How to get rid of cat pee smell in 3 simple steps

From bouts of the zoomies to strategically slapping things off the counter to get your attention, cats have habits that are down right hilarious. (Which is why we love them!) One habit that is not so funny, however? When your cat misses the litter box — or, worse, ignores it all together.

“Cat pee is no joke,” says Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa, a home cleaning and maid service in Arizona. “We clean about 600 homes a month and see ‘cat-cidents’ on the regular. The most important thing is to get rid of the smell all the way or the cat will keep using that spot as their personal bathroom.” 

But as any cat owner can attest, including Knoll who has lived with a black-and-white cat named Mr. Dizzle for a decade, getting rid of the smell of cat pee can be tricky. Here, experts offer their best tips and tricks for getting rid of the smell of cat pee.

Best cleaning products to remove cat pee

The most powerful and effective odor eliminator for removing cat urine odors and stains are enzyme-based cleaners, according to experts. This is because enzymatic cleaners can break down the proteins in the urine that cause it to smell, explains Knoll.

There are a variety of enzymatic, cat urine-specific cleaning products on the market that’ll do the trick. Wondering what professional cleaners use for cat urine? (His company’s go-to brand is Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Formula Stain & Odor Remover.)

What not to use to clean cat urine

You should never use ammonia-based cleaners to clean cat pee because ammonia actually mimics the smell of cat urine, which can signal to your cat that it’s a suitable place to keep peeing, Knoll explains. 

In addition, you should skip harsh cleaners like bleach for a few reasons. “Bleach and other strong-scented products will likely just mask the issue and could entice a cat to re-mark the area with fresh urine,” explains Cameron Welch, a cleaning expert based in Denver, Colorado, and commercial manager at Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning. Plus, using harsh chemical cleaners can lead to other problems in your home, Welch notes, such as damaging fabrics and furniture and even posing health risks for pets that may come in contact with them.

3 steps for getting rid of cat pee smell in your house

Once you have the right expert-backed cleaning solution on hand, here’s how to get rid of the smell of cat pee in your home:

1. Locate exactly where the cat pee smell is coming from

Did you know cat pee glows in ultraviolet light? It’s a handy fact that will help you start the cleaning process. “The first thing I ask my clients to do is use a black light to locate all the urine spots,” says Heather Alvey, a certified feline behavior specialist and owner of Felidae Behavior Consulting. “Many people hesitate to do this because they’re afraid of what they’ll find, but identifying all soiled areas is essential for effective cleaning.”

“The most important thing is to get rid of the smell all the way or the cat will keep using that spot as their personal bathroom.”

— Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa, a home cleaning and maid service in Arizona

2. Absorb as much of the urine as possible 

In order for cleaners to work effectively, experts recommend soaking up as much of the urine as possible before applying. “Blot the spot from the outside edge towards the center with clean towels to absorb as much of the urine as possible,” Welch says, noting it’s best to wear gloves while you do this. 

One caveat: “But don’t scrub — you’ll end up spreading the urine around,” warns Welch.

3. Treat the spot with an enzyme-based cleaner

The actual cleaning process will differ depending on the surface you’re treating, Alvey explains. (Details below.) 

For washable fabrics: Enzymatic soaking and multiple rinses are key in order to break down the odor-causing proteins in cat urine and ensure the fabric is free of cleaning solution after.

For carpets and furniture: The focus is on thorough saturation, deep penetration and extraction to ensure urine doesn’t remain trapped beneath the surface. 

How to get cat pee smell out of carpet or furniture

When treating cat pee stains on carpet or furniture, first test the product on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t cause damage. Then, Alvey suggests following these steps:

1. Blot as much liquid as possible with a clean towel or a wet vac.
2. Saturate the area with an enzymatic cleaner. If you worry the urine has soaked into carpet or furniture padding, use a syringe to inject cleaner deep into the material. 
3. Cover the treated area with plastic, like a disposable paint drop cloth, and let it sit for several hours to allow the cleaner to break down the urine. 
4. Blot the area with a clean towel or use the wet vac again to extract any remaining moisture. 
5. Repeat the process as needed if the smell persists.
6. Once the area is fully cleaned, allow it to air dry.

How to get cat pee smell out of clothing

For machine-washable items like clothing, blankets or towels, here’s what to do, according to Alvey:

1. Pre-soak the item in a mixture of cold water and a professional-grade enzymatic cleaner for 10-15 minutes. 
2. Rinse the item in cold water. Repeat the process twice.
3. Wash the item with laundry detergent following normal care instructions. 
4. Allow the item to air dry. 
5. Repeat this process if you can still detect a urine odor.

How long does it take for cat urine smell to go away?

If you clean cat pee properly, you should notice no smell within a few hours, according to Knoll. However, this depends on the severity of the issue and how long it has had to set. That’s why experts stress the importance of cleaning cat pee immediately after getting the very first scent of it in your home. “The longer it’s allowed to soak into the surface, the worse the problem will be, and the harder it’ll be to clean out,” Welch says.

When to hire a professional to get rid of cat pee smell

While enzymatic cleaning products can get rid of cat pee smell in less severe situations, Welch recommends calling in a professional cleaning service to assess your needs in the following scenarios since they can be a challenge to clean on your own:

Cat pee has saturated a hard surface. 

Drywall, baseboards, wood floors and grout can be some of the hardest things to treat, Welch says. Cleaning options vary based on severity and a professional can weigh in to see if replacing a surface is necessary, or a combination of cleaning and repainting could get rid of the smell of cat pee.

Cat pee has seeped beneath the carpet. 

“If the tack strips that help pin a carpet to the base flooring are saturated with urine, even the most rigorous carpet cleaning techniques won’t offer much help,” Welch says. A professional cleaner can determine if this has happened, and recommend an expert who will need to replace the strips.

Cat pee has penetrated furniture padding. 

Similarly, if cat urine has seeped into the foam padding inside a piece of upholstered furniture, there’s not much commercial cleaners can do. The furniture may need to be discarded based on professional advice.

A final word on eliminating the odor of cat pee

The best way to get rid of cat pee smell in your house is by treating the spot the accident occurred as soon as possible with an enzyme-based cleaner, the only cleaning product proven to break down the odor-causing proteins in cat urine. For carpets and furniture, the key is fully saturating the stain with cleaner and letting it sit to work its magic. For clothing, soaking in a mixture of water and cleaner is the best method. As Alvey concludes, no matter what surface you’re treating, the goal is always to completely eliminate the odor to prevent future accidents.