Effective Ways to Eliminate Cat Urine Odors - Quick Tip

Did you know that a cat's urine has a halflife of up to 6 years, and as it dries and evaporates, the smell becomes increasingly potent? To completely eliminate urine stains and the lingering odor, it's crucial to use the right methods and tools.

Why Does Cat Urine Smell So Bad?

The primary components of a cat's urine include urea, urobilinogen, uric acid, sodium, creatinine, pheromones, and various electrolytes and bacteria.

Why does the smell of cat urine intensify over time as it dries? It's because urine is first broken down by bacteria, a process that produces ammonia. This is then followed by further decomposition, releasing smelly compounds called thiols. Both ammonia and thiols have a very unpleasant odor. Additionally, older cats may have a stronger smell due to declining kidney function, and male cats may have a more pungent urine due to the effects of testosterone.

Why Do Cats Keep Urinating on Clean Sheets and Pillowcases Despite Them Smelling Clean?

Most of the components in urine, like urea, urobilinogen, and pheromones, are watersoluble and can be removed with baking soda, white vinegar, and laundry detergent. However, the real challenge lies with the waterinsoluble components.

Uric acid, for instance, is not watersoluble and can bond tightly with any surface it contacts. Regular cleaning agents find it difficult to remove uric acid. Moreover, when uric acid crystallizes, it can reform into uric acid when exposed to moist air, releasing the unpleasant odor. This is why the halflife of cat urine can be as long as 6 years.

Even if a bedsheet or pillowcase seems clean and odorless to us, cats might still choose to urinate on them. This is because what we perceive as "no smell" is based on human senses, but cats have a much keener sense of smell—up to 6 times more sensitive than ours. What we can't smell, cats can.

Here's How to Truly Eliminate Urine Odors:

1. First, use absorbent paper or a towel to soak up any remaining urine on the surface.

2. Locate the "old urine stains." If there are yellow stains, they are easy to find. The real challenge comes with stains that have no visible trace but still have a smell. For these, you'll need a tool called a Wood's lamp, which is often used to diagnose feline ringworm. In the dark, with the room lights off, urine stains will glow a fluorescent blue under the Wood's lamp.

3. Spray the urine stains with a urea cleaner.

When using a urea cleaner, simply spray it on the stain, dampen it, and let it sit without wiping it away. It will react with the urine and then evaporate on its own. If possible, airdry items with urine stains outdoors.

4. Check if a second cleaning is needed.

One application of urea cleaner may not remove all the urine stains, especially the older ones. Therefore, you may need to repeat the second step to determine if a second cleaning is necessary.

5. Identify and address the root cause of your cat's inappropriate urination to prevent future incidents.

6. Consider using a deterrent.

Deterrents are sprays that can be applied to areas to prevent pets from entering. They often contain smells that cats dislike, such as citrus or lemongrass.