How to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell in Your Carpet Permanently

I feel repulsed when I visit a pet owner with poor pet hygiene. It irks me, especially when it could have been easily avoided.

Firstly, cat pee smells a lot. You should know that their pee smells much stronger than most pets, including dogs.

The modern domesticated cat evolved from the desert, so they have developed the ability to absorb water and conserve hydration. The result is urine concentrated with ammonia, which gives off an unpleasant smell.

Certain hormones released in the urine of male cats that have not been neutered make it smell stronger.

So, litter-training your cat as early as possible is important.

Why Do Cats Pee Outside Their Litter Boxes?

Cats can get nervous as kittens and adults, and incidents may happen.

It could also mean that they want to mark their territories, or it could result from you changing the position of their litter box, or they could miss their target. It happens.

Medical conditions such as diabetes, a kidney infection, or Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) may also be responsible for your kitty missing their aim, or urinating elsewhere.

Once you notice recurrent abnormal peeing behavior, take your cat to the vet to rule out the possibility of an underlying issue.

How Do You Get Rid of the Cat Pee Smell?

So, your cat just urinated on your carpet, couch, or somewhere absorbent. How do you deal with that smell?

Firstly, if the urine is fresh and still on the carpet/couch, quickly grab a rag or piece of cloth and use it to absorb the urine. Dab, do not scrub or drag across the area. This is to avoid a larger spread.

If there was a splash, you should clean the surfaces on which it was splashed with a damp cloth. If you have pet-safe disinfectant, immediately wipe down the splashed surface as well.

For splashes, if there is no disinfectant available, a mixture of one part water and one part vinegar will do the trick. Spray in that area and clean it with a cloth.

Do NOT use detergents or any cleaning products with ammonia. Ammonia is already present in the urine, and if your cat perceives the smell in that area, it will probably revisit its mistake in the same spot.

Some detergents can also help set the stain of the urine, so to be safe, dab the surface where the urine is with a damp cloth only before cleaning with anything.

Home-Made Remedies (DIY Solutions to Removing Cat Pee Smell)

1. If you have baking soda at home, generously sprinkle some on the spot on the carpet or couch and vacuum it up after a few minutes.

2. Use an enzyme cleaner or dish soap to remove the stain and the remaining smell. Rinse or soak it up with a clean, damp cloth. Vacuum this up and let it dry.

Do not let your pet come anywhere near that area while you clean until it is completely dry.

3. Clean the spot with a mixture of vinegar and water (one part of each) and let it soak for five minutes before vacuuming.

4. Use pet-safe detergent or a cleaner to clean the area, and rinse or soak it up with a clean, damp cloth. Then, vacuum it up and leave the area to dry.

Note: You may decide to use a more concentrated mixture of vinegar and water, but consider the damage the vinegar may cause to your carpet or absorbent surface.

As cat pee has a strong smell, don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t go away the first time you try. Repeat the process while keeping your pet out of the area. Stronger smells or dried pee may be difficult to eliminate, but repeat the process until the smell is gone.

Cleaning Products for Eliminating Cat Pee Smell

Before we get to the products you should buy, you should know what NOT to buy.

You should avoid products with bleach, phthalates, benzalkonium chloride, or strong-smelling products. For one, they are not safe for your pet, and they have the potential to damage the integrity or color of your carpet and other absorbent surfaces (cloth, couches, mattresses).

Enzyme/enzymatic cleaners are safe for pets and get the job done, so we recommend you use them.

Enzyme cleaners break down the urine and get rid of odor-causing molecules, as long as they come into direct contact with the urine deposit. Leave the enzyme cleaner in that spot for up to 15 minutes, or longer, for the best results.

Blot this up with a clean cloth or towel after it has done its job, or vacuum it up. Leave this to dry naturally.

If your bed or couch must be used before it dries, place a piece of clean cloth or towel over the area. Lay clean sheets over your bed and towel. Change the towel until the bed dries completely.

Turning up your HVAC system encourages increased drying and the elimination of odor after cleaning. You may open up your windows and turn on the fan if there is no air conditioning for ventilation.

Eliminating Cat Pee Odor On Your Cloth

Get rid of the smell and the stain by immediately rinsing the cloth(es) with water.

This should be followed by putting them in your washer with a measured quantity of baking soda (depending on the number of clothes) and your usual detergent.

Run the washer, and if the smell lingers, you may consider adding the enzyme cleaner in the next cycle. Rinse and take the cloth(es) out to dry (air drying). The heat of the dryer may set the smell or stain before it dries completely. 

Cleaning Cat Pee Off The Floor

Cleaning cat urine off of floors (wooden or tiled) is quite easy. Blot the urine off the floor with a damp cloth, and if it is dried, use a wet cloth.

Clean with a cloth and the mixture of one part vinegar and one part water. You may also decide to use enzyme cleaners. The cleaner should sit in the area for the required number of minutes specified by the manufacturer (usually 15 minutes or longer) before cleaning.

Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth and leave it to dry. Place a laundry basket over the area and place something heavy on top to avoid interference by your pet. To be safer, remove your cat from that area until it is completely odorless and dry.

How To Prevent Cat Pee Incidents/Odors

So, the odor is out, and the area is free from smells. What next? Address potential mishaps. Here’s how:

1. Ensure that your cat’s litter box is always clean. Clean it out regularly and avoid leaving stuff in there longer than necessary.

2. Always place your cat’s litter box where it feels most safe. If it’s a kitten, it has just been adopted and is not completely used to the new environment.

Place the litter box somewhere close to you or your room until they are comfortable with the rest of your home.

3. Clean out incidents thoroughly and eliminate smells before letting your pet back into the area it peed on.

4. Take your pet to the vet to rule out any health condition(s). Your cat may also feel stressed, and your vet can interpret the signs.

5. Love your cat through it all. Make sure to litter-train your cat with love. Do not stress your cat by screaming at it or hurling it across the room after an incident.

Best of luck with your kitten. Do let us know if this works for you.