How Do I Get Cat Odor Out of the Carpet?

Cats are incredible companions and loving family members, but bringing a feline friend into your home can sometimes come with some unpleasant and unwanted odors. If you’ve ever dealt with the scent of cat urine or other feline-related odors in your carpet, you know how frustrating it can be.

Fortunately, there are many effective methods to eliminate these odors and leave your carpet smelling clean and fresh, including both commercial cleaning products and DIY solutions.

In this post, I will share techniques and tips to help you banish cat odor from your carpet once and for all, whether fresh or dried. Plus, I’ll address cleaning methods for other surfaces in your home that may be hanging onto odors, like blankets, clothing, and hard surfaces.

Being a cat parent doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a clean home!

Why Does Cat Urine Smell So Bad?

If you have ever shared a space with a cat, you know cat urine has a distinct smell. This means not only bathroom accidents but even the scent of the urine in their litterbox. What gives it such a pungent odor? There are several reasons why this happens.

Cats are believed to have evolved from desert animals, meaning their bodies have adapted to survive in hot climates with limited hydration. Their bodies are more effective at absorbing and retaining water to lower the risk of dehydration. As a result, their urine is much more concentrated than, for example, our urine. This makes the odor more prominent.

As the urine sits, whether in a litter box or on your carpet, bacteria break down the urea in the urine. This process releases smelly gases that carry the characteristic ammonia smell. The longer the urine sits, the more it will break down and the more pungent that smell will become.

Factors that Could Make Your Cat’s Urine Smell Worse

While cat urine is known to have an unpleasant ammonia smell, there are factors that could make that smell less noticeable (or even worse). This doesn’t eliminate the risk of cat odor in your carpets, but it is an important consideration when trying to limit the smells in your home. If you have noticed your cat’s pee has a stronger or more unpleasant smell than usual, here are a few things you should consider:

Urine Concentration

We mentioned that cat urine is more concentrated, but this doesn’t mean it can’t become even stronger and more intense in some cases. This is usually the result of severe dehydration (your cat isn’t drinking enough water) or kidney disease and complications that impact your cat’s ability to process or absorb water. Consider it a red flag if you notice the smell from your cat’s litter box is stronger than usual.

Feline Diabetes

If your cat suffers from feline diabetes, their body fails to process and regulate sugar levels properly. This can make their urine smell sweeter or give it a fruity scent. On one hand, this may seem more pleasant as the smell is less troublesome than the typical ammonia smell. But it is a sign of health complications that should be addressed for your cat’s health and well-being.

Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in cats, especially as they age. If your cat suffers from a UTI, their urine may have a more pungent or fishy odor. UTIs also impact your cat’s ability to pee normally, which can lead to more accidents outside of the box. The good news is that these infections are usually easy to treat. With antibiotics, most cats recover in 7 to 10 days. However, you need to contact your veterinarian to start the treatment process.

Diet

Your cat's food can directly impact their waste, changing the smell of your cat’s urine. For example, you may notice a stronger ammonia smell if they eat a high-protein diet. If you recently noticed a change in the scent of your cat’s urine, take a moment to reconsider what they have been eating lately (including both food and treats), and you may identify the cause.

Medical Concerns

There are several illnesses and diseases that could change the way your cat’s urine smells. It could be because the illness impacts their kidney function or changes the chemical composition of their urine. The only way to rule out medical explanations is by making an appointment with your veterinarian.

Cleaning Cat Urine Out of Carpets

If you have been living with a cat for any length of time, you may already be experiencing that unpleasant smell in your home. It’s a struggle faced by cat parents everywhere. Whether you’re trying to clean up a fresh accident or recently discovered a spot that has dried up but still gives off a nasty smell, here are some solutions:

How to Get Cat Urine Out of the Carpet When it’s Fresh

If your cat has recently gone to the bathroom on the carpet, it’s best to act fast. The sooner you clean up the space, the less likely you’ll find yourself fighting lingering odors. Using a rag or old towel, carefully blot the space to absorb as much urine as possible. If you have a wet vac or carpet cleaner with a cold setting, you can use that to help remove the urine. But avoid scrubbing or steam cleaning, as that can set the odor in further.

When you believe you have removed as much from the carpet as possible, spray the area with an enzyme cleaner, like Only Natural Pet Enzyme Powered Stain & Odor Eliminator. The enzymes break down natural messes like urine, feces, and vomit, effectively removing them without using harsh cleaners like bleach, sulfates, and peroxide. This cleaner also has a pleasant citrus smell.

You may need to clean the area multiple times for particularly strong odors. Allow the area to dry naturally for approximately 48 hours before checking. If the smell still lingers, clean it with the enzymatic cleaner again. Finally, sprinkle the area with a little baking soda, let it sit, then vacuum it up, neutralizing any remaining smells.

How to Get Cat Urine Out of the Carpet That Has Dried

If the urine has been sitting on your carpet for a while, you will have a bigger battle on your hands to remove the smell. For exceptionally old accidents that have been allowed to sit, there may be permanent damage to the carpet, including discoloration and odors.

The first challenge in cleaning a dried spot is that it can be harder to find and identify. If you know exactly where the accident is, you can jump right into cleaning. If you’re unsure of the exact location or how far it has spread, you can use the Angry Orange Stain Sniper UV Flashlight to fully identify the problem areas.

You may want to use a stronger cleaning solution like Only Natural Pet Advanced Stain + Odor Remover with Oxy when cleaning these older stains. Follow the directions on the bottle. Once again, you may need to clean the spot more than once before the process can remove all of the urine from the carpet.

If, after trying to clean it yourself with the appropriate cleaners, you still can’t remove all of the odor or discoloration, you may need to contact a professional cleaner to use industrial-strength products or consider replacing the carpet in that area (if your budget allows).

DIY Solutions for Cleaning Cat Urine from Carpet

Whether you don’t have access to a cleaner when you need it or prefer to make your own cleaning solutions, there are several options available. However, it should be noted that while these solutions have been known to work in some situations, they aren’t as effective as an enzymatic cleaner.

Some cat parents swear by using carbonated water to remove small or light stains. To do this, blot up any urine in the area with a rag, then pour carbonated water all over the spot. When you have thoroughly wet the area, blot it again with a clean rag or towel. Repeat this process until you have removed the stain and odor.

Another popular DIY approach I have used with good results is white vinegar. To do this, mix a solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water and pour it onto the stain until the area is damp but not soaked. Allow it to sit for approximately 30 minutes before blotting it with a clean, dry towel or rag. Repeat this process two or three times, as needed, to remove the stain.

With any of these options, once the carpet has dried and you’re confident you have removed as much of the odor as possible, I recommend sprinkling the area with baking soda, allowing it to sit for at least 15 minutes, then vacuuming it up. This will help to absorb and remove any lingering smells or contaminants.

Removing Cat Urine Odor from Bedding and Clothes

Much like carpets, fabric household items like bedding, clothes, and throw pillows will all absorb and hold onto that dreaded cat odor. Luckily, these can be washed with the help of a washing machine, making it a little easier to get them smelling clean and fresh again. However, like with carpet cleaning, be sure to use cold water during your initial cleaning to avoid setting the odor in further with high heat.

Products like the Active Pet Laundry Detergent Odor Remover use the same enzymatic approach as the cleaners I mentioned for carpets. Not only will they remove urine and feces, but they are also effective at cleaning vomit, slobber, dirt, oils, and other odors that come from regular use by a pet.

The product can also be used as a pre-soak for older or more challenging stains. Fill a tub or bucket with water and 1-2 scoops of the detergent, then submerge your dirty bedding, clothing, pet harnesses, pet beds, towels, and other fabric items. Allow them to sit for one hour before wringing them out and washing them in the washing machine like normal.

You can also use vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide solutions to clean stains from your fabrics before washing them.

Getting Rid of Cat Urine from Non-Carpeted Surfaces

If your cat has recently had an accident on a non-carpet solution, cleaning it up is still a priority. If you’re lucky enough that the mess occurred on a non-porous surface, like linoleum, cleaning won’t be too difficult. A 50/50 white vinegar and water mixture can effectively remove the odor and disinfect the area.

Some non-carpet surfaces, like wood surfaces, are still porous and may require more attention. You can use a standard enzyme cleaner or purchase a product specifically formulated for this situation, like Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner. This cleaner removes stains and odor while protecting the finish on surfaces like sealed wood, vinyl, concrete, and ceramic tile. Repeat the process if needed to leave the area smelling clean and fresh.

Final Thoughts: Removing Cat Odor from Your Home

You can banish unpleasant cat odors from your house for good with the right approach (and the right cleaning products). The above methods will help you effectively clean fresh and dried accidents, leaving you with a clean home. Eliminating the messes will also help prevent future accidents, as cats are often tempted to go to the bathroom in the same spot if there is a lingering smell.

If this is a one-off accident, you can now put that memory behind you. However, if you’ve noticed your cat has accidents outside the litterbox more frequently, you may need to address an underlying cause. This might involve a trip to the veterinarian to rule out any medical issues.

Living with a cat doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice having a clean, fresh-smelling home. With a little know-how, the right products, and these handy tips, you can enjoy both your feline friend and a pleasant living space!

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