How to Get the Smell of Cat Urine Out of Hard Wood Floors

Eliminate urine odors from your floor.

If your cat urinates someplace in the house other than in its litter box, you will want to clean and deodorize the area as quickly as possible to prevent the cat from coming back and using the same spot again. Cat urine has a strong odor that can be difficult to get rid of. If you discover that your cat has gone to the bathroom on your hardwood floor, it may take repeated treatments to completely eliminate the smell.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Enzymatic cleaner

Instructions

1. Dry the area with paper towels if the urine stain is still wet.

2. Spray enzymatic cleaner over the affected area to thoroughly saturate it, and then cover the wet area with a paper towel to slow evaporation so that the cleaner can work on the odor. Leave the paper towel on the floor until the cleaner is dry.

3. Check the area for a lingering odor. If it still smells like urine, spray with enzymatic cleaner and cover with a paper towel again. Repeat this process on a daily basis until the odor is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• If repeated treatment does not eliminate the urine odor, as a last resort you may have to sand down and refinish the stained section of flooring to completely eliminate the smell.

• If you notice any warping or discoloration of the floor after using the enzymatic cleaner, discontinue the treatment.

References

• Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine: How to Clean Up Cat Urine
• PetSmart: See Stain, Clean Stain

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish