Natural Way to Eliminate Cat Urine Smell

You can eliminate the odor of cat urine with household ingredients.

Cats urinate in inappropriate places for a variety of reasons. The litter box may be too full, a male is marking its territory or the introduction of a new cat to the household are only some of the reasons your pet has decided to use your carpet as a substitute for its litter box. Cleaning up the urine will not eliminate the smell; you also need to treat the area to neutralize the odor. Although there are several commercial preparations available for removing cat urine odor, you can do yourself and the environment a favor by using simple household ingredients.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup white vinegar
• Plastic container
• Towel
• Wet-dry vacuum cleaner
• 2 cups 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• 1/8 cup baking soda
• ½ tsp. liquid dish soap
• Quart-size plastic spray bottle
• Small scrub brush
• Vacuum cleaner

Instructions

1. Mix a solution of 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water in a plastic container. Soak the affected area with the solution. After five minutes, dry the area with a towel or use a wet-dry vacuum to remove the solution.

2. Combine 2 cups of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/8 cup of baking soda and ½ tsp. of liquid dish soap in a plastic spray bottle.

3. Perform a color-fastness test by spraying a small amount of the mixture on an inconspicuous area. Wait for 24 to 48 hours for the mixture to dry, and check the area to see if any bleaching or whitening has occurred. If the area retains its original color, it should be safe to treat.

4. Spray the area with a liberal amount of the mixture, and let it sit. On porous surfaces, work the solution in with a small scrub brush.

5. Allow the solution to dry for 24 to 48 hours. Vacuum up the residue after the area has fully dried.

6. Repeat the procedure, if needed, until the odor is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to treat an area that is not colorfast, substitute 1 cup of water for the hydrogen peroxide. This mixture will not work as well as the mixture that uses hydrogen peroxide, and you may have to treat the area several times to completely eliminate the urine odor.

• A sudden change in your cat's litter box habits may be a sign of a serious medical condition. If your cat has uncharacteristically started urinating in odd places, take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

• To store the leftover mixture in the spray bottle, put the spray attachment on but do not screw it down. The mixture gives off gases that need to escape.

References

• Remove Cat Urine Odor: The Recipe
• Cat Urine: Clean and Remove Cat Urine in Carpet

Resources

• Pet Education: Inappropriate Elimination in Cats