15+ ways to remove cat urine smell from your home once and for all

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No matter how much joy pets are in the home, having them in the same room as a person can cause problems. This is especially true for young cats - the most urgent need of the animal will be the toilet. If the owner does not train the pet to relieve itself in the tray in time, then the suffocating, pungent smell of urine that hovers throughout the apartment cannot be avoided.

Even a kitten who knows how to use a litter box can get the job done. When the owner is not at home, the stain dries out, and the properties of cat urine to emit an unpleasant odor are such that going to the toilet will be problematic. When a cat goes to the toilet in the wrong place, there is a high probability of relapse - you not only need to train your pet, but also know how to get rid of the smell of cat urine .

Causes of odor

The smell emitted by cat urine is unusually persistent. Why does my cat's urine stink? The reason is the specific composition of this liquid:

• urochrome – coloring matter;
• urea, which gives a sticky consistency;
• uric acid, which accelerates the process of crystallization of secretions.

An unpleasant odor appears when urea decomposes with the help of bacteria. Decomposition products (thiols) smell even worse. When you try to use traditional detergents to remove "fragrance", only superficial traces are removed. Urine crystals are insoluble in water, so they remain on the surface and after a while the smell appears again.

How to Avoid Cat Tags

You should raise your cat from childhood, systematically and patiently teaching him to use the litter box.

There is no need to hit the animal or otherwise punish it. The pet does not understand why he is being bullied or poked with his nose in his own excrement.

Experts recommend getting to the root of the problem. Often a qualified veterinarian will help with this.

Traditional methods of eliminating traces of urine

How to remove and neutralize the smell of a kitten at home? Over the centuries of coexistence between people and domestic cats, many ways have been invented to combat the unpleasant consequences of cat marks. Some of the remedies are quite radical and can change the color or texture of the furniture instead of destroying (eliminating) traces of ugliness. Therefore, before using it in an apartment, it is better to test the substance on the least visible area of ​​the surface to be cleaned.

Potassium permanganate solution (potassium permanganate)

A solution of potassium permanganate reacts with ammonia molecules. The stench disappears, but the surface turns pink. The water-repellent coating must be immediately washed with clean water to remove excess potassium permanganate. If the surface absorbs moisture, the color will remain forever. When preparing a solution for removal, you must thoroughly stir the liquid to dissolve the raspberry crystals.

Vinegar

Prepare a solution of vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:2 and spray from a spray bottle onto problem areas. After such treatment, the surface should be washed, and the clothes should be washed and sent to the wash.

Lemon juice

Mix the juice of half the fruit with 100 ml of water and pour into a fragrant corner. It is not recommended to wash off, since the strong aroma of citrus fruits will not allow the cat to leave marks in the same place again.

Soda with hydrogen peroxide

This method has worked well for removing urine stains from carpets and upholstered furniture. Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda powder onto the stain and pour in peroxide. Leave the mixture for 12 hours, then remove the remaining mixture with a cloth soaked in soapy water.

You can do it differently: mix 15 g of peroxide, 2 tbsp. l. soda powder and pour into a bottle with soap solution. Pour the mixture onto the stain, then rinse.

Iodine

Dilute 10 drops of iodine in 2 glasses of water. Wet the stain with the mixture, wait 3 hours, then rinse. This method is not suitable for light-colored coatings, since iodine has a coloring property.

Glycerin soap

To remove dirt from furniture upholstery, carefully treat the stained area with a moistened bar of soap. Then you should go over the dirt with a stiff brush, rinse and dry.

Laundry soap

Grate a bar of soap, add heated water, and stir. When the composition becomes homogeneous, rub the mixture into the marked area, wait half an hour and rinse with warm water.

Vodka

Trying to remove a urine stain or smell with vodka is useless. You can only discourage the cat from using this place as a toilet again, since alcohol stinks and cats can smell it a mile away. Other residents will also have to put up with the annoying aroma.

Soda plus salt

This method is recommended for cleaning rugs or sleeping areas. The stained area of ​​the cat's mark is filled with soda and sprinkled with a layer of salt. Leave for 3-4 hours, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

All of the above methods are suitable for eliminating fresh contamination. To eliminate old traces of cat litter, you will have to use a combination of these products or take the item to the dry cleaner.

Chemicals from pet stores

On the shelves of pet stores you will find a large selection of products designed to remove traces of cat dirty tricks. You can buy:

• the drug "Brovadez-plus", sold in the form of a dry powder, it will help you get rid of even persistent and ingrained odors;
• Nature's Miracle liquid mixture to remove old traces of cat urine;
• drug "OdorGon", etc.

Chemical products will help you quickly get rid of traces of cat urine and return your home to cleanliness and freshness.

Professional odor neutralizers

If it is not possible to remove the cat’s waste using a homemade method, you will have to use professional odor eliminators. The modern chemical industry produces a large list of products designed to completely eliminate unpleasant odors.

Shredder “8 in 1 NM advanced”

An effective product for removing old stains, including vomit, grass, urine and blood stains. Active oxygen and bio-enzymes included in the product guarantee complete cleaning and remove odors. The destroyer is recommended for use on carpets, cat litter boxes, soft and hard surfaces, and fabrics.

Dezosan

The composition, working at the molecular level, is designed to completely eliminate unpleasant odors. Recommended for use in washing vacuum cleaners.

Odor kill

After using this vanilla-smelling product, the aromas of burning, smoke, fur and pet feces will completely disappear from the air. Method of application: the drug is dissolved in water and sequential treatment of all coatings in the room, both hard and fleecy, is carried out. Per 100 sq. m. surface will need 1 liter of product.

Odor Gone

The herbal drug is produced at Russian enterprises under an American patent. Advantages:

• natural composition;
• disinfecting properties;
• no allergic effect;
• economical (up to 10 sprays of spray per room).

Thornell Cat Odor -off

After spraying the remover, the smell of urine and feces is completely eliminated, quickly replaced by a fresh aroma. The product can be applied to any coating.

Urine -off

Designed to completely neutralize uric acid crystals that cause unpleasant odors. The reaction products are completely harmless: water and carbon dioxide. The drug stabilizer also serves to block cat pheromones. This quality makes it possible to exclude that the cat will want to mark the treated area again. Urine-off does not contain allergens or toxic chemicals and is recommended for areas where small children live and in cars.

Store solutions

If a cat is constantly marking its territory, it is not practical to decide how to remove the cat urine every time. It is better to keep a special solution in the house, purchased at a veterinarian or hardware store. Fund options:

• Desosan;
• Zoosan;
• Odor Gone;
• Odor kill;
• Dufla Pet;
• Urine-off.

Ready-made products for the smell of cat urine are sold in the form of aerosols or liquids in volumes from 200 ml to 5 liters and consist of surfactants, antiseptics, deodorizing additives and safe food colorings. The cost varies from 250 to 1000 rubles per liter.

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Important! Before use, you need to study the instructions. Some products are sold as concentrates and need to be diluted with water, others require the application of a neutralizer after use, and others are supplied ready for use.

Chemical method of urine decomposition

How to remove and decompose cat urine at a chemical level? To eliminate foul-smelling traces of a cat's activity, you can use a recipe designed to remove the stench of skunk excretions. The urine of these animals contains protein compounds that serve as a source of discomfort for others. The process involves two stages: removal of uric acid, and then neutralization of thiols. Required ingredients: nine percent vinegar, soda, hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid.

Procedure:

• 1) Remove moisture using paper napkins or cat litter.
• 2) Dilute vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:3. Pour the solution over the treated area and leave to dry. At this stage, urine is destroyed.
• 3) After the vinegar has completely evaporated, lightly sprinkle the stain with baking soda powder and immediately proceed to the next step.
• 4) Combine hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water, add a teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Spray the mixture over a surface sprinkled with baking soda until foam appears. Wait for the reaction results (2-3 hours). The chemical reaction serves to produce oxygen, which neutralizes the thiols. Liquid soap is used to create foam that traps oxygen in the dirty area.
• 5) Remove dry mixture residues using a vacuum cleaner.

Using this method to eliminate odor is not only effective, but also does not require large expenses, since all components are inexpensive. The method can be widely used for cleaning entrances, elevators and other public areas. To remove old, stubborn dirt, pre-treatment with enzymes is recommended. A day after cleaning, you should treat the stain with vinegar, and another day later - with a mixture of soda and peroxide.

The vinegar in the recipe can be replaced with ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, but these substances are very toxic and can cause serious poisoning.

Cleaning service

When you don’t have the energy and time to properly clean a foul-smelling carpet or carpet yourself, you can use the services of special cleaning companies. Representatives of these services come to your home and carry out cleaning using highly effective professional products, methods and equipment. At the request of the owner, they can take the product to a specialized dry cleaner.

Cleaning company employees will visit your home if necessary.

A good friend of mine’s cat, in her old age, began to shit everywhere. The housewife is already tired of constantly washing all the bedside table rugs and rugs. She periodically washed large carpets and rugs with Vanish, and in the summer she took them to the dacha and washed them there with some kind of super powder. But the corrosive cat odor was never completely removed, and therefore the harmful animal returned to the scene of the crime and repeated its deed. Several times a friend called a cleaning service worker who cleaned everything on the spot. In the end, I had to take all the carpet products to a dry cleaner, but their appearance after a long wash suffered a little and became a little “crooked.”

Cleaning various surfaces

In order not to spoil the material during cleaning, before using the cleaning composition, you need to check the reaction on a small area of ​​the coating.

Sofas, armchairs

For fabric coverings, the best solution would be potassium permanganate (for dark colors), vinegar solution or lemon juice.

Laminate, linoleum, parquet

Wipe the surface with a solution of vinegar or lemon juice, leaving the floor damp. After an hour, you can remove any remaining moisture by wiping the floor dry.

Bed

It is recommended to remove stains from mattresses, blankets and bed linen using sparkling water and salt. After pouring water and adding a layer of salt, wait 2-3 hours, then wash off the residue.

Shoes, sneakers

Is it possible to wash cat piss off shoes? Tags on shoes are the most difficult to remove. If the marks are fresh, you should try to get rid of moisture by placing napkins or newspaper inside the shoes, and then wash the shoes with laundry soap.

If the mark has already become old, it is recommended to repeat the washing procedure several times, and then wipe the shoes with a vinegar solution. Fabric shoes can be washed in a washing machine. If your boots continue to smell unpleasant, it is better to buy an odor neutralizer from a pet pharmacy.

Carpet

The general rule that a fresh tag is easier to remove also applies in this case. You can use a solution of vinegar, lemon juice or laundry soap. It is recommended to pour vinegar over old stains and cover them with baking soda powder.

Cloth

It is better to simply wash and rinse soiled clothes, jackets, and stains in a weak vinegar solution.

Wooden furniture

Cover the stain with an even layer of baking soda. Wait 40 minutes, then remove the residue and spread the surface with laundry soap. To enhance the effect, the soap must first be grated and soaked.

House plants

Plants are treated by watering. Add an activated carbon tablet to 1 liter of water.

Precautionary measures

Frequent use of cleaning liquids containing chlorine can negatively affect the well-being of people and animals.

Vinegar and lemon solutions greatly dry out the surfaces being treated. After such treatment, the leather may crack and dry out, so it is recommended to use special products for the care of shoes or leather upholstery.

Coatings with a large number of pores (wood, concrete) require repeated treatment and pre-soaking with vinegar solution. During major repairs, it is recommended to burn the concrete floors using a blowtorch.

Fabrics that have been cleaned with peroxide should be washed with the addition of 100-150 ml of apple cider vinegar.

Features and Recommendations

Removing this unpleasant and very pungent aroma is not easy, but it is possible. But if the problem repeats over and over again, you need to find out its causes and try to eliminate it. Yes, the cat marks the territory; this is a natural feature of individuals who want to meet their other half. The castration procedure will help resolve the issue.

But there are often situations when an animal that is not on a spree simply makes puddles, as they say, past the tray.

1. Uncleaned tray.
2. Poor nutrition.
3. Lack of water in the diet.
4. The absence of owners for a long time, which deprives the pet of the attention it needs.
5. Deviations in health: kidney function, other pathologies of the urinary system.

Contacting a veterinarian will help solve these problems. Only he will discover the true cause of unjustified puddles on the rug, sofa or under the door.

Common Misconceptions

One of the common mistakes that owners of furry pets make is punishment without clarifying the circumstances. A cat may mark territory for the following reasons:

• stressful state;
• urinary system disease;
• tail injury;
• uncomfortable tray;
• poor selection of toilet filler.

The second most common mistake is the decision to postpone cleaning until a more favorable time. A fresh stain is much easier to remove, but old urine residue will attract the cat to repeat the violation again.

The third misconception is related to the second and is to get rid of the smell at any cost. The use of deodorants and fragrances (coffee, aromatic oils, incense) relieves the human nose from suffering, but the cat will still feel its marks and will get used to using the marked area of ​​the home space for the toilet.

Chlorine-based products disinfect well, but the stench only intensifies after such cleaning.

Identifying and eliminating the reasons why a cat ignores the toilet and shits

There are situations when a pet ignores its toilet.
Reasons why a pet ignores the litter tray:

1. I don't like the toilet. The optimal size of a cat litter box is 1.5 times the size of the animal. If you have several cats in the house, you should purchase a separate tray for each pet.
2. Dirty cat litter. Animals have a well-developed sense of smell. Cleaning is required daily.
3. Stressful situations . Cats require a calm attitude. Constant petting or excessive roughness are causes of anxiety in animals.
4. Designation of your territory. The method of eliminating the problem of cat marks is to carry out a castration procedure.
5. Various diseases (urinary incontinence, frequent urge to go to the toilet). The main risk group is elderly animals.
6. The appearance of a new smell. Other people's shoes must be hidden to prevent trouble.

Tips for renovation

The presence of pets in the home imposes additional obligations on owners. Compliance with a number of requirements when renovating a home will help the animal owner to significantly simplify the life of himself and his charges.

When arranging the floor, fleecy coverings should be avoided. It is impossible to properly clean such surfaces, so the carpet floor will always serve as a source of dirt and infection.

Laminate looks no worse than parquet, but urine easily gets into the holes between the boards, promoting rot. Wooden or varnished parquet floors are much more hygienic.

When laying baseboards, you should carefully seal the joints, leaving no holes between the floor and walls. It is recommended to lay an insulating film on top of concrete floors to prevent the concrete from getting wet.

When choosing linoleum, you should give preference to a material with a waterproof synthetic lining.

Tile or ceramic tiles should only be attached with an adhesive base. Using the solution creates cavities into which urine can leak through the seams between the tiles. For high-quality sealing of seams, you need to use a polymer-based grout to protect against corrosion by uric acid.

The best choice for a home with cats and dogs would be epoxy self-leveling floors.

Cleaning the house will be greatly facilitated if the lower part of the walls is painted with paints that can be washed using brushes and chemicals. It is not recommended to use paper and fabric wallpaper. The plaster should also be checked for acid resistance before installation.

For cleaning, it is recommended to use a water vacuum cleaner.

What products should not be used?

Not all substances with a strong aroma are suitable to fight off the smell of cat urine. Here's what you definitely shouldn't use:

• Deodorants and air fresheners - they do not contain any substances that could remove urine. They are also not able to interrupt it, so the smells simply layer on top of each other, creating an unbearable amber.
• Various pharmaceutical herbs. They are not intended for such purposes and their aroma is too weak. Some plants can scare away a cat and it will choose an even less suitable place for the toilet.
• Aroma oils.
• Coffee. It is not able to repel strong odors, but it will create an unbearable combination.
• Products containing chlorine. Not only do they only enhance the smell, their fumes are very harmful to animals and people. In addition, if you treat flooring or furniture with bleach, the color of the textiles may change.

For prevention purposes, it is recommended to toilet train an animal as soon as it appears in the house, from a young age. This must be done persistently, but without the use of physical force. It is necessary to provide the cat with good conditions - regularly wash the tray and change the filler in it.

Preventive measures

The urine of warm-blooded animals contains protein processing products. After leaving the body, these substances become a breeding ground for bacteria. This process causes an unpleasant odor and a source of infection.

To stop the appearance of puddles of urine in secluded places at home, the pet owner should pay attention to the possible causes of unwanted behavior:

• The cat is unhappy with the tray. Perhaps the animal does not like the configuration of the tray or the owner does not bother himself too much with the timely replacement of the filler.
• An annoying person or piece of furniture has appeared in the house. When marking territory, the cat exhibits a defensive reaction.
• Old age or illness. If your pet did not suffer from such abnormalities as a child, you should take the cat to a veterinarian for a diagnosis.
• Tail injury often interferes with the natural fulfillment of needs.
• Sexual activity. An animal that is not subject to mating must be sterilized or neutered.
• The tray is located in an inconvenient place. Cats generally prefer quiet corners away from light.
• Not enough trays. If there are several pets, the number of toilets should be increased.
• Increased love for cleanliness. Some cats separate litter boxes for large and small needs. Installing a second tray will help solve the problem.

To prevent problems from reoccurring after removal of contamination, it is recommended:

1. Treat surfaces using proprietary preparations from a veterinary pharmacy.
2. Scatter the peels of oranges or tangerines. The smell of essential oils will repel your pet.
3. Place vials with ground pepper or coffee in the marked places, having previously drilled the lids.
4. If the cause of the problem is heat, the pet should be sterilized.

Prevention of the problem

You shouldn’t blame your pet for a mistake. In most cases, the owner is to blame for the problem. The reasons why cats urinate in the wrong place are:

• untimely or poor cleaning of the tray;
• inconvenience of the toilet;
• stress: the appearance of a new family member or a long absence of the owner;
• marking territory as a way to attract the opposite sex.

The aroma of urine is especially strong in uncastrated individuals. There is no point in retraining a cat by poking its nose into a crime - this will have the opposite effect. It is better to check whether the tray is positioned correctly and whether its dimensions are appropriate. It should be twice the size of the pet so it can easily hide urine and excrement.

The toilet should not be placed in a crowded place. The cat will not be able to retire and relax. It is better to choose a quiet and darkened corner. If there are other animals in the house, it is worth considering that animals do not like other people's trays next to their own.

Cats may demonstratively go to the toilet past the litter box to signal that they are not feeling well . This is a way to attract the owner's attention. Old cats tend to go to the toilet in places other than the litter tray. If the pet is young, this indicates health problems.

If a guest comes to the house, it is worth considering that cats like to urinate in unfamiliar things with a foreign aroma. To avoid trouble, you need to hide your shoes in a closet.

If the tray is poorly cared for, the animal will refuse to go into it. Cats have a sensitive sense of smell, so the litter box needs to be washed periodically with detergents. By choosing a good litter for the toilet, you can forget about the puddles left by the animal. It must be environmentally friendly, safe, and absorb liquid well. You should not use scented litters - cats rarely like them.

Knowing what smells repel cats, you can forever discourage your pet from going to the toilet in the wrong place. You can apply the following scent to your pet's favorite area:

• citrus fruits;
• onions or garlic;
• vinegar;
• mint;
• rue;
• lavender;
• rosemary;
• cinnamon.

Over time, the “repellents” fade, so the smell needs to be renewed periodically.

Floor cleaning

If you wipe up the puddle on the linoleum right away, you can get by with regular floor cleaner. But there are situations when new owners move into an apartment that is already thoroughly saturated with an unbearable aroma. In this situation, you need to find the location of the contamination. You can use an ultraviolet lamp. In its light, the spots will turn yellow. Then they proceed in one of three ways.

1. White. Dilute the white in cool water (1:10), rinse the floor with the solution, and then go over again with another cloth with clean water.
2. Water and vinegar. Dilute a teaspoon of vinegar in 1 liter of water. Using a sprayer, treat the required areas. After an hour, wipe the floor with a damp cloth.
3. Potassium permanganate and citric acid. Pour a pack of citric acid into 1 liter of pale pink solution. Wipe the floor with the mixture, and finally rinse the surface clean.

When treating surfaces, you need to put on rubber gloves and open the windows. Many substances that are used to combat cat puddles have a pungent odor and can cause burns to the nasal mucosa and damage the skin of the hands.