Today’s article will be about an important topic for every new cat owner, which is about “how to get rid of the cat pee smell.” When you finally decide to adopt or buy a new kitty, you will be so happy the same as any cat lover. However, there are some things you can’t control as a new cat owner, and instead, you have to learn how to efficiently deal with them.
Furthermore, owning a cat may be a rewarding experience, but it is not all fun and games when it comes to litter training and cleaning behind their “mistakes”; it may cost you some carpets and clothes.
As most common, cats have the unfortunate habit of urinating on sofas, chairs, and other furniture in your home. This is most common when your pet is young and not fully trained to urinate outside or use the litter box.
However, if your pet suddenly urinates in inappropriate places, it may be the result of stress or illness, and you will need to consult a vet. Sometimes your cat is completely healthy and fully trained, but it is just trying to get some female attention!
Meanwhile, it is necessary to clean up urine and figure out how to get rid of the cat pee smell; and, most importantly, how to eliminate this habit to avoid re-occurrence in the future.
In this article, you will know how to get rid of the cat pee smell. You will also be provided with possible reasons that lead your cat to urine in the wrong places and how to clean up their mess.
Table of Contents
Why Do Cats Pee Outside Their Litter Box In The First Place?
Before you figure out how to get rid of the cat pee smell, we need to know the root of the problem. Of course, it is easy to train your pet to use a litter box.
But sometimes, even when you train them, they behave weirdly and start urinating outside the box; on your favorite sofa, carpets, or even your bed.
In effect, cats urinate outside the litter box because they are trying to tell you something, or perhaps they are suffering from something.
“As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.” –Ellen Perry Berkeley
Pathological Reasons
If your cat urinates abnormally, the first step to do is to consult your vet. Your vet will perform a physical examination of your cat and take some urine samples.
Depending on the results, the vet will recommend specific treatments to solve your pet’s problem. Therefore, before we figure out the answer to the question of how to get rid of the cat pee smell, let’s get a hang of some common medical problems your cat might have.
Many common medical problems lead cats to urine outside the box:
#1 Urinary Tract Infection:
Urinary tract infection is often rare kitties but pretty common among older cats. Such a disease affects the urinary system and makes your cat urinate outside the litter box.
#2 Bladder Stones:
Some cats develop stones in the bladder, which may cause irritation or blockage of the urethra, which is the leading cause of your cat’s urination problem.
If the vet suspects bladder stones, an X-ray will be required to determine the size and amount of stones.
Smaller bladder stones can be dissolved by following a special diet, but larger stones may need to be removed surgically.
#3 Idiopathic Cystitis:
Cats stand out outside the box, meaning idiopathic cystitis. Cats with cystitis often have blood in their urine. Urine sample testing is necessary in this case. This condition is usually treated with some diet changes and certain medications.
#4 Diabetes In Cats
This is another possible cause; it could be fatal to your cat if left untreated. If your cat feels unusually thirsty and runs to the litter box but cannot make it in time, then diabetes may be the problem that makes your cat urinates in inappropriate places.
Behavioral Causes
If no medical reason is found for a cat to urinate outside the litter box, it is vital to determine the behavioral factors that cause this problem.
#1 Something Wrong With The Litter Box!
The Litter Box may be too dirty for your cat, or it may not be periodically cleaned, resulting in a urination problem. Sometimes it may be completely clean but uncomfortable to use. For example, the box may be too small, covered, or it might be in a place your cat doesn’t like.
#2 Anxiety
Your cat may try to tell you that it is uncomfortable at home. This may be because she is dissatisfied with another animal at home. Hence, it places a sign of her sphere of influence to send a message to the other animal saying, “this place is mine”.
#3 Seeking Attention
If your cat urinates on beds, sofas, clothes, and generally where she spends most of your time, it may be seeking more attention. It tries to draw your attention by leaving its mark on your things.
How To Get Rid Of The Cat Pee Smell?
Before you start worrying about how to get rid of the cat pee smell, you need to know that immediate action is so necessary. It would be best if you found the spot as soon as possible before it dries.
Once the area your cat has peed on has absorbed the pee, it will leave a strong smell, and your cat may decide that this “perfumed” corner is his new litter box.
Pet urine may be difficult to remove if it leaks deeply into furniture or a wooden frame. In most cases, you can spot the urine spot directly, but if you can’t, you can try:
- Your nose: Pet urine smells are very distinct.
- A black-light: Pet urine is characterized by chemical properties that can appear under black light. Also, its smell produces these chemicals even if the stain is dry.
Once you find the urine spot, Place a newspaper or paper towel on the urine stain. Try to absorb the urine as much as possible by placing a paper towel or newspaper in the furniture and pressing it down with your gloved hand.
As you do this, you should clean it to avoid the urine smell later on. When it comes to cleaning and getting rid of the smell, there are two ways:
- Enzyme-Based Cleaners
Dip the stained area with an enzymatic cleaner. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, then try to absorb the cleaner as much as possible using a newspaper or paper towel, and let it dry.
You may need to repeat this step if the enzymatic cleaner cannot eliminate the smell or the stain of the urine from the first time. In effect, urine consists of certain chemicals that require enzymes to dissolve their chemical bonds.
Fortunately, these chemicals are easy to remove using just water and other household cleaners. However, uric acid is the only ingredient that is insoluble in water and must be dissolved using enzymes.
Tip: when you are cleaning the dirty area, make sure you cover it with a noticeable object. This will notify your cat and other people in your house that it is an area that they shouldn’t sit on or walk on.
This method still an effective way, and you don’t even have to worry again about how to get rid of the cat pee smell.
- Baking Soda And Vinegar
This method is quite effective, and you don’t even have to worry about how to get rid of the cat pee smell anymore.
When baking soda interacts with vinegar, it results in water and sodium acetate (salt). Sodium acetate acts as a remover of difficult stains. Moreover, baking soda helps to eliminate smelly odors, and vinegar cleanses the spot deeply.
Before cleaning, try to absorb the urine as much as possible from the furniture.
Spread baking soda on the stain and leave it for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, Mix two equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle or any container you have.
Spray or pour this mixture directly on the baking soda layer that you left on the pee spot. Leave it for another 5 minutes. Soak the stain with a towel or paper towel to dry it thoroughly.
Some Tips:
You can use an aluminum foil as a preventive tool to stop the pet from urinating again on furniture.
The sound caused by moving on the aluminum sheet is uncomfortable for the cat and causes panic. Hence your cat won’t pee on this spot again.
Also, if you can expose the spot to the sun if you can to help, it dries completely.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell – Now What?
After going through this thorough article, you now know and understand the reason why your cat pee everywhere. Also, you got some practical methods, and you can stop worrying about how to get rid of the cat pee smell anymore.
Cats are cute and fun— until you see them “peeing everywhere” on your favorite carpet, bed, or anywhere other than their litter box. While you might just have the thought that your kitty is acting up (which is possible), there may be other important reasons for this unusual — and stinking — behavior.
According to PetMD, there are different reasons for such behaviors, such as anxiety and stress, the type of litter boxes used, mounting stress, dirty litter boxes, or various medical issues, including UTI (Urinary Tract Infections) and other diseases such as diabetes in cats, may be to blame. Regardless, accidents happen, but you shouldn’t allow yourself to live with the stink.
So, your new kitty needs your most attention and don’t forget to learn how to communicate with your cat. Learning that will improve your relationship with your kitty in the long run and make it loves you so much!
Finally, I hope you found this article about how to get rid of the cat pee smell useful and informative.
Let me know your answer down below. Do you have more information or tips on how to get rid of cat pee smell?
If you have any other questions or different opinions about it, leave a comment below.
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Baking soda and vinegar are very effective. I just wasn’t sure if I could also use it to remove cat pee, but now I know I can 😉 The trick with the newspaper is good to know. Although my cats are mostly outside and only come inside to cuddle with me and take their siestas (and sometimes they sleep inside at night), it is stil useful to know this.
Cat pee really stinks. Why does it smell so strongly? Dog’s urine does not smell that intense …I am just wondering what makes cat urine smell so bad?
What are good examples of enzyme-based cleaners?
Hey Christine,
I am happy that you found this information useful and informative. Regarding your first question, it is because Cats have a propensity to mark their territory outside the litter box. After a while, bacteria decompose the urea and give off an ammoniacal odor characteristic. As for the enzyme-based cleaners, I Will publish an article in detail about them, and I will offer my suggestions. ? ?