How to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell?Using Enzymatic Cleaner

• Enzymatic Cleaners Are Non-Negotiable: Regular soap and vinegar won’t kill the uric acid crystals. You need enzymes.

• Stop Using Bleach: It creates toxic gas and attracts cats back to the spot.

• No Heat: Steam cleaners bake the smell into the carpet forever.

• Find the Hidden Spots: Use a UV Blacklight to find dried urine you can’t see.

5 Steps to Remove Cat Urine Odor in the House

Does Bleach Kill Cat Urine Smell? (NO!)

No, bleach does not remove cat urine odor. In fact, using bleach can make the problem worse.

• Toxic Gas Risk: Mixing bleach with the ammonia in cat urine creates dangerous chloramine gas.

• Attracts Cats: Bleach has a scent similar to pheromones, which may actually encourage your cat to pee there again.

• Doesn’t Kill the Smell: It sanitizes bacteria but fails to break down the uric acid crystals that cause the long-term odor.

How to Clean Fresh vs. Old Cat Pee

Your cleaning method will depend on whether the stain is new or old.

How to Clean Fresh Cat Pee?

1. Blot: Absorb as much liquid as possible with paper towels.

2. Saturate: Pour the enzymatic cleaner on the spot. Don’t just spray it; soak it so it reaches the pad.

3. Wait: Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

4. Dry: Blot up excess cleaner and let it air dry.

How to Get Rid of Dried Cat Urine Smell?

Old, dried urine is the hardest to remove because the crystals have set.

1. Find It: Use a UV Blacklight in the dark to find the glowing yellow-green spots.

2. Re-hydrate: Dampen the old stain with a little water to loosen the crystals.

3. Soak: Saturate heavily with enzymatic cleaner. Cover with plastic wrap to keep it wet for 24 hours.

4. Repeat: You may need 2-3 treatments for stubborn smells.

How to Remove Cat Pee Smell from Carpets & Rugs

1. Urine in carpets is difficult because it soaks through the carpet fibers into the padding underneath.
2. Blot the stain heavily.
3. Saturate the area with an enzymatic cleaner, applying it at least a few inches beyond the visible edge of the stain to catch any splatter.
4. Let the cleaner sit for the time specified on the bottle (often 10–15 minutes or more).
5. Blot up the excess cleaner and let the area air-dry completely.
6. Once 100% dry, you can sprinkle baking soda over the area, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum it up to remove any final traces of odor.

How to Remove Cat Pee Smell from Upholstery & Sofas

Like carpets, the risk here is the foam cushion, which acts like a sponge.

1. Blot the stain immediately.
2. Saturate the spot with an enzymatic cleaner, pressing it into the fabric to help it reach the foam.
3. Let it sit and work, then blot again.
4. Allow it to air-dry completely, which may take several days. Using a fan can help.
5. You will likely need to repeat this process to fully remove the odor from the deep padding.

How to Remove Cat Pee Smell from Hardwood Floors & Tiles

If your hardwood is well-sealed, this is an easy cleanup. If it’s unsealed or the urine seeped into the seams (or tile grout), it’s much harder.

1. Wipe up the urine immediately.
2. Clean the spot with a cleaner that is safe for your floor type (e.g., a hardwood-specific cleaner or a mild vinegar/water solution). Avoid bleach and ammonia.
3. If the smell persists (meaning it soaked into the wood or grout), apply an enzymatic cleaner and let it sit. You may need to scrub grout lines with a brush.

How to Remove Cat Pee Smell from Mattresses & Cushions

This is the most difficult surface due to its thickness.

1. Blot as much urine as you can, pressing hard with towels.
2. Completely saturate the entire stained area with enzymatic cleaner. You must use a lot of cleaner to match the volume of urine.
3. Let the cleaner soak for several hours, or as directed.
4. Blot the area again, pressing down to pull as much liquid out as possible.
5. Prop the mattress on its side and use fans to help it dry. This can take days, but it must be completely dry.

How to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of Clothes and Bedding

This is the most difficult surface due to its thickness.

1. Blot as much urine as you can, pressing hard with towels.
2. Completely saturate the entire stained area with enzymatic cleaner. You must use a lot of cleaner to match the volume of urine.
3. Let the cleaner soak for several hours, or as directed.
4. Blot the area again, pressing down to pull as much liquid out as possible.
5. Prop the mattress on its side and use fans to help it dry. This can take days, but it must be completely dry.

How to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of Clothes and Bedding

If your cat peed on laundry or bedding, do not just toss it in a hot wash.

1. Cold Rinse: If possible, rinse the item in a sink with cold water first.
2. Pre-Soak (Optional): You can pre-soak the items in a solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water.
3. Wash: Place the items in the washing machine with your normal detergent. Add either one cup of white vinegar OR half a cup of baking soda to the load.
4. Use an Enzyme Additive: For a guaranteed fix, add a pet-specific (enzymatic) laundry additive to the wash.
5. AIR-DRY: This is critical. Do not put the items in a hot dryer. The heat will bake in any smell that the wash didn’t remove. Let them air-dry completely. Sniff-test them, and if the smell is gone, you can wash and dry them normally next time.

Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?

How to Prevent Cat Pee Smell from Returning

To stop your cat from peeing outside the box and prevent cat pee smell from becoming a permanent fixture, you must address the root cause.

Get a Vet Check: Rule out all medical issues first.

Perfect the Litter Box: Scoop daily and do a full wash-out weekly. Follow the “1+1 Rule”: one litter box per cat, plus one extra.

Read more:How Often Should You Change Cat Litter? A Complete Cleaning & Replacement Guide

Check Location: Place boxes in quiet, low-traffic, “safe” locations where your cat can’t be cornered.

Spay or Neuter: This is the most effective way to stop territorial spraying.

Reduce Stress: Use Feliway (a calming cat pheromone) diffusers, provide plenty of vertical space (cat trees), and maintain a consistent daily routine for feeding and play.

When to Call a Professional Cleaner

Sometimes, the problem is too big to handle alone. You should consider professional cat odor removal if:

The urine has soaked into the carpet padding and subfloor.

The smell returns no matter how many times you clean it.

A cat was marking in the house for a long time, and you can’t find all the spots.

Professionals have commercial-grade extraction equipment and tools to permanently remove odors from the deepest layers of your home.

Frequently Asked Questions