How to remove bad cat odor

Do you feel like your whole house smells like a cat litter box? The key to keeping your home smelling fresh and clean is to get rid of odors that have ingrained in carpets and furniture. How to permanently remove the cat smell, and not just hide it? A little theory will help us.

Why is the smell of cat urine so persistent?

Cat urine contains uric acid, which can persist for years in carpets, fabrics, or wood! While baking soda, vinegar, soap, and hydrogen peroxide can temporarily neutralize odors, damp weather can cause uric acid to recrystallize, bringing back that annoying “cat smell.” How to get rid of it? According to the information on the website TheCatSite.com, the only way to remove uric acid is to use an enzymatic cleaner. Stains on carpet or fabric should be soaked with an enzymatic cleaner and allowed to dry completely. Enzymes break down uric acid into gas, and as a result of natural drying, the gases evaporate, leaving your carpet and fabrics fresh. Enzyme cleaners can be found online and in most grocery stores.                          

How to clean    

It doesn’t matter if your cat has recently urinated at home or if you are dealing with old stains and lingering odors, the main thing is to approach the solution of this problem in a complex manner. How to remove the smell of cat urine? Here are some basic recommendations:

• Once you find a puddle, blot it with a towel to absorb as much urine as possible.
• Apply an enzymatic cleaner to the stain and leave to dry.
• Place a laundry basket on the dirty area so that the cat does not go there while the cleaner is working.
• Open windows and turn on fans to circulate air to get the smell out of the house.
• Try to determine the reason for this behavior of the cat (problems with urination, stress, changes in the daily routine).

Preliminary thorough cleaning with vinegar followed by an enzymatic treatment will break down uric acid and eliminate odor in your home. Vinegar and enzymatic cleaners are suitable for all types of surfaces: parquet, carpets, mattresses. But remember that cleaners can work differently on different types of floor coverings and fabrics, so always test them on a small area before working directly.

However, the site petMD reminds you not to clean cat urine stains with steam or hot water. Because of this, the stain can eat in and it will become much more difficult to remove it. If you have already steam-cleaned carpets or mattresses, do the enzymatic treatment several times. Strong odors in carpets and fabrics last longer and require several treatments.

Prevention of cat urine odor

The best way to deal with bad odors in your home is to keep them out. Clean the litter box regularly and add baking soda to the contents to help absorb odors. If your cat is experiencing urinary incontinence when stressed, consider gradually transitioning to a food that helps avoid urinary problems.

Most animal odors in your home are caused by bodily fluids, but it’s also important to keep your home free of hair buildup, which can lead to cat smell. To easily remove cat hair from upholstery, mix some fabric softener with water in a spray bottle and lightly dampen the surface. After spraying, remove cat hair with wet rubber gloves.

Once your home smells clean and fresh, keep it that way by buying healthy food for your cat, keeping the litter box clean, and brushing your cat regularly. If you’re looking for a temporary but quick fix and you’re using products like air fresheners, make sure they’re safe for pets so you don’t make things worse.

Chrissy Klinger

Chrissy Klinger is a teacher, writer and mother of two, owner of three dogs and three cats. She likes to lead an active and eco-friendly lifestyle.