Removing Cat Odors and Stains from Carpet

Cat urine odor is very pungent and long lasting, and can be difficult to remove. However, there are newer products available that are much more effective than remedies of the past. The following procedures are effective against cat urine odor, as well as dog urine, dog and cat feces, blood or vomit. These newer products can be used on clothing, bedding, carpeting, wood, linoleum, or other surfaces. Always make sure of color fastness in clothing or carpets before you proceed to clean a larger area.

The most effective products available are enzyme-based products. The enzymes chemically break down the urine rather than masking the smell.

Urine penetrates the ﬁbers and contaminates both the backing of the carpet and the ﬂooring material below the carpet. Often, without your knowing, pets will urinate continually in the same general location. Urine odors can permeate from the ﬂoor, be it cement or wood, from the tack strip, and even from the framework of the house behind the walls.

As the urine dries, the liquid evaporates but the urine crystals become even more concentrated and pungent. Simple cleaning will not remove this odor.

Cleaning Carpet: Removing urine stains and odor from carpet

If the cat urine is still wet, clean the area as soon as possible.

Place 2-3 paper towels over the cat urine stain; stand on the paper towels to soak up as much of the cat urine as possible.
Repeat this using clean paper towels until the paper towels are no longer dampened by the cat urine.
Use a commercial grade bacterial cleaner to eliminate the cat urine odor.
Saturate the area with the bacterial enzyme digester and let dry naturally for several days. Use ½ to 1 cup of the cleaner for each area
Once the carpet is dry to the touch, about 3-5 days, check for odors.
If the cat urine odor is still noticeable, repeat the above instructions until the cat urine odor is no longer present.
Never use ammonia or ammonia-based products on the carpet. The smell may attract the cat to that area and can encourage cats to urinate in the area.
Club soda, baking soda, vinegar, or bleach will not remove urine odor.
The only scientific approach to remove cat urine is by using a commercial grade bacterial enzyme cleaner.

If you notice cat urine odor, but are unable to locate the urine odor:

Purchase a fluorescent black light (ultraviolet light) at Wal-Mart or novelty store for about $10. The black light, when used in the dark, illuminates the cat urine - the stains will show up as a bright yellowish hue.

For old, dry pet urine, locate the source of the urine odor using a black light:

Cleaning old, dry cat urine is as easy as cleaning new “accidents.”
Saturate the area with the bacterial enzyme cleaner and let dry naturally for several days.
Once the carpet is dry to the touch, about 3-5 days, check for odors.
If the cat urine odors are still noticeable, repeat the above instructions until the cat urine odor is no longer present.

Removing Urine on concrete, bricks, or basement floors:

Locate the urine with a black light.
Use a commercial bacterial enzyme cleaner to eliminate cat urine odor.
Saturate the area with the bacterial enzyme cleaner. Use ½ to 1 cup of the cleaner for each area.
Cover area with plastic to retain moisture.
Let the area dry naturally for several days.
Repeat treatment if necessary.

Dog or cat urine in dirt, grass, flower beds, and yards:

Using a garden hose, or a water sprinkler, thoroughly saturate the area.
Purchase a powder form of septic tank digester (for outdoor use only) containing bacterial enzymes, which can be found at Home Depot or Lowe’s home improvement stores.
Liberally sprinkle the digester over the areas where you suspect dog or cat urine to be.
Again, thoroughly saturate the areas with water.
After 24 hours, saturate the areas and let dry for several days.
If odors are still noticeable, repeat the above steps until the pet odors are eliminated.

PAW'S PLACE ANIMAL RESCUE
A NO-KILL NON-PROFIT FACILITY