of indoor air and disinfects.

When choosing household chemicals, you should use them exactly according to the instructions.