The Trick to Getting Rid of Cat Pee Anywhere (It’s Expert-Approved!)

As someone who has fostered over 150 cats and currently has six kitties in her home (four permanent residents and two long-term fosters, to clarify), I’ve definitely encountered my fair share of feline-centric problems. If you’re a fellow cat parent, you know that one of the top issues can be dealing with accidents and learning how to get rid of cat urine smell. 

My kitties typically use the litter box, but accidents can happen when one of them is sick or unsettled. Encountering a stream of cat pee on the kitchen tile is a reasonably simple cleanup, but it’s a whole different story when it’s on the carpet. I reached out to experts to find out how to get rid of cat urine smell at home, and here’s what they had to say.

According to Elizabeth Flickinger, an animal scientist associated with World’s Best Cat Litter, and Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids, cat urine slowly releases ammonia, causing a strong, unpleasant scent that strengthens over time.

You might wonder why cat pee has such a pungent odor, and that’s because it’s how they mark their territory, shares Evans. Alessandro Gazzo, a cleaning expert at Emily’s Maids, adds that the odor is also a way for non-neutered cats to attract mates, so neutering males — and spaying females — is a must.

Will enzyme cleaners work to rid your home of the cat urine smell? Yes, enzyme cleaners will break down the smell and eliminate it. But according to our experts, that shouldn’t be your first line of attack. “The most effective way to clean up cat urine is to use water and a gentle detergent,” advises Flickinger. She prefers laundry detergent but says that dish detergent will work in a pinch. 

If that doesn’t work, then you can turn to an enzyme cleaner, such as Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator — which writer Caroline Mullen swears by in her review — or Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer Plus for Cats, which is unscented and made with essential oils.

One method you should probably skip is using baking soda and vinegar. “When you mix them, they release salt and water,” says Evans. Essentially, the result of the combination is useless and “won’t be effective for this type of stain.”

Your approach will vary depending on when you detect the accident, but it’s super important to clean up cat urine as soon as possible, advises Flickinger, who points out that if waste is left behind for too long, it can encourage your pet to continue to use the spot as well as strengthen the scent. Once the urine dries, tiny crystals will form and they are difficult to remove from soft surfaces like your sofa or rug, she shares. 

• Microfiber cloth or cotton towel
• Extra towels
• Water
• Gentle laundry detergent, dish detergent, or an enzyme cleaner
• Carpet or upholstery cleaner

1. Remove as much pee as you can. If you’re dealing with carpets or rugs, press a towel into it to soak up the liquid. 
2. Try an upholstery cleaner. Alex Varela, the general manager of Dallas Maids, also recommends using an upholstery cleaner and your preferred cleaning solution (like the one that comes with the cleaner), as it can neutralize the scent and prevent it from returning. Bissell’s Little Green is a popular upholstery cleaner, for instance.
3. Let it dry. This should be enough with a fresh mess, but if you discover a set-in, dry stain, then you’ll want to try Flickinger’s recommendation below.

1. Use your desired cleaning product. Flickinger says to dissolve a few drops of laundry detergent (or dish detergent) in about a cup of water and wet a white cloth to blot the stain. Or you can use an enzyme cleaner.
2. Apply the cleaning product. Use a white cloth and dip it into the solution. Blot the stain with the cloth. If you’re using an enzyme cleaner, follow its application instructions. Evans recommends cleaning a wide area around the mess, as liquids spread and can sink deeply into carpet padding and subflooring.
3. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes. If you’re using an enzyme cleaner, please follow its cleaning instructions directly. 
4. Soak up the liquid. Press a microfiber cloth or cotton towel against the surface to absorb as much liquid as possible.
5. Repeat as needed. Repeat step four with fresh towels if there is excessive urine and keep blotting until the stain is gone.