How to Clean Cat Pee: Remove Stains & Odours Properly

How to Clean Fresh Cat Pee

The sooner you find an accident, the easier it usually is to clean.

1. Absorb as much urine as possible. Use clean kitchen roll or an absorbent cloth and press firmly into the affected area.
2. Blot rather than scrub. Rubbing can spread the liquid across a larger area or push it further into carpet, upholstery or other absorbent materials.
3. Apply a suitable pet-safe cleaner. Choose a product intended for pet urine and suitable for the material you are cleaning.
4. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Some cleaners need to remain in contact with the affected area for a specific period before they are blotted or left to dry.
5. Allow the area to dry thoroughly. Keep your cat away from the treated area while the cleaner is wet.
6. Check again once dry. If an odour remains, the urine may have penetrated deeper than the visible stain and another treatment may be necessary.

What Is the Best Cleaner for Cat Pee?

A cleaner specifically designed for pet urine is usually the easiest option.

Enzyme-based pet cleaners are commonly used because they are designed to act on organic material in pet stains rather than simply covering the smell with fragrance.

Whichever product you choose:

• check that it is suitable for use around pets
• check that it is suitable for the surface you are cleaning
• follow the dilution and application instructions exactly
• test delicate materials before treating a large area
• keep your cat away until the treated area is dry

Cats Protection also recommends cat-safe cleaning products for indoor urine and notes that a warm biological washing-powder solution can be used in suitable situations. If you use any cleaning solution, surface compatibility and thorough rinsing where required remain important.

What Should You Avoid When Cleaning Cat Urine?

How to Get Cat Pee Out of Carpet

Carpet can be difficult because urine may travel through the visible fibres into the underlay and flooring below.

1. Blot fresh urine thoroughly. Use dry absorbent material and continue until very little moisture is transferring.
2. Apply a carpet-safe pet urine cleaner. Follow the instructions regarding quantity and contact time.
3. Treat the whole affected area. The contaminated area can be wider than the visible mark.
4. Allow it to dry fully. Restrict access while the area remains wet.
5. Repeat if necessary. Persistent odour may mean contamination has reached the underlay.

How to Get Cat Pee Out of a Sofa

First check the manufacturer's upholstery-care instructions.

With fabric upholstery:

• blot as much urine as possible
• remove washable covers if the furniture design allows it
• use an upholstery-safe pet urine cleaner
• avoid oversaturating foam cushions unnecessarily
• allow the cushion and filling to dry completely

If urine has soaked deeply into a foam cushion, cleaning only the fabric cover may leave an odour inside the cushion.

Leather, suede and specialist upholstery require more care. Use products specifically approved for the material or seek advice from the furniture manufacturer or a professional cleaner.

How to Clean Cat Pee From a Mattress

Mattresses are highly absorbent, so act quickly.

1. Remove the bedding immediately. Wash contaminated sheets and covers separately.
2. Blot the mattress. Apply pressure with dry towels rather than scrubbing.
3. Use a mattress-compatible pet urine cleaner. Follow the product directions carefully.
4. Do not soak the mattress unnecessarily. Excess liquid makes drying considerably more difficult.
5. Let it dry completely. Good airflow is important before putting sheets back on the bed.

A waterproof washable mattress protector can make future accidents considerably easier to manage.

How to Clean Cat Pee From Hard Floors

Hard floors are usually easier to clean because the urine may not penetrate as deeply, but the correct technique depends on the flooring.

If urine has repeatedly entered joints, cracks or unfinished wood, the odour may be coming from below the visible surface.

How to Remove Cat Pee From Bedding and Clothes

Washable textiles are often easier to rescue than carpets and furniture.

Start by checking the fabric-care label.

• rinse or blot excess urine where appropriate
• pre-treat with a laundry-safe pet stain product if the instructions allow it
• wash at the temperature recommended for the fabric
• use an appropriate laundry detergent
• check that the smell has disappeared before returning the item to normal use

For removable cat-bed covers, follow the manufacturer's washing instructions so the fabric or filling is not damaged.

How Do You Remove Old Cat Urine Smells?

Old urine is harder because you may not know exactly how large the contaminated area is or how deeply it has penetrated.

Start by locating the source rather than repeatedly cleaning the entire room.

Once found:

1. Identify the full affected area.
2. Use a pet urine cleaner appropriate for the material.
3. Allow sufficient contact time according to the instructions.
4. Let the area dry completely before judging the result.
5. Repeat if the product instructions permit it.

Where urine has soaked repeatedly through carpet, underlay, wooden flooring or furniture foam, professional cleaning or replacement of contaminated material may eventually be required.

How Do You Find Where the Cat Pee Smell Is Coming From?

Sometimes you can smell urine without being able to see an obvious stain.

Check common locations including:

• corners of rooms
• behind furniture
• curtains
• doorways
• bags or clothing left on the floor
• beds and duvets
• bath mats
• the edges of carpets
• areas close to windows or doors

A UV or black light can sometimes help locate dried urine stains in a darkened room, although other household materials may fluoresce too, so it should be treated as a clue rather than definitive proof.

Why Has My Cat Started Peeing Outside the Litter Tray?

Cleaning the stain is only half the problem if the behaviour keeps happening.

Cats can urinate outside their litter tray for many reasons.

Is Your Cat Peeing or Spraying?

They are not quite the same behaviour.

Both behaviours can require investigation, particularly if they are new.

How to Reduce the Chance of Your Cat Peeing There Again

Thorough cleaning matters because cats have a much stronger sense of smell than we do and may continue detecting scent that seems gone to us.

But prevention also means addressing the underlying reason.

• have sudden changes in urination assessed by your vet
• clean previous accident areas thoroughly
• keep litter trays clean
• place trays somewhere quiet and accessible
• avoid strongly scented litter if your cat dislikes it
• provide enough trays in multi-cat households
• reduce obvious sources of stress
• provide suitable hiding, scratching, climbing and resting areas

Cats Protection recommends removing pee and poo from litter trays at least twice a day and fully cleaning the tray regularly. It also recommends multiple trays in multi-cat homes, commonly using the guideline of one tray per cat plus one extra in separate locations.

Our guide to creating a cat-friendly home covers climbing areas, hiding places, scratching resources and the positioning of key resources in more detail.

When Should You Call the Vet?

Contact your vet if your cat's toilet habits suddenly change, particularly if you notice:

• straining to urinate
• frequent trips to the litter tray
• passing only very small amounts
• blood in the urine
• crying or signs of pain while urinating
• excessive licking around the genitals
• increased thirst
• loss of appetite
• hiding or unusual lethargy
• suddenly urinating around the house