How to get cat pee out of the couch? The stench of your cat urinating outside the litter box can be tough to remove and virtually impossible to conceal.
Whether your cat pees on the couch, carpet, furniture, bed linens, or your clothes, neutralizing the stench is critical to preventing your cat from becoming a repeat offender. If the odor is not removed, cats will frequently return to the area where they previously urinated.
It’s also crucial to figure out what’s causing this behavior, which might be a health problem or stress symptom.
Here’s how to get rid of cat pee odors and figure out why your cat is urinating outside the litter box in the first place.
Table of Contents
Why Does Cat Pee Stinks?
Cat urine is not unlike that of other animals, but what gives it such a foul odor?
Time Makes Cat Urine Worse
Outside-the-litter-box cat urine generally goes unnoticed until it becomes an issue.
The bacteria in the urine decomposes over time and emits an ammonia-like stench that is typical of stale, old pee.
The urine releases mercaptans, which are chemicals that give skunk spray its distinct odor, during the second stage of decomposition.
Urine from older animals has a stronger odor.
The kidneys of older cats have lost part of their function, and as a result, their urine has the foulest odor.
Hormones in the Urine of Unaltered Males
The strong hormones that cats eliminate when they urinate add to the smell. Unless male cats are neutered, their testosterone-laced urine warns other males to keep away while also alerting females to their presence.
Cats Urinate Outside of the Litter Box: Why Do They Do It?
A cat may start peeing outside the litter box for a variety of reasons. While some owners believe their cat does it to get even for something, cats lack the advanced cognitive capacities required to devise such a vengeance scheme.
Dr. Laura George, DVM of Cats Exclusive Veterinary Center in Shoreline, Washington, remarked, “Contrary to common perception, cats do not urinate outside the box to ‘get back at the owner for whatever.”
If your cat isn’t using the litter box, he or she is most likely attempting to communicate with you.
Inappropriate Urination can be caused by a variety of health issues.
According to Dr. Bruce Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, associate director of the Cornell Feline Health Center, the first step is to rule out a medical condition.
Urinary tract infections, renal illness, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and feline lower urinary tract disease are among medical conditions linked to incontinence of urine.
These can lead to a cat urinating outside the litter box, especially if the litter box is associated with discomfort.
Bring your cat to your veterinarian right away if you suspect he or she is suffering from any of these diseases or is displaying additional symptoms. Urinary tract infections, for example, can become dangerous if left untreated.
Litter boxes might be difficult to use if you have arthritis.
Arthritis is another reason why an elderly cat can avoid using the litter box. “As cats become older, they may develop arthritis, making it more difficult for them to climb into the box,” Dr. Kornreich explained. “Perhaps the sides are too high, or the box is in a location where the cat must engage in strenuous physical activity to get it, such as climbing a flight of stairs.”
Behavioral issues might be the source of the problem.
Determine if there’s a behavioral explanation why your cat isn’t going in its normal location after you’ve ruled out any disease.
Sandra DeFeo, executive director of the Humane Society of New York, advises, “You need to be a detective and take the time to figure out why the cat’s behavior has changed.”
One of the most common reasons cats are surrendered to animal shelters, according to DeFeo, is because they do not use the litter box. Fortunately, if you can figure out why your cat is going outside the litter box, you can usually stop him from ruining your carpet or bed linens.
“If there isn’t a medical issue and the problem is genuinely behavioral,” Dr. George adds, “early intervention is critical.” “Adding more litter boxes throughout the house, sweeping often to eliminate waste, or relocating a litter box from one area of the house to another can help with behavioral issues.”
As a general guideline, you should have twice as many litter boxes as cats in your home, plus one extra. As a result, if you have two cats, you’ll need three litter boxes.
To encourage your cat to use his or her litter box, you can try removing the lid (if it has one) or altering the type of litter you use.
Why Cats Spray
Some cats crouch and urinate on bare floors, carpets, furniture, and other horizontal surfaces, while others spray urine on vertical surfaces around the house. According to DeFeo, unfixed males spray to establish their territory, while unfixed females spray to signal tomcats that they are ready to mate.
She recommends neutering male cats at 6 months and spaying female cats at 6 months to avoid similar behavior.
Although hormones are a common cause of cat spraying, there are other causes as well. Stress, worry, or irritation with their surroundings, such as limited diets, a little playing, or territorial battles with other cats, can cause cats to spray.
If your cat is spraying as a result of a conflict with other cats in the house or the neighborhood, you must try to settle the situation.
Separate feuding cats in your home and reintroduce them gradually, rewarding and encouraging calm behavior with goodies. Try a plug-in diffuser that emits a synthetic cat pheromone that has been created to calm your cat.
If your cat is spraying due to stress or anxiety, talk to your veterinarian about it and work out a plan with them to reduce your cat’s tension.
Cat Urine Stains Must Be Removed Before They Smell Even Worse
The stink of cat pee grows stronger the longer it remains. Dr. Kornreich claims that the odor becomes more intense with time.
Furthermore, while you may not be able to see a pee stain after it has dried, you can still smell it, as can your cat, prompting him or her to mark the area again.
“Many cat owners make the same error when it comes to cleaning up cat urine—not cleaning it up soon enough,” says Meg Roberts, head of Molly Maid, a household cleaning firm.
Cleaning Products for Cat Urine Spills
Several items, such as vinegar or baking soda, as well as enzymatic cleansers, can help neutralize cat urine stench. Here are some ways for getting rid of the smell of cat urine.
Vinegar with Baking Soda
While vinegar is an acid that neutralizes the alkaline ions that develop in dried urine stains, it also works to eliminate the lingering stench of sprayed cat pee.
Cleaning walls and floors may be done using a solution of one part water and one part vinegar. Proponents claim that the vinegar smell goes away after a few days, along with the urine odor.
Cleaners based on enzymes
You can use an enzyme-based cleaner to remove odors from carpets, sofa cushions, mattresses, and linens. The enzymes in these items assist to break down the acid in cat pee while also helping to eliminate the odor. Natural enzymes and beneficial bacteria aid in the elimination of harmful bacteria that causes foul odors.
When cleaning any surface, it’s critical to get to the point where not only you but also your cat, can’t smell the pee. Dr. George explains that if a cat can smell a prior pee stain (from themselves or another cat), that location is likely to be utilized again.
Ammonia-containing products should be avoided.
Above all, stay away from ammonia-based cleaning products. Dr. Kornreich explains that ammonia is one of the components of cat pee, and if cats smell it, they’re more inclined to go there.
Furthermore, ammonia and other chemical cleaners will frequently set the stain, which is the exact opposite of what you want to do.
how to get cat pee out of couch
There’s no denying that eliminating cat urine odor from your couch or carpet is a difficult process. You may try numerous DIY solutions depending on how persistent the scent is in your house, and there is also a wonderful enzyme cleaner developed specifically for eliminating stubborn dog and cat pee odors quickly.
- Using paper towels, blot the fresh pee stain. If you press too hard on the pee, it will seep into the cloth even more. Blot the pee with paper towels until it is no longer absorbent.
- White distilled vinegar should be poured into a clean spray container. Vinegar should be sprayed over the urine stain. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer that will help to eliminate odors.
- Allow 30 minutes for the vinegar to rest. To absorb any extra vinegar, blot the couch with paper towels.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the urine region. Allow the baking soda to remain overnight on the microfiber couch. It will absorb any remaining vinegar and aid in the elimination of the urine odor.
- Using a hand-held vacuum cleaner, suck the baking soda out.
- Using a moist towel, wipe the area on the sofa. If the odor remains on the sofa, repeat the procedure.
How to get cat pee out of carpet
Here’s what you should do to get rid of the odor of cat urine on a surface.
- Absorb the Urine by Blotting the Spot Find the stain as quickly as possible and use a clean towel to wipe up as much urine as possible.
- Vacuum and Rinse the Area Then, using a wet/dry vacuum, remove the liquid by rinsing the area with clean water. “You shouldn’t use a steam cleaner since the heat will solidify the stain,” says the expert.
- Soak the affected area in Enzyme Cleaner. Despite the fact that enzyme cleaners come in a spray bottle, a little application over the discoloration won’t help much. Remove the sprayer and liberally saturate the area.
- Allow for 10-15 minutes of sitting time before blotting with a clean towel to remove as much of the cleaner as feasible.
- Stop your cat from returning to the same location. Place a piece of aluminum foil or an aluminum baking sheet over the area to discourage your cat from returning during the cleaning procedure, or cover it with an upside-down laundry basket.
- If necessary, reapply the cleaner. For older or very nasty stains, you may need to reapply the cleaner and let it dry.
Getting Rid of Cat Urine Smells in the Subfloor
Urine can seep through the carpet and into the subflooring, leaving a stain and odor that carpet cleaning and elbow grease won’t be able to remove.
If a pet odor persists despite your best attempts to remove it, neutralize it by applying an oil-based stain-blocking primer to the subfloor underneath the carpeting. Replace both the padding and the carpet in that region.
How to Remove the Smell of Cat Urine from Cushions
Here are a few simple methods to getting the cat urine smell out of a cushion.
- Soak the affected area in water. Soak the cushion’s afflicted region in water. Using a cloth, blot up as much of the cat pee as possible.
- Using an enzyme cleaner, soak the affected area. Then, slowly pour the enzyme cleanser over and around the problem region, soaking the cushion.
- Allow it to sit for a few minutes before blotting with towels. Allow 15 minutes to pass before squeezing out as much of the surplus enzyme cleanser as possible and blotting with cloths.
- Allow the cushion to air dry. If possible, let the cushion outside dry for as long as feasible. Because cushions take days to dry, lay the aluminum foil down before replacing the cushion, then place the second layer of foil over the top to prevent your cat from urinating on it again.
How to get cat pee smell out of mattress
Mattresses are made in a similar way as cushions.
Soak the affected area in water. Soak the mattress’s afflicted region in water. Using a cloth, blot up as much of the cat pee as possible.
Using an enzyme cleaner, soak the affected area. Then, carefully pour the enzyme cleanser over and around the problem region to saturate the mattress.
Allow it to sit for a few minutes before blotting with towels. Allow the enzyme cleaner to rest for 15 minutes before blotting it. Make the bed by layering several layers of clean towels over the mattress.
Allow the Mattress to Air Dry Replace the towels daily until the mattress is fully dry. When you’re not using the bed, cover it with a big plastic sheet or tarp to prevent peeing on the place while the mattress dries. A waterproof mattress cover is also available to safeguard your mattress from further spills.
Reapply Mattresses may take many treatments to thoroughly eliminate the cat urine if necessary.
How to get cat pee smell out of clothes and Linens
When it comes to linens and clothing, one key guideline to remember is that bleach should never be used since it can produce dangerous fumes when combined with ammonia and cat urine.
- Using cool water, rinse the affected area. If your bedsheets and clothing are machine washable, rinse the stain with cold water in a sink first.
- Wash with Cider Vinegar or Detergent and Baking Soda Add the goods to the washing machine along with a cup of baking soda and detergent. OR 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- Enzyme Cleaner should be added. If the Odor Remains If you can still smell urine after the cycle is finished, add enzyme cleanser to the load (as directed on the box) and repeat the cycle.
- After you’ve washed your clothes, let them air dry. Always air-dry linens, since the heat from the dryer may seal in the odor before it has a chance to dissipate entirely.
- Rewash The smell may need to be rewashed one or more times until it is totally gone.
Prevent your cat from urinating in the same spot again.
After you’ve cleaned a certain area, change the significance of that location to your cat to prevent it from happening again. Place food bowls and treats in previously soiled locations, or play with your cat in that space and put toys there, because cats like to eat and excrete in different regions.
