All cats definitely have something in common. Their smell. Actually, real stink, getting deep into furniture, walls and floor, clothes and household utensils. How to remove the smell of cat’s urine, so that inhaling no one could ever guess that there is a whiskered “perfumer” living at your place?
Cat “aromatization”
If the pet is healthy, the sharp smell of its urine can be felt only during estrus. Urine of young kittens almost doesn’t smell at all. But urine in mature cats has a pungent smell. The reason for that is its chemical composition: mixture of hormones, acids, salts, protein decomposition products, etc. “Cat smell” is so strong and resistant due to uric acid crystals, which are pretty difficult to remove from the surface. Water and regular detergents can cope with urea and urochrome (responsible for urine color), but crystals remaining on the surface continue exuding unpleasant smell.
Neutering is the only effective solution of cat marks problem. Urine of neutered or spayed cats has almost no smell, even if they continue leaving marks, since the composition of the urine becomes close to those in kittens.
Owners are concerned about how to get rid of the cat smell from the carpet, clothes and furniture. But cats themselves don’t consider this urine smell disgusting, because for them it is the main means of communication at a distance – like mails and phone calls for people. In some cases, leaving a mark the cat is asking for help. In this cases the smell is a signal “I'm scared, it hurts, I don’t like it.” Pay attention to such signals, perhaps you should show your pet to the vet.
Countermeasures for getting rid of the smell
The best way to get rid of cat smell is to use special products consisting of directional enzymes that destroy uric acid crystals. Choose a high quality product in the form of concentrate: it works great and one bottle is enough for keeping your place clean and fresh during several months.
For those who prefer popular self-made solutions, there are lots of products available. Before using a substance, be sure to check its effect on a small inconspicuous area.
The most popular substances in such cases are acetic acid (in vinegar) and baking soda. First use the vinegar, rinse it off and give the surface dry completely and only then sprinkle the stain with some baking soda. If you don’t let the surface dry, vinegar neutralizes the soda making your efforts useless. Among other things you may use there are: regular soap, glycerin, potassium permanganate or dishwashing liquid.
There is one more effective method (but keep in mind it is only suitable for enduring surfaces). Sprinkle the spot with baking soda. Mix 100 ml of hydrogen peroxide with 100 ml of water, and then add half a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent. Gently stir and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the stain sprinkled with baking soda: there will be fizzing bubbles – don’t worry, it’s not dangerous. Leave the foam for a few hours then wash it off with water.
How to get rid of the cat urine smell if the pet marks floor and corners? Take a paper towel and carefully blot the surface. The more liquid you can remove – the better. Soap a sponge and wring it out thoroughly, then rinse the surface several times without rubbing, but gently sponging the stain and collecting the moisture with a paper towel. Sprinkle the spot with baking soda or potassium permanganate and leave for about three hours. It would be much easier to remove the crystals having absorbed the moisture. If the smell is still there, apply a thin layer of lemon juice or vinegar diluted with water. Soak for about forty minutes and rinse. But be careful! Acid can damage the color or texture of the coating.
And how to get rid of the cat urine smell on clothing? Put the garment on the bottom of the bath so that the spot was under running water, and leave it there for a few minutes. Soak it in soapy water and gently wash. Do not rub too hard not to rub the urine into the fabric. Soak the item in a weak solution of vinegar and water with the addition of citric acid. If the fabric is delicate, instead of acid solution you may use dishwashing detergents, better with citrus or pine scent. The same things work for removing small spots from carpets, upholstery, curtains, tablecloths, etc. For deep cleaning of upholstery or carpets – use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner.
Detergents containing chlorine and chlorine-containing substances aren’t suitable for this purpose: the smell will remain and is likely to become stronger, as it will get deeper into the surface. In addition, the smell of chlorine may scare some cats, and your pet can abundantly pour all around with its urine to kill the unpleasant “foreign” smell.
How to get rid of the cat urine smell if the pet left its pee in one’s shoes? Take a paper towel tight and collect the liquid from the shoe. Crumple the paper towel and spay it with lemon juice or vinegar. Put the paper into the shoe and leave it for a couple of hours (preferably outside or on the balcony). You will have to repeat it several times. To neutralize the smell of vinegar, sprinkle the surface with baking soda, leave it for a couple of hours, and then clean the shoes with special shoe care products you usually use.
How to get rid of the cat urine smell in the air? Air-cleaners equipped with special filters can do this job. Also you can try leaving citrus slices around the apartment for several hours and hanging aroma bags with lemon peel, dry molasses and pine buds in your wardrobe.
If the cat leaves no marks, but the smell is still there – try changing the cat litter filler and disinfecting the litter box more often. If the cat itself smells not very good – it can be a reason to visit a veterinary clinic.
