How to Get Cat Urine Smell Out of My Apartment

Cat urine has a distinct, unpleasant odor that grows stronger each time a cat refuses to use a litter box, and unfortunately you may have to hunt down the cause of this noxious smell. Frequently, the source of cat urine smell is carpeting. But cats may also "mark" vertical surfaces, such as walls and low-lying cabinets. Old stains in carpet and highly-saturated areas cannot be entirely removed unless the stained portion is cut out or carpet removed and replaced. But cat urine smell may be reduced through thorough carpet cleaning.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ultraviolet (UV) light
• Enzyme-based cleaners
• Sponges or cleaning rags
• Bucket of water

1. Use an ultraviolet light to find the source of the cat urine. Darken the room and close all curtains and blinds so that urine stains show up clearly under the light. Identifying soiled areas makes your job much easier and gives you an idea of how extensive your cleaning job will be. UV lights to detect pet urine stains are sold at most brick-and-mortar pet stores such as Petco or from online etailers.

2. Use an enzyme-based cleanser to tackle cat urine odor. The Cornell Feline Health Center lists Nature's Miracle, Oxyfresh Pet Products, Anti-Icky-Poo, and Outright Stain and Odor Removal Products. These products can either be sprayed on directly or applied to a sponge or rag to wipe down hard surface areas. Depending on the extent of the cat urine stains, you might have to clean hard surfaces a second time to ensure that the cat urine is removed.
   
   When tackling carpeting, make sure that the underlay and base flooring is cleaned as well. This might involve pulling up the carpet itself to make sure that cat urine stains in the center of the room are neutralized. Liberally apply your cleaning product and blot up the excess with a sponge or rag. Rinse the sponge or rag in water and blot the urine-stained area until all or most of the smell is neutralized. Allow both carpet and overlay that's been peeled back to dry before replacing them.

3. Contact a professional carpet cleaning service if residual cat urine smell is still noted. The Winn Feline Foundation notes that home steam cleaning devices typically aren't adequate for this purpose. Additionally, professional carpet cleaners use more thorough techniques to neutralize pet odor and remove stains left behind in lighter carpeting.

4. If all else fails, consider asking your property manager to replace the carpet. Often, when cat urine stains are old or when a pet has used the same spot excessively until a waxy build-up is present on the pile, the only option is to remove the offending flooring.

Tips & Warnings

• Un-neutered and un-spayed adult pets will typically exhibit marking behaviors (spraying on vertical surfaces while standing) until they are altered.
• Cats have an astute sense of smell. Unless cat urine is thoroughly neutralized, your pet will probably continue to urinate in the same area. If your cat is responsible for the urine smell in your apartment, house soiling behaviors won't go away unless you address them head-on. For advice on how to find out why your cat is urinating outside of the litter box and what you can do to prevent it, see the Resource links below.

References

• Pet Stain Removal From Carpet

Resources

• Cornell Feline Health Center: House Soiling
• Winn Feline Behavior: Think Outside the Box
• Nature's Miracle Website