Do you feel like your whole house smells like a litter box? Getting rid of cat odours in carpets and furniture is key to getting your house to smell fresh and clean. How do you go about truly removing cat odour and not just covering it up? The key is knowing a little science behind the smell.
Why Cat Urine Is So Poten
Cat urine contains uric acid, which can last in carpets, fabrics and wood for years! Although baking soda, vinegar, soap, and hydrogen peroxide may neutralise the odours temporarily, a humid day can cause the uric acid to recrystallise, and the infamous "cat odour" will return. The only way to destroy the uric acid is to use an enzyme cleaner, according to TheCatSite.com. The affected areas on the carpet or fabrics need to be soaked in enzyme cleaner and allowed to air-dry completely. The enzymes break the uric acid into gases, and through natural drying, the gases evaporate, leaving your carpet and fabrics smelling fresh again. Enzyme cleaners can be found online and at most grocery stores.
Tasty Tips
How to Clean It
Whether your cat recently urinated on a surface in your home or you have old stains and odour, it's important to address the mess with some strategy. Here are some basic guidelines to get you started:
- Use an old towel to blot and absorb as much urine as possible as soon as you find a spot.
- Let an enzyme cleaner sit on the stained area for a few hours and dry naturally.
- Put a laundry basket over the area while it's being treated to keep kitty away from the cleaner.
- Open windows and run fans to keep the airflow moving and help odours leave your house.
- Try to identify why your cat is having accidents (urinary issue, stress, change in routine).
Cleaning the area thoroughly with vinegar first and then applying an enzyme treatment will break down and evaporate the uric acid and your home will be free of cat odours. Vinegar and enzyme cleaners work on all surfaces: hardwood floors, carpets, mattresses. But remember, all types of flooring and fabrics can be affected differently by cleaners, so always test a small area before doing any treatment.
One key point to remember, however, is to never use a steam cleaner or heat on cat urine stains or spots, petMD warns. It can set the stain and make it more difficult to remove. If you have steam cleaned rugs or mattresses already, be sure to do the enzyme treatment a few times. Strong odours usually linger in fabrics and carpets longer and may need a few treatments.
Preventing Cat Odours
The best way to keep cat smells from overtaking your house is to avoid them in the first place. Keep the litter box clean and add baking soda to help absorb odours. If your cat seems to be having urinary stress issues (which cause them to have accidents) or is constantly throwing up hairballs all over your house, consider gradually transitioning them to a food that helps reduce hairballs and urinary issues.
Most animal smells in your home may be due to bodily fluids, but it is also important to not let cat hair pile up in your home; this can lead to cat odour as well. To easily remove cat hair from upholstery, mix some fabric softener with water in a spray bottle and lightly mist the surface. After spraying the surface, use dampened rubber gloves to scoop up and remove the cat hair.
Once you have your house smelling fresh and clean, you can usually keep it that way by providing your cat with healthy food, a clean litter box, and regular brushing. If you need a temporary quick fix and use things such as air fresheners, make sure they are safe for pets, so as to not create more problems than when you started.
Related products
Adult Wet Cat Food with Ocean Fish
Tender chunks in gravy for cats, with high-quality protein to maintain lean muscle. With vitamin E and omega-3s & -6s for healthy skin and balanced minerals to support healthy vital organs.
with Turkey, Chicken
Hill's Science Plan Adult Cat Premium Chunks in Sauce with Turkey is a complete pet food for adult cats aged 1-6 years
with Ocean Fish, Chicken
Tender chicken chunks in gravy for cats, with L-carnitine and fewer calories for ideal weight management. Packed with high-quality protein, omega-6s, and vitamin E for shiny fur and healthy skin.
Mature Adult Wet Cat Food with Chicken
Tender chicken chunks in gravy for mature adult cats. Made with easy-to-digest ingredients, high-quality protein for lean muscle maintenance and antioxidant vitamins C+E for optimal health.
Related articles
Hill's Cat Foods: Nutritional Balance Just for Indoor Cats
Find the right Hill
How To Support Your Cat’s Digestion
Find out about how you can support your cat's digestion to boost overall health. Diet is key to a long and happy life for your cat, so discover what you can do.
How Often Should You Feed A Cat?
Feeding time can be a wonderful bonding opportunity for you and your cat. Find out how to make the most of it and create a healthy habit with HIll's Pet UK.
How To Feed a Cat With a Sensitive Stomach
Discover what you can do to spot and support a sensitive cat stomach. See what routines and food you can implement to help your cat be happy and healthy.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavourful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavourful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.