How to Remove Cat Urine Smell From Dirt

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Urine-soaked soil is a whole other animal compared to pee-saturated fabric, tile or carpeting that has been previously marked. To neutralize the cat urine in soil odor, you may need to try a few things to find what works best for you as well as your four-legged friends. There are a few simple tricks in order to get rid of the urine smell in a yard and other outdoor areas.

How to Remove Cat Urine Smell From Dirt
Image Credit: imagedepotpro/E+/GettyImages

Natural Odor Reducers

Washing the area with water on a daily basis will cut down on the urine smell. This will wash away urine before it can harden and crystalize into the soil, making it harder to get out. If you have night visitors of the four-legged variety, spray down the outdoor area in the morning. Urine is best removed with water within eight hours of the initial interaction. A tablespoon of dried orange peel that is crushed and diluted with 24 ounces of water can be used to spray directly on spots and dilute the smell quickly. The oils in the citrus may deter the feline from returning to that spot to urinate. Sprinkling cayenne pepper on the area will keep the cat from returning after a few applications. They won't like the scent or the traces of the hot pepper on their paws. For serious scent issues, sprinkle baking soda directly on the soiled soil. A mix of one tablespoon of baking soda and 24 ounces of water in a spray bottle can be a good odor reducer when sprayed directly on the soiled spot.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Video of the Day

Outdoor Cat Urine Odor Removal

For proficient odors that refuse the first defense of household products, you may need to go to the serious commercial cleaners. They are built to be harmless to pets and children that roam the yard and have the added benefit of making the yard smell almost as good as fresh-cut grass. They are usually sold in concentrated formulas, so be sure to dilute them before applying them to your yard. They can be used indoors on plants as well if you have an indoor cat who has a knack for marking rhododendrons and other leafy greens in the living room. They are long lasting and tend to either work well quickly or not at all, so be prepared to try a few before you find the right one that works for you and your cat.

Advertisement

Pretreat Before the Spray

Aside from attacking the problem after the fact, there are some ways to stop cats from marking soil or to at least cut down on the consistency of feline pee happening in your outdoor area. If the smell is rather heavy and penetrating, your cat or neighborhood cats could be spraying your yard. If it's your cat, it could be that you moved locations or moved furniture around, causing the furry friend to become stressed and lose its cool as well as bladder. If you have an unneutered feline friend in the home, it could be inadvertently attracting other cats to come and release inappropriately in your yard. A vet can assist you with curbing your cat's overactive bladder and inappropriate spraying around the house. Commercial solutions, such as Cat mace, can make the area uncomfortable for cats to want to be in your yard. Kitties stray from citrus scents. Placing orange peels in plants or dirt areas can keep them from stepping on the soil.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...