Getting Rid Of Cat Urine Odor From Non
If your cat is peeing on non-carpeted surfaces such as ceramic tile, grout, vinyl plank, or linoleum, heres how to get a deep clean that removes the urine odor.
For a DIY solution:
Cleaning non-carpet surfaces requires a non-ammonia and non-vinegar based solution, whether its homemade or commercial. Note: Make sure any product you use to get rid of cat urine does not contain chlorine bleach. Cat urine contains ammonia and when it mixes with bleach, dangerous gases are created. OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover uses the power of oxygen to remove stains and help neutralize odors. Most people think of OxiClean VSR as a laundry booster, but it can also be used to clean many types of flooring, including ceramic tile, grout, vinyl plank, and linoleum. Its chlorine-bleach-free and can be used to clean up cat urine. Follow these steps to clean up cat pee and eliminate odor on solid flooring.
- Fill a gallon bucket with hot water. Using the provided scoop, pour one scoop filled to Line 1 of OxiClean into the bucket. Stir the solution with a long-handled spoon until the OxiClean dissolves.
- Apply solution to the floor and allow it to stand 1-5 minutes. Use a mop or sponge to clean the affected spot go ahead and clean your whole floor while youre at it if you want! You dont want any lingering cat pee smell in the air or on your floor.
- Dump the solution and fill the bucket half-full with cold water. Remop the floor with water to rinse.
The Vinegar Baking Soda And Water Method
Distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar mixed with water makes for a simple yet effective team against cat urine odors. It works well because the acidic vinegar neutralizes the components in urine that give it that distinctive smell. Throw in two teaspoons of baking soda and youve got yourself the perfect match for those nasty smells.
You can use it on both dried and wet stains. Combine white vinegar with equal parts water in a spray bottle and add the baking soda. Swirl the mixture gentlydont shake it.
Blot wet stains with a dry cloth, soaking up as much moisture as you can. Then, spray the vinegar and water mixture on the area. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then dab the area again with a dry cloth. If the smell remains, repeat the process.
The 3 Best Methods For Cleaning Cat Urine
While ridding your home of the smell of cat pee is difficult, it isnt impossible. The first step in the process is always the same no matter what cleaning method you use. To get the best results from cleaning, use a dry towel to blot up as much of the urine as possible before you begin. Once thats taken care of, try the methods below to fully eliminate the odor from your environment.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Litter Smell In An Apartment
If you reside in a small space and it seems like cat litter odor is the only thing you smell, the best thing to do is put yourself on a schedule to clean the box. A stinky litter box only worsens over time as your cat continues to use it, and waiting to clean it creates more work.
How often you clean the box depends on how many cats you have however, we suggest scooping every other day. If youre using liners, scoop out used litter and replace it. Dump your entire box without liners and start fresh after a deep clean.
Your Cat Doesn’t Like The Cat Litter
You’re probably a fan of one type or brand of cat litter and turn up your nose at other brands. Some cats are the same way, particularly if your little guy thinks the litter isn’t soft enough, Garber says.
“If the cat has been declawed, stepping into and digging in cat litter might be painful, so she will seek out a softer substrate.”
Garber suggests setting up a cat litter test: Put two cat litter boxes next to each other, one filled with a soft type, Brand A, and the other with a rougher type, Brand B. Whichever litter your cat clearly ends up preferring is your new cat litter. And if you have multiple cats who each prefer different types? Then you can make sure they are each happy with their own boxes and their own litter.
Just make sure the cat litter is truly absorbent. Garber says that the practice of a cat burying his or her urine or feces is because they’re hard-wired to hide the scent so that a predator cant track them.
“This instinct is very strong, as the cat’s survival depends on it,” Garber says.
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Add Deodorizers To The Litter Box
Between cleaning the litter box, to boost the power of your litter to fight odors, add commercial cat litter deodorizers to keep foul cat smells at bay. Many store-bought deodorizers work like carpet cleaners by absorbing moisture and odors to keep the box smelling fresh longer.
If you cant find any deodorizers in the store, try mixing baking soda into your cats litter. Some deodorizers also come in spray form that you can spritz into the litter box to mask the cat litter box smell. If you add any sprays to the box, do so after a deep clean and before you add fresh litter.
How To Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell From Clothes
Rinse out the stain with cool water before tossing a cat pee-stained article of clothing into the wash. If the urine smell sticks around, try rewashing with a cup of baking soda or a quarter cup of apple cider vinegaror better yet, an enzyme-based cleaner, suggests PetMD. Let it air-dry, because the heat from the dryer could make the smell worse if the wash cycle didnt get rid of it completely. While youre addressing your cats pee problem, watch out for these other 14 cat health symptoms you should never ignore.
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Use Scented Kitty Litter
Regular clay litter doesnt have much of a scent aside from smelling chalky, but as pet supplies advance, many companies produce litters with additives to improve freshness. Many commercial litters come paired with a scent booster that activates when scooped by your cat.
Like covered boxes, scented litter is a divisive topic among cat owners. Some swear by its ability to cover up unpleasant cat smells, while others argue that the added air freshener-like smell deters their cats from using the box.
Mix White Vinegar With Baking Soda
Our grandmothers were right: white vinegar is a powerful ally for eliminating bad smells, especially those left by your beloved feline! Combine it with baking soda, and you get a natural disinfectant that can be used for cleaning your entire home.
- Dilute 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in 5 tablespoons of water and pour this mixture on the urine stain. Let the product soak after a few days, the smell of vinegar will evaporate, and take the smell of urine with it.
Alternatively, white vinegar can be used on its own, but diluting it will reduce the smell without reducing its effectiveness!
You can also pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a glass of white vinegar. Then, by mixing these two ecological products in a spray bottle, you can diffuse the mixture in the soiled area and the surroundings to get rid of impregnated odors all-around your house.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell Outside: 5 Simple Options
Cats are usually cute and cuddly, but they have a smelly side to them too. Not only does their cat litter box get stinky occasionally , but the area around our houses can also start to smell as time goes on due to cat urine or spray. You may not even own any cats but have to deal with cat odors around your house due to strays or neighbor cats that are allowed to spend time outdoors.
No matter the reason for it, you dont have to live with cat pee smells whenever you go outside your home. There are a few things that you can do to get rid of that unwanted cat urine smell and prevent it from coming back in the future.
Consider Your Cat’s Health
To avoid future incidents, it’s important that you address the problem with your cat. When cats urinate in places other than the litter box, it very often indicates a health or behavioral issue.
Begin by taking your cat to the vet. Aside from a dirty litter box, a urinary tract problem is the most common reason for litter box avoidance. It’s essential that you rule out a health problem first. If your vet rules out a medical cause, then you will need to address the behavioral reasons for your cat’s inappropriate urination.
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Invest In A Neutralizing Enzyme Cleaner
| Project Difficulty | Easy |
You can neutralize cat odors on your driveway and in your garage with the help of an enzyme cleaner. Commercial enzyme cleaners help neutralize the proteins in cat urine that creates odors so they are no longer detectable.
Every brand of cat enzyme cleaner is different, so it is important to follow the directions on the package before use. You might only need to spray the affected area one time, but chances are that you will have to spray the area two or three times until the odor is completely eliminated. If you have problems with stray cats, you may have to spray the area where they like to urinate once or twice a week to keep the odors from returning.
How Do You Make Homemade Pet Stain And Odor Remover
Fully mix one-part hydrogen peroxide and one-part Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the affected area with the mixture. Let the solution sit on the stain for one minute. Begin scrubbing, making sure to work bristle brushes deep into the carpet or rug to remove any waste that had previously soaked into the fibers.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell From Carpet
As with pretty much any stain, no matter what the material, the key is to act fast. If you can blot up as much of the pee from the spot as possible, you are halfway there, says Gregory.
Next, apply a bacteria- or enzyme-based cleaner like this one to the area, suggests Merry Maids cleaning expert Debra Johnson. The good bacteria and enzymes help break down the smelly bacteria that are leaving an odor. Johnson recommends pressing the cleaner in with plastic so it can penetrate more deeply, then leaving the plastic over the stain while the product works its magic. If needed, follow up the cleaner a cup of vinegar mixed into a gallon of water, then apply more of the pro-bacteria product.
Using Odor Control Litter
The type of litter youre using may contribute to the cat litter odor in your home. Although all clay litters work to neutralize odor and absorb moisture, some boast better features than others.
Odor control litters advertise their ability to block odors for 24 hours or keep the box smelling fresh with each use. Experiment with several brands to find what seems best for your cat regarding clumping power and its ability to control and eliminate cat litter odor.
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Simple Ways To Get Rid Of Cat Urine Odor
You love your cat. But that love can be tested when you walk into a room and smell the unmistakable odor of cat urine. Why did your cat pee outside the box? How do you get rid of the cat urine smell? Heres how to clean cat urine and remove the cat pee smell from carpet, non-carpet surfaces and bedding.
First, there are 3 things you should know about why your cat might be peeing outside the litter box:
If youve found cat urine in your home, heres how to clean it up and get rid of the cat pee smell safely and effectively.
If Your Cat Peed On Unsealed Floors:
Well, thatâs a little more complicated. If your floors are not sealed, after you clean up the cat pee with cold water, scrub the stain with straight vinegar and rinse with more cold water. Blot stain with a towel until you can no longer detect moisture. Enzymatic cleaners could potentially damage your unsealed floors, so test some in a subtle location before liberally using on the stain.
If the cat pee stain and odor donât go away, you may have to bust out the sander because the urine couldâve soaked into the wood. We recommend sealing your floors, but thatâs a project for a whole ânother day.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell On Tile
If your cat pees on a single tile, your job is easy. Just wipe it up with your favorite all purpose cleaner. If it has seeped into the grout, though, thats another story!
Even sealed grout will probably need to be cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner. Remember, just because you dont notice any odor doesnt mean your cat cant still smell it. Simple Solution Hard Floor Pet Stain and Odor Remover works for tile as well as wood floors. And the direct spray setting is an easy way to target those grout lines.
How To Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell On Wood Floors
Getting rid of cat pee smell on your floor can be especially tricky if its wood because you dont want to use a harsh cleaner that will damage the finish, but you need something that will penetrate a little bit to remove odors especially if you find a stain thats been sitting for a while.
Ideally, youd catch the accident early and wipe it up before it has time to set in. Then follow up with a cleaner specifically formulated for removing pet stains and odors, such as the product below.
Simple Solution Hard Floor Pet Stain and Odor Remover is one way to eliminate the lingering cat urine smell and prevent your cat from returning to the scene of the crime. All you have to do is spray the area where the accident occurred, blot with a rag to remove the stain, and wipe up the excess.
One of the things that makes this such a great product for wood floors is that it comes with a special nozzle that adjusts the spray for your specific situation. If its a fresh stain, then a quick mist will do the trick. However, you can change the setting to foam for deeper set stains and odors. Theres also a stream setting that can help you target the nooks and crannies in your wood floors.
One word of caution: Most cleaners are formulated for sealed wood floors. If your floors are untreated, you risk staining or damaging them further with many cleaning products. In some cases it may be necessary to sand and refinish them.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell: 3 Easy Ways
If you have a cat in the house, you already understand their dominating nature and how they take control of their environments. These intelligent animals make litter box training easy and, in some cases, handle it all by themselves. This doesnt mean you wont have accidents around the house and a few cases of inappropriate behavior. Whether your cat is young and still learning or has it in for you and decides to pee on your floor, getting the smell of cat pee out can be difficult. Unfortunately, cat pee has a very distinct smell and will soon fill your home if you dont act quickly when these mishaps happen. Even worse, cats tend to return to the scenes of their crimes and urinate again if you dont eliminate the odor theyve left behind. Luckily for those of us that own cats, there are ways to get rid of the cat pee smell. Lets take a look at a few proven and easy methods for eliminating this noxious odor in hopes of helping you take back your home from the feline trying to take over.
Why Is My Cat Peeing In The House
Understanding why your cat might be peeing on undesirable surfaces like your carpet, furniture, or bed linen, is crucial to resolving the problem. Medical problems such as diabetes, kidney disease, urinary tract issues, and arthritis, to name a few, can all be causes of inappropriate urination. This is why its always a good idea to book a vet visit if your cat has started peeing inside your home.
Other common reasons for inappropriate urination are behavior issues, such as stress and anxiety, or territorial spraying. Studies have shown that cats in multi-cat households are more likely to develop urinary issues than those that live alone. Cats also prefer to have access to a clean litter box at all times , so being unable to access a clean tray could be another reason for accidents around the home. Remember theres nearly always an underlying reason for your cats behavior theyre not doing this out of spite or to punish you.
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