Get the Smell of Cat Pee Out of Your House

Absorbent materials can smell funky and skunk-adjacent because cat urine is a potent cocktail. Bacteria thrive in cat pee that's not swiftly attended to, resulting in an ammonia-like whiff. Old pee emits mercaptans with the same sulfurous molecules you can expect to find in decomposing meat. Pretty gross if you think about it.

Consider why your fur baby isn't peeing in its litter box. There's a host of potential reasons, including stress, old age, medical issues, an uncomfortable or dirty litter box, a toilet area that's not private enough, or not being neutered. You'll need to address these issues to stop all the accidents from occurring in the first place.

Fresh pee is wet and not that difficult to find. Old pee, on the other hand, will require a bit of investigative work. After sundown, turn all the lights off and switch on a blacklight procured from a local big box store. When you shine the ultraviolet light in the areas your cat usually hangs out, dried-up pee will glow and alert you to its presence. You won't just see it on the floor but on vertical surfaces that cats spray to mark their territory.

Work quickly to blot fresh pee with a paper towel but don't rub, or you'll spread the urine and pill rug fibers. Don't use a carpet shampoo—you need a special enzyme cleaner, and using a regular detergent first will render the enzyme cleaner less effective and possibly fix stains in place. Follow the instructions on the packaging. You might be unable to use an enzyme cleaner on untreated wood, leather, silk, etc. Doing a patch test before you use products is always a good idea, whether you're trying skincare or a cleaner on a nylon carpet. Don't be shy during the application. Pee isn't.

Grocery store shelves can sometimes be overwhelming with multiple options, so here are two products for you to try when you're unsure which route to take. Biokleen Bac-Out can remove pee odors from your upholstered furniture, carpets, and porous surfaces. Nature's Miracle is another popular enzymatic product that eliminates smells. Enzymes like protease allow the urine to break down and evaporate, but you might still be left with a mark, which you can tackle with clean water or a dedicated stain-remover.

If store-bought solutions don't work for you, try a homemade treatment. Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a jug and apply this solution to the soiled portion of your carpet liberally. Leave it to soak in for 15 minutes before blotting it with a paper towel until dry. Now spread some baking soda on the area and, in a separate bowl, combine 3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of mild dishwashing soap. When you add this new mixture to the baking soda, there'll be a visible reaction. Work your treatment into the carpet and let it dry for at least four hours before vacuuming the baking soda away. Repeat the process if necessary.

Hard surfaces like sealed tiles are usually straightforward and require a basic dishwashing liquid solution. But when you've got unsealed grout and hardwood floors, you're looking at more significant damage, especially if you don't act fast. Use a wood cleaner or grout cleaner promptly and do a thorough job, or the urine will eat away at your floor's finish.

Cats may pee in laundry baskets or have accidents while you're holding them. In these situations, take the soiled item of clothing to the sink ASAP. Rinse the pee out with cold water. Hot water can set the odor, which is what you don't want. Dab the rinsed spot with a paper towel before putting the item in a washing machine with enzyme detergent. You may have to put it in the laundry once more for good measure.

If all your efforts are in vain, or you simply don't have the time to deal with the stains you acquired while your kitten was potty training or your late cat was ill, call in the experts. They can wash and dry carpets without compromising the material and ensure you won't have any icky lingering smells wafting up from your favorite sofa.

When the boss of the house, AKA your kitty, keeps making its way back to the same spot and you're at your wits' end, you may have to change tactics. You can hire a professional to pull up the offending section of the carpet. The pad will need replacing, and the subfloor will require sealing.