How to clean a sofa from cat urine: proven methods

Reasons for cat behavior and odor

The sooner you understand why your cat marks furniture, the sooner you can solve this problem.

To solve your cat behavior problem once and for all, you need to find out why your beloved pet wasn't using his litter box. By finding out the animal's motive for such an action, you will prevent repeated damage to the furniture. The main reasons for the behavior of a four-legged friend include:

Dirty tray. If you rarely clean your cat's litter box, your pet may deliberately avoid using it. There are times when a cat relieves itself in a dirty tray, urine remains on its paws, which it then spreads throughout the apartment.
The tailed one has recently settled in your house and has not found its bearings. Show the cat the place where he needs to go.
The pet is still small and does not know how to use the cat litter box.
The pet is sick. He may have, for example, a urinary tract infection or another illness. If the cat experiences pain when going to the toilet, then the litter box will be associated with unpleasant sensations. In this case, you need to take him to the veterinarian.
The favorite has entered old age. His body became weak.
Furry friend doesn't like litter. Perhaps the granules are crunchy or too large.
The cat marks his territory. This is natural animal behavior. If several cats live in an apartment, then the main pet will mark.
The animal does not use the tray due to lack of attention from the owner or from resentment.

If you find out why your cat avoids his toilet, you can avoid the reappearance of marks and an unpleasant “odor” in your apartment.

Preventive measures

To ensure that this situation does not happen again, preventive measures need to be taken. First of all, you should pay attention to your pet. This may be due to a mental condition, illness or other more common reasons. Let's take a closer look at them.

This may be due to the fact that the tray is not organized correctly; it should always be clean, convenient for the cat, and placed in a suitable secluded place. Try to monitor his behavior and, if necessary, take him to the tray. Change the tray at least every two days.

Your pet's litter box should be comfortable and always clean. Then he will not have the desire to “go” somewhere else.

If the animal continues to urinate in the wrong place, then it is worth visiting a veterinarian. A cat's bad behavior may be due to a recent move, separation from its owner, or resentment. You can also use the smells of coffee, citrus fruits, or other things to scare away the animal.

How to remove the smell of cat urine from a sofa and other furniture became obvious. Eliminating the smell is not easy and requires effort, but you can do it yourself without the help of specialized services. Knowing the subtleties and tricks described in the article, you can easily get rid of the stain and neutralize the pungent odor.

Why is the smell of cat urine persistent?

Cat urine, like the urine of other animals, is persistent and cannot be washed off with plain water.

Animal urine has a persistent unpleasant odor. This is due to the composition of the liquid. It includes: urochrome (a coloring matter), urea (makes urine sticky), uric acid (a substance with an unpleasant odor).

After the acid decomposes, chemical elements with a persistent odor are formed. If liquid gets on the cat’s mark, the “aroma” becomes even more pronounced. Acid does not dissolve in water. Simple cleaning will not help solve the problem of removing the odor, so you need to know in advance how you can clean the sofa from cat urine.

Why does a cat leave puddles?

Animal psychologists have identified several reasons for such bad manners, in addition to the onset of puberty. Upholstered furniture, carpets and rugs become attractive to four-legged animals in the following cases:

If her litter tray isn't clean enough. An impeccable sense of smell repels a cat from its familiar place and forces it to go in search of something more comfortable.
The location of the tray itself does not suit the animal.
Cats are trying to attract attention to themselves because their health is deteriorating; it would be a good idea to visit a veterinarian.
This behavior may indicate resentment, jealousy or stress.
Be that as it may, punishment is not the solution to their situation. You need to try to understand the origins of the problem and eliminate them so that your pet can return to normal life - this is the main thing. And stains can always be washed off.

Ways to remove odors from upholstered furniture

A sofa marked by a cat will not stop smelling unpleasantly after you try using deodorant or coffee. The pungent “aroma” will continue to periodically remind you of your pet’s mischief. Fragrances, essential oils, and water without detergents are also ineffective (it can cause the stain to increase). There are several products that help remove odor:

vinegar;
lemon;
hydrogen peroxide;
soda;
potassium permanganate solution (only dark furniture can be treated);
alcohol products (vodka or camphor alcohol);
iodine-based solution (for dark furniture).

In addition, there are various professional products that can be used to remove odor. When choosing them, you need to look at the composition, which should contain antibacterial components.

We advise you to sometimes sprinkle citrus juice on your cat's favorite area of furniture. The aroma of lemon and orange will scare away your four-legged friend and help keep your furniture stain-free.

Traditional methods

Using citric acid to clean your sofa, you can remove the pungent odor.

There are traditional methods for removing the smell of an animal mark and cleaning the stain. Using home remedies, you can prepare the substance yourself and take quick action. Such cleaning does not require large expenses.

Citric acid and iodine

You can remove the smell of cat urine on the sofa by using citric acid along with iodine. These substances have an oxidizing effect and affect the breakdown of urea elements. To treat the stain follow these steps:

pour citric acid into water;
add two drops of iodine;
wet the sponge with liquid and wipe away the dirt.

If the stain is old, repeat the procedure after 20 minutes.

You can also clean your sofa using a simple iodine-based solution. Prepare it based on the ratio: 10 drops / 1 liter of water. Treat the stain and dry the area with a hairdryer. This method is only suitable for dark furniture.

Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, soda

If there are no professional products at home, use vinegar

A vinegar solution is considered one of the effective means for removing stains on a sofa. Dilute vinegar with water in proportions 1:3. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray over the problem area. After this, wait for the cleaning solution to react and dissolve the urine. Use a damp sponge to remove any remaining dirt. After these steps, leave the baking soda on the wet area. Wait until the furniture is dry and shake off any remaining powder.

To get rid of a new stain, you can try using baking soda alone. Due to its antimicrobial and absorbent properties, the substance copes well with fresh traces of cat fluid. Sprinkle the stained area with powder and leave for 25 minutes. Afterwards, vacuum the wet area and wipe with a damp cloth.

To remove dried urine, baking soda must be applied in another way:

add a little warm water to the soda (to a paste-like consistency);
rub the mixture into the fabric with a brush;
wait until the area dries;
remove any remaining paste and wipe the sofa with a soapy rag.

Baking soda is one of the popular stain removers.
In addition, to get rid of urine on light-colored furniture, you can try using hydrogen peroxide. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of laundry soap shavings. Pour 3 teaspoons of peroxide into the resulting mass and stir. Spread the paste over the stain and wait until it dries. After this, remove any remaining substance from the surface and wipe with a damp sponge.

There is a second method using peroxide. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and rub the substance in. Mix water and peroxide in equal quantities. Pour the solution into a spray bottle. Spray the upholstery with liquid and wait until it dries. Vacuum any remaining baking soda.

Soap solution

When cleaning, it is better to use laundry soap

Another cleaning method is to use a soap solution. In this option, you need to use brown laundry soap.

Take half or the entire block (depending on the degree of contamination) and grind it using a grater. Gradually add water and stir until a viscous substance is formed. Then apply the solution to the upholstery, blot with toilet paper, napkins or damp rags. This method is suitable for washing dark furniture.

You can also use glycerin soap. It must be thoroughly rubbed into the dirty surface, rubbed with a brush and rinsed with water. After this, you need to wait until the area dries. Repeat the procedure if necessary. Glycerin works well with urea.

Medical alcohol

Plain rubbing alcohol can remove urea and bacteria. It can be bought at a pharmacy. To get rid of the smell, first clean the stain with soapy water. When the furniture is dry, saturate the desired area with alcohol. In order to completely neutralize the “aroma”, repeat the steps 2-3 times. After such treatment, there is no need to additionally wash the upholstery with soap and water, because the alcohol disappears on its own.

The best from the collection of people's advice

At home, a rather complex option, carried out in several stages, is suitable for cleaning upholstery. To do this you need to prepare:

Vacuum cleaner.
Paper napkins or dry, clean rags.
Dishwashing liquid.
Three percent hydrogen peroxide.
Spray.
Syringe 20 ml..
Baking soda.
Water.
Table vinegar solution (1:4).

Procedure:

First, the piece of furniture needs to be thoroughly vacuumed. Then generously treat all existing stains with vinegar solution, blotting off the excess with a napkin or piece of rags. Wait until the puddles dry completely and move on to the next step.
Furniture filler needs internal treatment, so fill a syringe with a soda solution and inject it, piercing the upholstery in several places, sprinkling the surface with soda.
Dilute hydrogen peroxide in half with water, add a little dishwashing liquid, add this mixture to the filler of a sofa or chair, leaving a certain amount of surface treatment with a spray bottle.
Waiting for the end of the chemical reaction caused by the combination of peroxide and soda, accompanied by the release of an ammonium odor. Once the uric acid is broken down into a volatile compound of ammonia and carbon dioxide, all unpleasant odors will disappear.
All that remains is to dry the upholstery with a hairdryer and vacuum the furniture again. This complex method guarantees complete removal of even the most stubborn cat marks.

Fresh and old marks - features of cleansing

A new stain is easier to remove than an old one

The most effective way to clean a sofa is to remove a fresh mark. You can remove the smell that has not become firmly ingrained into the sofa using soap, soda, citric acid, and hydrogen peroxide. Old pollution is more difficult to deal with. In this case, it is necessary to use several methods simultaneously. For example, you can use a professional anti-pollution and odor eliminator.

Alternatively, you can try to get rid of the old mark using regular home remedies. Wet the stain with acetic acid and add baking soda. Then treat the surface with a solution of water, hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap. Rinse everything off with water after 3 hours. Apply to the stain: vodka, washing powder, furniture detergent, ammonia. Remove the applied mixture after an hour.

Errors when cleaning

To remove odors, never use chlorine-containing products or substances with ammonia - they will aggravate the problem and damage the upholstery. Although chlorine has a strong odor, it does not deter cats and they return to the previously marked area.

Eau de toilette and air freshener will not get rid of the unpleasant “aroma,” but will only temporarily mask it. We do not recommend using fragrances, because they will not cope with the problem - the smell will definitely appear after some time.

Effective professional products to combat unpleasant odors

If the use of folk remedies has not brought success, then it’s time to use more active ready-made chemicals. Most professional products remove stains and unpleasant odors without any problems.

Important! When choosing a product, pay attention to the composition: the presence of chlorine and ammonia is not recommended; the content of enzymes and bacteria is recommended. The latter destroy urine crystals.

The most effective and popular means:

OdorGone. Hypoallergenic and non-toxic, has bactericidal properties. Made from plant ingredients.
Odorkill. A good way to make a room smell like vanilla.
Dezosan. It works at the molecular level and is completely safe for humans and animals.
Zoosan. Safe, neutralizes odor.
Urine-off-Cat& Kitten. Based on bacteria that destroy urine crystals.

You can also use: Hartz Pet Stain & Odor Remover, Just for Cats Urine Destroyer, Just for cats Stain & Odor Remover, Complete Pet Stain & Odor Remover, Tri-bio.

The rules and conditions for using a particular product are described on the packaging. It is recommended to use a substance with a citrus scent, as it repels cats and is a means of prevention.

If nothing helps?

Have you tried all the options, but the stain remains in place? Contact the professionals

If you have tried many times to get rid of the smell of the tag, but nothing has worked, then try replacing the sofa filling. To do this, open the seam closest to the stain and remove the old contents of the furniture. Wash the upholstery (all or part of it). Buy new litter and place it inside.

You can go to the forums and write to experienced cat owners. Perhaps they will share their experience and recommend a new effective remedy. As a last resort, go to a dry cleaner. Specialists will carry out “water cleaning” with a water vacuum cleaner. It sucks up dirt and treats the fabric with detergents.

What should not be used to remove odors?

You should not use a number of remedies, as they will only aggravate the situation. These include:

Containing chlorine. It emits fumes that are harmful to health and can damage furniture. Products containing chlorine are not able to clean fabric from urea and eliminate the pungent odor.
Odor masking agents. They in no way destroy harmful bacteria, but only temporarily mask them. This may provoke the animal to pee again.

Carefully approach the issue of choosing a product, do not forget to test it in an inconspicuous place.

You should not use products containing chlorine or drugs that simply mask odors.

Useful tips and prevention

Don't scare your furry friend by swearing, and he'll quickly wean himself off the bad habit.

To prevent your pet from acting up, provide him with a comfortable place to use as a toilet. Change the litter in the tray more often (once every 2 days). You need to clean up after your cat immediately. If you notice that the cat is about to relieve itself on the sofa, immediately take it to the necessary place for this. Observe the animal's behavior. In cases where your pet marks the sofa in front of you, immediately take measures to destroy the stain so that an unpleasant odor does not settle in the apartment.

Try to find out the reasons for the animal's behavior. Take your pet to the vet. Perhaps he is sick. Also, consult a professional regarding spaying or neutering. Don't shout or punish your four-legged friend. He may get scared and will mark furniture when no one is looking. Be patient with your pet.

Nuances and precautions

There are a number of misconceptions that should be dispelled before you start cleaning. You should not delay cleaning the stain, as after a while it will be very problematic. This will also help stop your pet from urinating. Don’t think that eliminating unpleasant odors is enough. It is necessary to destroy harmful bacteria, which multiply very quickly in furniture upholstery.

Do not forget that it is very important not only to eliminate the odor and remove the stain, but also to destroy harmful bacteria.