How to Get Cat Urine Off of Car Upholstery

Cat urine contains phermones that give it a strong ammonia-like smell.

Cat urine has a pungent odor, primarily because the decomposition of pheromones give it a distinct ammonia-like scent. If urine isn't removed effectively from car upholstery, the smell can linger for an unpleasantly long time. Unlike flat non-porous surfaces that don't absorb urine, the fabric and foam of upholstery facilitate absorption deep into the material. To make matters worse, when the doors and windows of a car are closed, there is little air circulation, and the odor can collect and condense, making it seem even stronger.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton towel or cloth
• Specialized cleaner

Instructions

1. 

   Cotton is more absorbent than synthetic material.

   Blot the urine with a cotton towel or cloth as quickly as possible, absorbing as much urine as possible. Don't wipe the urine, because doing so can push the urine into the upholstery and spread it further.

2. 

   Compounds in cat urine produce bacteria that cause a distinct odor.

   Apply a cleaner specially designed for cat urine to completely encompass the stain. Use the cleaner liberally to ensure that it reaches the full volume of the remaining urine to break down and destroy all of the odor-causing bacteria. Cleaners designed for cat urine contain enzymes and bacteria that work together to eliminate the stain and odor.

3. 

   Allowing air to circulate through the car will facilitate drying.

   Allow the upholstery to air dry, preferably with the car windows open. Driving with the car with the windows open will facilitate drying.

Tips & Warnings

• When bringing a cat into the car, be sure to bring a towel as a precaution.

References

• SciVerse: ScienceDirect: A Major Urinary Protein of the Domestic Cat Regulates the Production of Felinine, a Putative Pheromone Precursor
• The Journal of Biological Chemicals: Isolation and Characterization of a Felinine-containing Peptide from the Blood of the Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
• How to Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Cat Urine
• Smellgone: What is That Smell?