Cat pee smell is pervasive, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world (or your favorite rug or chair). The general process for getting rid of cat pee is to blot the area, spray it with cleaner, and let the spot dry—but how successful this process is will depend on the:
- timing of when you find the pee (fresh or dry)
- type of cleanser you are using
- material the pee is on
We spoke with several cleaning pros and veterinary experts for advice and used their expertise to put together a guide on removing cat urine smells and stains. Have a specific surface you need to remove pee from? Use our table of contents to jump to the appropriate section and learn which common household cleaners work best for urine stains and pee smells.
Cleaning Cat Pee and Stains: What to Use
First, it’s important to know what not to use to clean up cat pee. Don’t break out:
- A steam cleaner—this can bond the pee to the carpet, making it permanent.
- Ammonia or bleach—these chemicals can intensify the smell and create harmful fumes.
Instead use:
- A portable spot cleaner or a wet/dry vacuum like the Bissell Little Green Portable Cleaner: These can help with stubborn pet stains that have seeped into your carpet.
- An enzymatic solution for stain removal. You can also consider natural remedies like baking soda and vinegar.
“Enzymatic cleaners are excellent to use, as the enzymes work to break down the residual urine,” explains Dr. Flickinger, senior manager of insights and innovation for World’s Best Cat Litter. Our experts like these enzymatic cleaners:
- Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover
- Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator
- Simple Solution Extreme Pet Stain and Odor Remover
The huge advantage these cleaners have over homemade recipes, like vinegar, is that they remove a cat’s urine crystals. If the urine crystals are still around, your cat can detect them and will more likely to pee in the same spot again.
How To Get Rid of Cat Pee From the Carpet
If your cat has peed on the carpet, it’s imperative to act fast. Here’s what to do:
- Blot up the liquid. “Once you’ve found the spot, blot up as much of the urine as possible with paper towels or a wet vacuum,” advises Karina Toner, Operations Manager at Spekless Cleaning. A highly absorbent microfiber cloth works well here, too.
- Rinse the area with water or club soda. “You can also use freshly opened club soda as an initial step, as well, instead of regular water,” adds Scott Johnston of Carpet Care of the Carolinas. “This can help to prevent the pee from soaking into the material.”
- Apply an enzymatic cleaner. Enzymatic cleaners are almost universally recommended by cleaning pros and veterinary experts for tackling hard pet messes.
- Blot up excess cleaner after 10-15 minutes. Read the instructions on your chosen cleaner, since timing can vary depending on the product.
- Let the spot dry over two days. If the cat-pee smell persists, you may have to repeat the process.
To keep curious cats and humans away while it dries, place an upside-down bowl or laundry basket over the area.
Oleg Opryshko via iStock
How To Remove Cat Pee Odors From a Mattress
Ugh, cat pee on the bed is the worst. Here’s how to handle it.
- Remove bedding. If sheets are soiled, pre-treat them with an enzyme cleaner and toss them in the washing machine.
- Blot the liquid. Use a clean cloth or paper towels to absorb the urine from the mattress. Be sure to blot or press the area—don’t rub the mattress, or you might spread the urine stain.
- Re-wet the area. Use cool water to douse the affected area, and then blot again. This helps to dilute the urine, pulling more of it out of your mattress.
- Apply an enzymatic cleaner. Let the cleaner soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Then blot dry with towels.
- Sprinkle baking soda. This step helps draw out more moisture and helps neutralize the odor.
- Allow the mattress to dry. If you’re able, place the mattress outside in the sun, which helps to kill bacteria and freshen up the fabric. Otherwise, a rotating fan directed at the area will work just fine.
How To Remove Cat Pee From the Couch or Upholstery
Cat urine doesn’t automatically doom your favorite couch to the garbage. If kitty pee strikes your upholstery, try the following:
- Blot the urine. Absorb as much liquid as you can with clean towels.
- Re-wet the area. Soak the urine stain with cool water. Blot again to pull out even more urine.
- Apply an enzymatic cleaner. Allow the cleaner to sit for 15 to 20 minutes, and then blot up the excess moisture.
- Let cleaner air dry completely. If it’s possible, bring removable cushions outside to dry in the sun. This could take up to a day or two. If you can’t move the couch cushions (or the weather is ugly), use an overturned laundry basket or bowl to keep pets and people from sitting on the area while it dries.
How To Neutralize Cat Pee From Sheets, Bedding, or Clothes
If the cat pee smell is coming from your hamper or laundry basket, here’s the good news: It will wash out. But plain old detergent probably won’t cut it.
To get rid of cat pee smell from linens, you need to neutralize the odor with a special cleaner, like Thornell Laundry Odor Eliminator or Skout’s Honor. These both work as pre-treatment for stains and can be added to the wash through the bleach dispenser.
- Pre-treat the stain with odor neutralize. Before laundering, saturate the stain with your chosen cleaner (enzyme-based is best) and let sit for five minutes.
- Add sheets to the washing machine. Along with your regular detergent, add the recommended amount of your enzymatic concentrate.
- Wash in cold water. Don’t use hot water, as it can “set” smells.
- Line dry. If it’s feasible, dry your bedding outside in the sun for extra freshness.
Note: If the smell or stain persists, you may have to wash your linens a second time.
How To Get Cat Pee Out of the Car
- Blot the urine. Use towels or rags to soak up as much liquid as possible, getting into any crevices and seams.
- Apply an enzymatic cleaner. Spray a fabric-safe enzyme cleaner, like Nature’s Miracle Cat Urine Destroyer, onto the stain. Leave to dry, according to the instructions (generally between 15 to 20 minutes). For leather seats, you’ll need a leather-safe enzyme cleaner, like Absolutely Clean Leather Cleaner.
- Remove the remaining liquid. Continue blotting or use a wet vac to extract any excess moisture from the car seats.
- Sprinkle it with baking soda. For extra odor-fighting results, spread a layer of baking soda over the area. Allow to sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum it up.
How To Tackle Dried Cat Pee
In all cases, it’s easier to remove cat urine when it’s fresh rather than dried. Dried urine can still be cleaned, according to Denise Lott, a veterinary assistant working with Hello Ralphie. “Similar products can be used, but will need to soak into the material longer and usually require more than one application,” she says.
Option 1. Re-soak dried pee with cool water, cleaner, or hydrogen peroxide
After rewetting the area, blot the area to remove as much urine as possible. If using an enzymatic cleaner or hydrogen peroxide, let it sit up to 8 hours. According to Johnston, this may help with yellow stains.
Option 2. Bring in a professional to avoid more damage
“Calling a professional will ensure that the urine is not only neutralized but also extracted in a way that leaves your carpets and upholstery both clean and protected,” Johnston says.
Option 3. Replace the pee-stained product
For mattresses where pee has had time to soak through layers, you may want to replace it. “If the padding or stuffing gets wet with urine, replace it. Even if you get the surface clean, the smell will never go away and the cat will be attracted back if it still smells,” Johnson says.
krblokhin via iStock
Do Natural Home Remedies Work for Removing Cat Pee?
When it comes to natural cleaners like vinegar, you’ll need realistic expectations about how well they remove cat pee smells and stain. “Some cat owners swear by natural options like vinegar,” Lott tells Rover. “However, I’ve never had great results with them,” she admits.
That said, there are good reasons, from skin sensitivities to allergies, to give natural household cleaners a shot. Pro cleaner Karina Toner recommends the following three DIY recipes to try on various surfaces.
Vinegar method
- Blot up as much cat pee as possible with a paper towel.
- Mix equal parts water and white vinegar and spray it on the stain.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes and then blot it up with paper towels.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum it up afterward.
Note that vinegar sometimes requires a follow-up. As Johnston explains, it’s good for neutralizing the pH in cat urine, but it doesn’t extract urine crystals from surfaces. “It’s a start. Steps need to be taken after,” he explains. We recommend following up vinegar with an enzymatic cleaner to break down uric acid.
Hydrogen peroxide method
- Sprinkle baking soda over the stain.
- Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of dish detergent and pour over the baking soda.
- Scrub with a cloth and rinse well.
Use caution when applying hydrogen peroxide or other oxygen-based cleaners to fabrics or clothes—it can cause discoloration, advises Dr. Flickinger. You may want to spot-test an area first.
Lemon juice method
- Mix 2 cups of warm water with 1 tablespoon of salt and 1/2 cup of lemon juice.
- Spray it on the stain and let it dry.
- Vacuum it up afterward.
Get Your Cat Checked for Medical Issues
Once the mess is cleaned, it’s important to consider what might be going on with your cat.
Whenever your cat pees outside the litter box, Lott recommends you get your cat examined to rule out any medical causes, like cat incontinence. Once a medical issue has been ruled out, Lott offers the following solutions to encourage your cat to use their litter box:
- Do provide the right number of litter boxes
- Keep litter boxes in convenient locations that are accessible to your cat
- Make sure boxes are the right size and height for your cat
- Clean your litter boxes clean daily, keeping a layer of litter at least one-inch thick
