How To Get Rid Of The Smell Of Cat Urine In An Apartment, What Ways And Means To Remove It, Remove Stains At Home

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

The best ways to remove cat urine odor at home

The pleasure of communicating with a pet is sometimes overshadowed by an unpleasant event: the discovery of fetid feline "marks" in unexpected places. Such behavior often causes conflicts between the animal and its owner. However, the owner should not be led by emotions and show aggression: the problem can be easily solved by understanding the reasons for the deviant behavior of the cat. Special store products and simple folk recipes will help remove stains and get rid of the stinking amber forever.

Content

• 1 Causes of persistent foul odor in cat urine

• 2 Methods of odor control

  • 2.1 Special means

    • 2.1.1 Bio-GM
    • 2.1.2 "Dufta
    • 2.1.3 OdorGone
    • 2.1.4 ZooClean
    • 2.1.5 Odor Kill
  • 2.2 Folk recipes
  • 2.3 What products to use to clean the sofa, carpet, clothes and shoes
  • 2.4 What not to do
  • 2.5 Tips for neutralizing fresh and stubborn stains
  • 2.6 Video: how to get rid of the smell of cat urine

• 3 Preventive measures

  • 3.1 Eliminate the reasons for ignoring the tray
  • 3.2 How to ward off a cat from repeated contamination and marks of "favorite" places and objects

Causes of persistent foul odor in cat urine

Cat urine is composed of urochrome, urea, and uric acid. The first two components are easily washed off with plain water, while the latter remains moisture resistant. Colorless invisible crystals of acid do not disintegrate, but only dry up, activating with renewed vigor when any liquid (water, urine, sweat, etc.) gets in. It is for this reason that cats' favorite places to go to the toilet over time begin to exude an incredibly pungent and fetid odor. The same applies to clothes soiled by a cat: after washing, the thing almost does not smell, but during the first wear, the unpleasant amber reappears.

Odor control methods

To completely neutralize the odor, it is necessary to break down the acid crystals. This can be done chemically with the help of special means or folk recipes. The first option is simpler, but more expensive, the second is cheaper, but will require more time and effort.

Special means

When choosing a special product, you must carefully read the information on the label. The most effective are products that contain the following active ingredients:

• bacillus spores with biodegradable properties (present in ZooSan, Bio-G, DezoSan products);
• enzymes that accelerate chemical reactions (available in DuftaPet, Faithful Friend, Smart Spray).

Products with surfactants and essential oils as key ingredients are less effective. They temporarily "mask" the smell, remove stains, but do not completely break down crystals. To completely destroy the stinking amber, you will need several treatments and more than one bottle of spray or detergent. In addition, corrosive substances can damage upholstery or carpets, so a preliminary test should be carried out before use by applying a drop of the product to the contaminated area. To avoid damage to property, I recommend using surfactants for the treatment of smooth and even surfaces (tiles, tiles, etc.).

Special means for removing the smell of cat urine are:

• sprays (the liquid is easily sprayed with a spray bottle);
• liquid detergents (due to the high concentration of the active substance, they must be diluted in water in the proportion indicated in the instructions);
• tablets (to prepare the product, dissolve 1–2 granules in hot water and then apply to the contaminated surface).

The shape of the odor neutralizer does not matter: both liquids and tablets give the same effect. The most important rule when choosing is to avoid products with an incomprehensible composition (unknown abbreviations, vague descriptions like "a complex of active substances", "special additives", "natural extracts", etc.). A self-respecting manufacturer should hide nothing from his customers, so he will indicate specific components.

Bio-GM

The Bio-GM spray contains enzymes and microorganisms that feed on animal and human waste. They accelerate the process of natural decomposition, being in the active phase of interaction with the source of an unpleasant odor. It is enough to spray a small amount of the product on the problem area - and after half an hour the fetid amber disappears. If the upholstered furniture is heavily soiled, unscrew the spray and pour a few drops directly onto the upholstery (you can treat the surface with a cloth soaked in the preparation). The spray is available in 500 ml bottles. The cost varies between 120-200 rubles.

The product differs in one feature: immediately after processing the contaminated area, the unpleasant odor increases several times. Lactic acid bacteria instantly react with microorganisms, which is the reason for such an unexpected effect. Do not be afraid of such a reaction: after a few minutes, the active phase of the interaction will pass, and the smell will disappear.

Dufta

The German brand Dufta is a line of ecological and hypoallergenic products. The main components in the composition of the preparations are enzymes (plant proteins), which accelerate the disintegration of fetid microorganisms, break down molecules in the shortest possible time, eliminating the unpleasant odor from the contaminated area. The products are safe for children, adults, animals and the environment. The funds are available in the form of sprays. You can buy them in specialized online stores. The method of application is simple: spray a small amount of the drug on the contaminated area (or indoors), let it dry, and repeat the treatment if necessary. The positive result is felt within 5-10 minutes.

The following products from the Dufta line are especially effective and in demand:

• DuftaCar. Neutralizes odors in vehicles, camping tents, caravans, including upholstery and armchairs. In addition to cat urine, it removes the smell of sweat, vomiting, cigarettes. The cost of a 250 ml bottle is 1290 rubles;
• DuftaPet. Eliminates the unpleasant odor of urine in rooms, rarely used for processing upholstered furniture. The cost of a 500 ml bottle is 1190 rubles;
• DuftaFresh. It is mainly used to remove the smell of human urine, less often animals. Used when caring for babies, the elderly or sedentary people. The cost of a 500 ml bottle is 1133 rubles;
• DuftaSmoke. Suitable for removing the smell of smoke, burning, cigarettes, used to treat smoky rooms, houses or apartments after a fire, etc. The cost of a 250 ml bottle is 1238 rubles.

Despite the different purposes of use, all products (regardless of the name) have an identical composition. This suggests that the products are universal and differ little from each other in their effectiveness (that is, a spray for removing the smell of cigarette smoke can be used to remove the smell of cat urine). The difference in price depends only on the concentration of the main active component: the higher it is, the higher the cost.

Dufta brand products handle all odors

OdorGone

OdorGone ("Odorgon") - a professional line of products for removing any odors (urine, burning, etc.). It contains natural oils and plant extracts that break down bacteria and fungi at the molecular level. The products are hypoallergenic, harmless to humans and animals. Do not contain aggressive substances. Often used by cleaning services.

To remove the smell of animals, urine and fetid cat marks, the following line products are suitable:

• OdorGone Animal Gold. It has a powerful concentration of active substance, suitable for eliminating a particularly persistent and corrosive odor. The cost of the spray is 799 rubles for 500 ml, liquid - 5990 rubles for a five-liter canister;
• OdorGone Animal Silver. Suitable for daily use. The cost of the spray is 599 rubles for 500 ml or 299 rubles for a volume of 250 ml.

OdorGone is a professional cat urine odor neutralizer

ZooClean

Products of the domestic manufacturer ZooClean are designed to eliminate any odors of organic origin. Contains nonionic and anionic surfactants that break down microorganisms at the molecular level. Available in the form of sprays or detergents.

The most effective and popular are the following products from the ZooClean line:

• "DezoSan". Suitable for eliminating unpleasant odors in a room. The cost of the spray is 272 rubles (volume - 500 ml);
• ZooVorsin. It is used for processing carpets, upholstery, upholstered furniture. The cost is 379 rubles for a 500 ml bottle. Available as a spray;
• ZooSan. The tool is used for sanitary cleaning of the premises for keeping animals. Does not contain chlorine and phosphates, it eliminates unpleasant odors well. The cost of the detergent is 569 rubles per liter.

"Zoovorsin" removes stains from carpets

Odor kill

Products from the British manufacturer Animal Health Company. Contains enzymes, disinfectant, helps to eliminate the smell of ammonia, reduces the risk of viral and respiratory infection. Safe for animals and people. Suitable for smooth and fabric surfaces. It is economical to use and has a pleasant vanilla aroma. The cost of 1 liter of the product is 1800 rubles. The concentrated solution is diluted in a proportion of 20 ml per 1 liter of water.

Odor Kill is suitable for smooth and fabric surfaces

Folk recipes

Lovers of folk methods can use the following improvised means to eliminate the fetid amber:

• potassium permanganate. Moisten a rag in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and wash the contaminated areas with it. Because it stains, this method is not suitable for furniture and carpets;
• soda. Mix the substance with water until a homogeneous slurry is obtained, apply to the problem area. When the moisture has evaporated, remove the remaining soda with a vacuum cleaner. Cannot be used on glossy surfaces, since soda is an abrasive agent;
• vinegar. With a weak solution (or a rag dipped in pure vinegar), treat the surface, after drying, rinse with water. You can replace vinegar with freshly squeezed lemon juice - it will effectively remove the pungent odor and keep the pet away from its “favorite place” for a long time;
• vodka. Suitable for all coatings and fabrics. Removes fresh stains well. Can be replaced with ethyl alcohol. Treat the surface with a cotton pad or swab dipped in the product. After that, ventilate the room well;
• iodine. Dissolve 10 drops in a liter of water, treat the problem area.

If the puddle is fresh, regular laundry soap (with a fatty acid content of at least 72%), tea leaves, dental elixir (mouthwash), citric acid, malic acid, or acetic acid will help get rid of the stench. All of these products are strong natural oxidants. It is enough to treat the problem area with a small amount of funds to get rid of the unpleasant amber.

The following complex surface treatment methods are suitable to eliminate particularly persistent odors:

• apply an aqueous solution of vinegar (1: 4) to the problem area, blot with a napkin, sprinkle with baking soda. Grate a tablespoon of laundry soap, dissolve in a glass of water, add 20 ml of hydrogen peroxide, rub into the stain, then vacuum;
• Sprinkle the stained area with baking soda. Mix a teaspoon of liquid soap in a spray bottle with 50 ml of hydrogen peroxide, spray onto the surface. Peroxide will "push" the crystals of uric acid, and soda and soap will hold it back. Residues need to be vacuumed, and the resulting soap "crust" can be easily removed with a brush;

Some people question the effectiveness of using vinegar to remove urine odor. They think that the pungent and sour smell of the liquid combined with the feline "tags" will make the situation worse. Do not worry: like vodka, vinegar quickly disappears and does not leave any marks on the surface. To accelerate the effect when using this improvised tool, I recommend opening all the windows in the room for an hour (you can make a draft). By the way, vinegar well removes any odors of organic origin (including urine of a child or an elderly person), so you should not neglect it.

What products to use to clean the sofa, carpet, clothes and shoes

Removing stinking amber from floor coverings is much easier than removing odors from wardrobe items and upholstered furniture. Some improvised means (for example, hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate) contain corrosive substances and can render the thing unusable. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to use proven folk recipes:

• if a puddle was found in a shoe, you should immediately put a newspaper or rag inside the shoe to remove moisture as much as possible. After that, the shoes should be washed in water using laundry soap. If the urine has already dried, the shoes still need to be washed with laundry soap, then wiped with vinegar and dried. Repeat the procedure until the smell disappears completely;
• if a cat's "mark" is found on the carpet, the remnants of the fetid liquid must be blotted with a dry cloth. Mix white vinegar with warm water in a 1: 2 ratio, spray from a spray bottle onto the contaminated area. Leave to dry completely;
• it is enough to rinse clothes soiled by a cat in a vinegar solution (a tablespoon of vinegar per 1 liter of water);
• to remove the unpleasant smell from the sofa, you need to rub baking soda into the upholstery, then sprinkle with vinegar on top. Do not be alarmed when the mixture starts to sizzle (this is how the components interact). Once completely dry, vacuum the sofa.

If the upholstered furniture (sofa or armchair) is still a source of unpleasant odor after many treatments, it is recommended to replace the filler. This requires:

1. Open the upholstery near the stain.
2. Remove the dirty filler (it is easy to spot by its yellow tint and offensive amber).
3. Wash the upholstery without removing it completely from the sofa.
4. After the upholstery has dried, fill the space with new filler.
5. Sew the upholstery in place.

This method allows you to save money on buying new furniture and get rid of the urine smell forever.

What not to do

Do not treat the contaminated area with bleach. This aggressive and poisonous substance can not only spoil the soiled thing, but also negatively affect the health of the pet and household members (breathing in chlorine vapor is very harmful). A strong chemical smell temporarily "drowns out" the smell of urine, but does not break down the crystals of uric acid, so after a while the problem becomes urgent again.

It is also ineffective to treat the cat's “favorite” places with perfumes and cosmetics. The composition of perfumes and colognes contains alcohol, but in very small quantities, so it cannot neutralize the foul-smelling bacteria. Any other flavors (dried herbs, aromatic oils, air fresheners, etc.) temporarily "beat off" the smell of urine, but after weathering, cat marks again begin to exude an unpleasant odor.

Tips for neutralizing fresh and stubborn stains

If a fresh stain is found, it is necessary to immediately start active actions in order to prevent uric acid from penetrating deep into the surface. Blot the stained area with paper towels or dry clean rags. If it's a rug, you can throw a rag on the floor and step on it.

When the liquid has been removed as much as possible, sprinkle the stained area with an absorbent (such as baking soda or finest cat litter). After half an hour, remove the residues with a vacuum cleaner.

I recommend using borax as an absorbent. This excellent disinfectant is available in powder form at the pharmacy. Especially suitable for removing stains from mattresses. Always wear gloves when rubbing borax into the dirty area. Although the substance is non-toxic, with prolonged contact it can damage the skin.

Helpful tips for neutralizing fresh stains:

• if the stain is found on the furniture, it is enough to dry it with a hairdryer after removing the excess liquid with paper towels;
• smooth surfaces should be immediately treated with any natural oxidizing agent (vinegar, citric acid, hydrogen peroxide);
• for the preparation of the vinegar solution, only 9% table vinegar should be used (apple cider vinegar is not suitable);
• it is convenient to handle the mattress by placing it on the edge;
• do not use special household cleaning products (OdorGone, Bio-G, etc.) immediately after cleaning the surface with improvised means (soda, vinegar, etc.). As a result of such treatments, the stains will become even more noticeable, and the smell will become even more fetid.

Stubborn stains are much more difficult to get rid of. Folk complex methods using vinegar, laundry soap, soda and hydrogen peroxide are suitable here. If they did not bring the desired effect, it is better to trust the professionals and use the services of dry cleaning.

Video: how to get rid of the smell of cat urine

Preventive measures

A one-time treatment of a stained place will not permanently solve the problem: it is quite possible that the cat will return there more than once. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to identify the reason for the animals ignoring their tray and take preventive measures.

A pet should be trained to the litter box from the first days of its appearance in the family. The sooner the owner starts raising the pet, the better the results will be. Adults, accustomed to permissiveness, hardly get used to the new rules and listen to the owner. However, even re-educating them is quite possible: it will just take more time. Physical force should not be used to punish the animal, as this method is ineffective. It only exacerbates the conflict between the cat and the owner.

Eliminate the reasons for ignoring the tray

If an obedient pet suddenly starts going to the toilet in the wrong places, there may be several reasons for ignoring the litter box:

• puberty. High hormonal levels during puberty cause the animal to leave "scent marks" in the hope of attracting the attention of individuals of the opposite sex (even if there are none in the house, and the cat is not on the street). It's a natural instinct. Sterilization or castration of the pet will help to cope with the problem forever;
• tray. Replacing an old tray with a new one often becomes the reason for relieving needs in the wrong places. You can purchase several trays at once so that the pet chooses the most convenient one or return the old item to its place. It should also be remembered that a cat always deliberately ignores its toilet if it is not cleaned;
• stress. When a cat is constantly in a state of stress, she simply "forgets" about the litter box and relieves her needs where she has to. The reasons for the worries can be very different: the death of someone from the household, moving to a new place of residence, frequent conflicts in the house, the appearance of a new family member, etc. In this case, you need to remember at what stage the "failure" occurred and help the animal adapt to a new environment or circumstances;

• location. Cats love to go to the toilet in secluded places, so the pet will stubbornly ignore the litter box in the corridor or in a busy place (for example, in the living room). It is better to rearrange its tray to another place hidden from human eyes, or purchase a closed model with a door (it looks like a carrier for animals);

  

  Closed-type tray - ideal for modest cats

• age. In older cats, there is a decrease in physical abilities, brain activity, problems with coordination of movements, vision, age-related weakening of the muscles of the urethra. In this case, the owner should be condescending to the pet and not punish him for wrongdoing. It is better to create the most comfortable conditions for his stay (for example, put a tray near the resting place).

If none of the above reasons are appropriate, you should pay attention to the cat's behavior. If the animal becomes nervous, irritable, deliberately relieves itself in front of the owner - all this can signal serious health problems. For example, diseases of the genitourinary system, diabetes mellitus, food allergies, intestinal inflammation, hepatitis, increased thyroid function, etc. In this case, you must immediately take your pet to the veterinarian for examination. Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

How to discourage a cat from repeated contamination and marks of "favorite" places and objects

To prevent your pet from relieving in the wrong places, you should use the following simple tips:

• leave orange peels in “favorite” places for animals, or drop a few drops of citrus-scented essential oil. Cats are very frightened by such smells;

• treat the area (or object) chosen by the animal with a special deterrent (for example, "Antigadin"). You can find similar products at pet stores;

  

  Repeller "Antigadin" will wean your pet to go to the toilet in the wrong place

• rearrange furniture and barricade problem areas from the pet;
• stick double-sided tape on the floor or sofa. When a cat suddenly sticks to the surface with its paws, it will get scared and hardly want to come back;
• wash the tray at least twice a day, keep it clean. Do not use scented detergents for processing, since the foreign smell will scare the pet away from its toilet;
• when a pet intends to relieve himself in the wrong place, sharply clap his hands over his head, suddenly make a loud sound, or spray water from a spray bottle in his face. Repeat this every time the cat is about to play dirty tricks. Then the once-favored site will be associated with unpleasant emotions in the animal, and soon it will stop going there;
• if the cat is in the habit of going to the toilet on a chair or sofa, it is recommended to use removable soft covers for upholstered furniture. It is likely that your pet will not like the new upholstery;
• hide shoes in a special closet (especially, guests' wardrobe items) to avoid provocation from the pet. Cats are often jealous of their owners to strangers and express their dissatisfaction by leaving "odorous" marks right in their shoes.

If the pet suddenly began to relieve himself in the wrong places, you should identify the cause of the deviant behavior and take appropriate measures (take up education or seek help from a veterinarian). You can permanently get rid of the stinking amber with the help of special products that contain enzymes. If you want to save your family budget, it is recommended to use proven folk methods. In terms of efficiency, they are in no way inferior to store products.