Mary Allen
Removing cat urine – is that even possible? Sure, with the right tips it’s easy. We have the answers to the most common questions.
Cat urine smells really bad. It penetrates the nose intensely and stingingly. In some cat owners, it even triggers nausea.
If you want to remove cat urine from the carpet, the sofa, or textiles, it is less about removing the stain. The main focus is usually on eliminating the unbearable smell.
In this article you will find which tools and tricks can be used to eliminate the smell of cat urine, why cats urinate in the apartment instead of in the litter box, and other facts about the small but odor-intensive misfortune of your cat.
Why do cats in the apartment?
If you find yourself having to remove cat urine from your carpet frequently, it pays to do a little research into the cause.
Cats usually don’t “pee” in the apartment accidentally, at least not if they are used to using the litter box properly. Even cats, which normally do their “business” outside, do not change this behavior just like that.
You may not see the reason for your loved one’s behavior at first glance, but there is always one. No cat does this out of spite, as is sometimes suggested. Therefore, the animal should under no circumstances be “punished” for this event.
Yelling at the animal or even pressing your nose into the urine stain is absolutely taboo! The cat does not understand this “education method”, it will only put it under even more stress and will probably not use the litter box in the future either.
Possible reasons for the uncleanliness of the cat:
- She is sick or in pain.
- Stress triggered by loud music or frightening noises, such as New Year’s firecrackers
- Changes in their environment that cause stress, such as moving house or new pets
- An incorrectly or infrequently cleaned litter box
- The animal is under-challenged, lonely, or bored.
- Competition and territorial fights with other cats
- Marks that unneutered tomcats like to leave everywhere
Why does cat urine smell so bad?
The main problem when the cat pees in the apartment are one thing above all: the smell! It’s overwhelming in the truest sense of the word and doesn’t just affect the spot where the cat hit it. Cat urine stinks, much more so than other pets’ urine. Why is that?
First of all, there is a difference between tomcats and cats, because the urine of male velvet paws smells even stronger than that of female cats. This is caused by a pheromone that is produced in the urine when specific amino acids called felines break down.
Once the cat has passed the urine, the amino acids come into contact with the air and then decompose. This creates the pheromone, the scent that is responsible for the foul smell.
This odor is extremely unpleasant for the human nose. Completely removing the smell is also important for another reason: if the cat can find the dirty spot again based on the smell, it will continue to “pee” there in the future.
This instinctive behavior of cats dates back to the times when the ancestors of our house tiger wanted to leave as few tracks as possible in order to avoid being found and hunted by larger animals.
Of course, the danger no longer exists in the living room at home. However, the behavior has not changed. And that is why it is particularly important to prevent another mishap with a thorough cleaning.
How do I find the spot with the urine on the carpet?
Once the pungent odor of cat pee has spread through the room, it is not easy to find the spot that is the source of the odor. Depending on how long the urine has been allowed to take effect and the color of the carpet, there will no longer be a clearly visible stain.
In order to eliminate the smell, however, this area must be treated with a cleaner or agent. If you don’t want to have the whole carpet cleaned right away, you can use a UV black light lamp. In fact, body fluids of all kinds, including those of cats, glow visibly when exposed to UV rays.
So take such a lamp and piece by piece illuminate the carpet, as well as the surrounding upholstered furniture, sofa, mattresses, and other textiles. In this way, you can quickly find the affected area that your cat has used as a litter box and that you need to tackle with the cleaner.
The UV black light lamp is available in different sizes in specialist shops or online.
Tips: Remove cat urine from the carpet
If you want to remove cat urine from the carpet, you first have to decide between dry cleaning with a cleaner from a specialist shop and a simple household remedy. Both are justified and depending on the intensity of the dirt and also depending on the material of the carpet, one or the other works better.
Specialist shops offer cleaners and odor removers with cleaning components that are intended to remove cat stains and odors almost without a trace.
When using home remedies, one of the most important tips is that speed is of the essence: the longer the cat urine has been allowed to act on the carpet or sofa, the more difficult it is to remove the smell with the remedy. Then a simple home remedy is often no longer enough to get rid of the intense smell. The danger that cats will then go back to this spot is great.
Home remedies for removing cat urine
You can rely on tried-and-tested products from specialist retailers if you want to remove cat urine from carpets or sofas. Alternatively, it is also worth trying the following home remedies. You probably already have many of them, such as baking soda, ready at home.
- vinegar water
Thoroughly dampen the stain with vinegar water and scrub firmly with a brush. Then press several layers of toilet paper or kitchen towel firmly onto the stain. Change the kitchen towel several times until the stain is dry again. - baking soda
First, dab the urine stain dry. Then mix baking soda (or alternatively baking powder) in a bowl with water and work it in thoroughly with a brush. Leave it on overnight and vacuum off the remains of the baking soda with a vacuum cleaner. - Coffee
Coffee beans have an odor-neutralizing effect. It can therefore help to work coffee powder into the cleaned stain. Leave to work – preferably overnight – then simply vacuum off with a vacuum cleaner. But beware of Coffee powder stains, so it is only suitable for dark carpets! - A high percentage of alcohol
This home remedy can also help the odor dissipate. Work some alcohol, at least 40% by volume, into the carpet on the affected area. The smell of urine and alcohol will then gradually dissipate by itself. Ventilate thoroughly after use.
How to avoid new stains
Finding the cause is the most important step in preventing your cat from urinating on the carpet or sofa again. Observe your animal and think about where and how everyday life could have changed in such a way that the cat is more stressed.
Are there any health problems? If in doubt, a visit to the veterinarian can help. Also check the living conditions: Does the cat have enough places to retreat, and does it find enough activity?
In the case of a male cat that has not been neutered, the only thing that can help in some cases – if all other causes can be ruled out – is unfortunately only a trip to the vet, who will eliminate the problem with a castration.
You can read more about neutering here: Neutering the cat – advantages, and disadvantages.
If the cause of the urination is found and eliminated, your pet’s behavior will return to normal.
We wish you and your cat all the best!