I first started cleaning it up with the rug scrubber filled with pet stain & odor remover. That wasn't strong enough so I bought enzymatic pet odor sprays from the pet store. I also tried white vinegar and I tried essential oils.
No matter what I used, it only removed the cat pee smell for a few days and then I could smell the cat pee again. I spent way too much money on this stuff! I was completely convinced that nothing but the strongest, most potent, specially made formulas would work.
I was wrong.
I soon found out, I had the solution in my cabinet the whole time....and it wasn't chemical laden crap from the pet store!
Peroxide, baking soda and dish soap. Sound familiar? These are the 3 ingredients in my Best Skunk Spray Remover EVER! recipe. The proportions are a little different, but it works just as well to remove cat urine smell as it does for skunk spray!
It's a lot more natural then all the artificial chemicals I was spraying in my house, plus it works better than all the other sprays and cleaners I had bought!
Remove cat urine smell permanently!
You'll need:
Spray bottle
Bottle of peroxide 16 oz
1 Tbsp baking soda
Dish soap, just a small squirt
Pour it all into the spray bottle, replace the cap and shake to mix.
To clean up fresh cat urine:
Blot wet spot with paper towels until no more moisture can be absorbed. The more pee you can get up in the beginning the easier it is to remove the scent. Spray with solution till saturated. Let sit until dry.Do not blot the solution up. Once dry, vacuum or brush away any powdery residue. That's it!
To clean up old cat urine smell
If the spot of cat pee is already dry when you find it then skip the blotting and get right to spraying the solution on the urine spot. You'll need to saturate the spot to make sure you get all of it.On a particularly smelly spot, I've sprayed it with the solution once then blotted it up with paper towels. Spray with the solution again, then allow this application of solution to dry naturally.
The best part about this solution is that it still removes the cat urine smell even if you already used something else on the urine spot!
Many commercial pet urine removers say that they will not work on old stains or stains that have been treated with other cleaners. I have used this solution to treat stains that have been previously treated with 3 different commercial solutions and it has worked perfectly every time!
How to find where the cat peed
Now, on to the tricky part....finding exactly where the cat has sprayed. I went to walmart and bought an LED blacklight flashlight. It was under $10. Cat urine glows under blacklight! No store near you? Check out this handheld blacklight on Amazon.
A puddle of cat pee will look sort of like orange neon. A spot on fabric or carpet will look more like a glowy white stain. It'll glow so you'll know when you see it. It sometime helps if you vacuum the area first, to remove any lint or fuzzies that glow under black light.
Once you've found the spot, treat as mentioned above.
I have used this solution on everything...carpet, couch, pet bed and even a pair of boots and it has not left any stains or discoloration. However, I recommend a patch test if it's a particularly important surface that your cleaning.
I have not tried this on dog urine stains, but I have no reason to believe it wouldn't work to remove any type of pet odor. If you try it, let me know!
The only downside I have found is that if you don't use all the solution right away and try to use it in a few days, it doesn't seem to work as well. So mix it up fresh each time you need it. At under $1 worth of supplies though, it's inexpensive to mix up any time you need it.
This homemade pet odor remover has really helped to rid my house of pet odor...which is awesome because youngest son really wants to keep this kitten!
Want more posts on caring for cats naturally? Click here for my other posts on cat care and catnip!
~L
Related reading:
Article on PetMd about why cats spray.
Humane Society article on what to do if you cat starts marking their territory.
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(This post contains affiliate links. If you chose to purchase something through the link, I will get a small payment from Amazon. It will not affect your purchase price. Click for full disclosure.)
Probably the reason it only works when you use it immediately is because peroxide is not stable, especially if you put it in a bottle that allows light in. Thanks for sharing your recipe! I'm definitely going to try it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I found that out the hard way. At least it's cheap to make more!
Delete~L
Will this solution also remove the stains? Thanks so much for sharing!
DeleteYes, this has worked to remove the stains from cat pee also....however if the spot was already treated with another product and that discolored the fabric or carpet, then it only removes the smell.
DeleteHope that helps!
Lisa
I should have thought about using this. I knew it for skunk smell but didn't think about it for cat urine. The only other thing I have found that completely gets ride of it is bleach but that is way harsher than this. Neat!
DeleteYes, it is almost the same exact thing as the skunk remover except that recipe uses a bit more dish soap. Both of them work great though for removing unwanted animal odors!
DeleteYou should never use bleach on cat pee. The ammonia in the cat pee can react with the bleach and create toxic fumes.
DeleteHello, I have a problem with a kitten that will not stop peeing on my down comforter, I had thought maybe she was just being like that to mark her space however I got her fixed and she continues to do this... I am so tired of washing this comforter on a daily basis, I just have no clue on what to do... I love this kitten and I just need help with her.
DeleteDoesn't the peroxide damage/discolor furnitures and carpets?
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a problem with discoloration and I've used it on several carpets, a couce and even the cat wheel. *sigh* If a surface is dirty the peroxide and dish soap combination would remove some dirt and it would appear different from being cleaner, but I don't believe it would damage any surfaces.
ReplyDelete~L
LAST NIGHT MY CAT PEED ON A PARQUET FLOOR IN THE NEW APPARTEMENT I JUST MOVED INTO. I'M WORRIED THAT THE CLEANING MIXTURE YOU RECOMMEND MIGHT BLEACH THE WOOD. HAS ANYONE TRIED IT ON PALE WOODEN FLOORS?
ReplyDeleteI have used it on wood and not had a problem with discoloration. Just to be safe, try it on a small out of the way spot first. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Is there a reason you don't rinse or blot the area after cleaning?
ReplyDeleteI let it air dry so the solution has time to work. Rising or blotting would stop the cleaning action. It takes a few minutes for the smell to be gone completely. Once dry you can vacuum over it if it seems powdery (that's the baking soda) but it usually just dries up completely without any residue.
DeleteLisa
How do u get a cat to stop peeing in the same place that u cleaned up after her? I can’t get her to stop peeing on the floor. Does anyone know what I can do? Please help.
ReplyDeleteIf cleaning the area thoroughly does not work try blocking it off for a little while. A basket placed over it, a blanket on top of it...anything so she can't actually get to that spot. If she just pees somewhere else, she may need to see a doctor to rule out a urinary infection.
DeleteHope that helps!
Lisa
I just tried this on my carpet and the smell is gone! At least to me (can't vouch for the cat). We'll see if it stains the carpet. But even if it doesn't I seriously don't care as long as it doesn't smell like cat pee.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that the cat smell is gone from your carpet! I have used this solution to remove cat pee smell from different surfaces and have not had a discoloration problem yet. If it was going to cause discoloration you'd know by now. Glad that it worked for you!
DeleteLisa
We have 2 geriatric cats with kidney disease. One cat peed in her bed a couple of days ago. I immediately rinsed the area with hot water, but wasn't sure how to proceed. It's machine washable, but based on past experience when the other cat peed on a bathroom rug a couple of times, and even a direct application of liquid detergent and a couple of machine washings didn't completely remove the smell, I thought I should try something else. I had some success putting the rug outside on a breezy day to dry, and most of the smell was gone. How would you recommend using your recipe in conjunction with machine washing?
ReplyDeleteI would completely saturate the cat urine stain with the peroxide, baking soda, dish soap solution. Let it air dry...it will probably take a whole day. Once dry, you can rewash the cat bed or just vacuum out the baking soda residue and it should be fine. Good luck!
DeleteLisa
At the moment I have 4 cats, 2 special needs with urinary issues. As far as laundry,when my cats pee on a towel, their bedding, etc. I take 2 cups of White Vinegar pour it into the washing machine put the item/s in the machine, wash with hot water. I use the large/bulky setting, washes for about an hour+, when done, I wash the items again using detergent and bleach. Oder completely gone. I rescue, cat pee is the hardest to remove, been doing this for years
DeleteI decided to try your recipe. I cannot thank you enough!!!! Not a single thing that I have ever used in the past completely eradicated cat urine smell. This eradicated it completely. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Elaine in PA
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! I'm so glad to hear that the cat smell is gone from your house! Thanks for letting me know!
DeleteLisa
Wow! I had no idea! It seems that often the simplest solution ends up being the best. Cat pee has got to be the WORST smell on the planet! I don't have an issue with it right now, but we now have two young kittens plus our 3 year old cat. There is bound to be some cat pee that ends up in the wrong place in the future! I will pin this so I can come back to it then! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree, cat pee is horrible! Unfortunately it is a sometimes an occurance of having cats. I'm glad I found a solution to the smell, just can't believe I went through so many expensive store bought cleaners that didn't work first!
DeleteBoy, do I wish I had this recipe when I was in college! My roomate had three cats. Although I don't have cats, I do have a dog. I will try this for doggy pee!
ReplyDeleteThis recipe also works to remove dog pee smell too! If you already used a chemical spray on the urine spot then it might take 2 applications to work though....but it will work!
DeleteBest for Dog pee is white vinegar. Lots of it, repeat until the stink is gone. If the stink is in wood, then after the stink is gone and the wood is dry, seal with lacquer.
DeleteThanks for this. We've always used vinegar and lemon for cat pee but it wasn't completely effective. Will give this a try next time, although luckily he doesn't do it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried vinegar and lemon to remove cat spray. Does it discolor fabric and/or carpet?
DeleteI have been looking for something to get rid of cat urine smell for a long time. Thank you for your recipe will give it a try.
ReplyDeleteYou're so very welcome!
DeleteI am curious as to whether or not the smell has stayed away weeks after using this mixture. I came across a web site that said you still needed to use an enzyme cleaner after because of (I think it said) uric crystals in the urine that still remain even though you may not be able to smell anything after initially using the peroxide mixture. I've unsuccessfuly tried numerous things to get rid of cat urine odor and am starting to think I'll have no choice, but to replace the carpet. I'm hopeful about the peroxide if it actually fixes the problem for good.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had to reuse the solution on areas that I've treated. The cat has ignored those spots and I can't smell cat pee even if I get down to the carpet level.
DeleteTry it! I had pinned this many months ago, and then a couple of weeks ago found it again when I was desperate to get rid of horrible cat pee smell on the concrete floor of our bathroom. It worked immediately, and the smell has not come back. I even tried the enzyme type cleaners previously, and they didn't work.
ReplyDeleteI am sold on this recipe!
I'm so glad that you got rid of the cat pee smell. This remedy works when none of the others will. Glad that you found it!
DeleteLisa
Do you have to scrub to remove the stains?
ReplyDeleteNo, you don't have to scrub if it's just urine. This will also help remove the residual smell from other bodily fluid stains, but you'll have to scrub those!
DeleteLisa
Did you use the whole bottle of peroxide in the spray bottle?
ReplyDeleteYes, I used a 16 oz bottle. You could certainly cut the recipe in half though if you don't need much!
DeleteDo you think this solution will work on stains that have set for a long time? My husband and I are interested in buying a home and we found a great house, except it smells like cat pee. There is one big stain on the wood floor in the living room, but I was thinking we could just use this solution to clean all the floors. We don’t want to get stuck in this house if we cannot remove the smell.
ReplyDeleteI do think it will work. I've used it on older stains at my mothers house and it worked well. Good luck!
DeleteI have a 6ftx5ft area that my 16yr cat used as her pee spot. She died several years ago and now I have kittens who scratch to cover it. I machine wash it regularly bc the smell keeps coming back so I know the carpet pad is stained too. Are you saying to saturate the area with this recipe and let it air dry?
ReplyDeleteYes, that is exactly right. Once it is totally dry you can vacuum up any residue rom the baking soda. The cat smell should be gone, though on such an old stain it make take 2 applications to get rid of it completely.
Delete~L
Thank you for this! Have tried EVERYTHING (vinegar mixes, enzyme cleaners, carpet cleaning kits) on our rug..this is the only thing that has worked. It did not discolor the gray on the rug.
DeleteLisa
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming this will work on spray too? I have a male rescue who is making my house unbearable. He gets "fixed" Feb 12 but I doubt he will stop spraying. I was researching products to buy by the gallons but will give your mixture a try. I'll probably rip up the carpets this summer but I don't want to remove the waynes coating my husband's grandfather made from his own woods.
Wish me luck!
Thanks
Yes! This will work on both regular cat pee and cat 'spray'. Good luck with him! Most male cats stop spraying after they're fixed...fingers crossed that he does too!
DeleteLisa
Do i have 2 scrub the carpet with a brush? I have a hallway where they have peed all along it
ReplyDeleteNo. I didn't use a brush on the carpet where I used it.
DeleteLisa
Do i have 2 soak the solution in the carpet and the let it dry
ReplyDeleteYou want it to be wet, but not like it's a puddle wet. But yes, wet it then allow it to dry and vacuum up the residue.
DeleteLisa
Exactly how much dish liquid do I use? I have a disease that makes me extremely sensitive to smells and a stray cat peed under or on my deck can smell through my downstairs mking me very sick
ReplyDeleteOh no, that's horrible! Use about 1 teaspoon of dish liquid. I hope you feel better soon.
DeleteLisa
I have a male cat that will be 1 year soon and he has been peeing around the house but he also uses the litter box. I'm not sure exactly why since this is my first cat and he just started doing it about 2 months ago. I have used a spray for cat urine but it doesn't seem to work he goes back and pees in the spot or around it. Should the cat be kept away from the area being treated?
ReplyDeleteIt does help if they are kept away from the area while it's drying so they don't pee on it again while it's being treated. Has he been neutered? It sounds more like he's spraying and sometimes males will spray if they're not fixed. They do it to mark their territory, but most stop after being neutered.
DeleteHope that helps!
Lisa
Not our cat. Feral at birth but quickly rescued and neutered at about 8 weeks. HIs sibling and mother do not spray but this one make does. Hope this recipe will work. He is about 5 yrs old now and we are too attached to find a different home.
DeleteWhat if the cat peed on the carpet but it went down the floor vent too. Do you use the same thing.
ReplyDeleteOh wow.... of course he did. lol darn cats! I would use the same thing. I've used it on carpet and hard floors and it works well on both. It's gonna be a pain but you'll have to pour the solution on a rag and reach onto the vent and try to wipe it up. Good luck!
DeleteLisa
Is hydrogen peroxide the same as peroxide? If not where do you buy peroxide?
ReplyDeleteYes, they are the same thing. I just buy it at the drugstore, grocery store, walmart...somewhere like that.
DeleteLisa
Can this be used outside for raised garden beds?
ReplyDeleteI've never tried it, but it should be able to be used on the outside of the raised beds. I wouldn't spray it on the soil though.
DeleteLisa
Magic in a spray bottle! This worked when nothing else would.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I'm so glad that it worked for you!
DeleteLisa
I have a 17 year old cat who had been peeing right in front of our front door and underneath (?) her litterbox. We know she has peed there, but no indication when we use a blacklight to check. Could this be because we have previously sprayed the area with Nature's Miracle?
ReplyDeleteAre there any specific tips for a laminate wood floor? Would saturating the area warp the planks?
Sorry for all the questions, but I feel like the *entire* house smells like cat pee and I'm desperate to eliminate the odor!!
That's odd that the light didn't work...maybe it is the previous solution you used to clean up the cat pee. I really don't know, sorry! It doesn't warp the planks, but you have to spray enough to get between them a little bit. That's where the scent will hide and the cat will continue to be attracted to that spot.
DeleteLisa
Can u mix it up and put in carpet shampooer?
ReplyDeleteI have never tried it. I'm sure the solution would still work, but I do not know if it would damage the tubing inside the shampooer. It seems unlikely that it would do any harm...but run some clean water through the rug shampooer when done just in case.
DeleteLisa
I have a female that pees on stuff we leave laying around. I dont know why she does this. Kids bags, clothes on floor. I found a spot didnt realize she was peeing in hallway. I've tried everything. I hope this will work. I mixed the stuff and sprayed it on. Thank you for the advice!
ReplyDeleteThe solution should work on the smell, but you might want to take her to the vet and have her checked for a UTI or even kidney disease. My 5 year old female Siamese started doing this years ago and only stopped after she was spayed...consider that if she's not fixed. I hope she stops for you, that's super frustrating!
DeleteLisa
Oh my goodness! This is amazing! Thank you so much. I have tried so many things and they did not work.
ReplyDeleteThis simple and inexpensive recipe is taking away the smell!
Awesome! I'm so glad that it worked for you!
DeleteLisa
This is much better than the store bought $35 spray. Only sadness is in Australia a 200ml bottle of the same 3% peroxide is $4. Still that’s much better than a $25 or $35 spray. And this is much better than the $35 spray, although I may need to use the solution again. My cat peed on my bed three times in a row, necessitating 3 visits to the laundromat. The last time I was actually in bed, bone tired, having come back from the laundromat post 10pn and she peed on the bed whilst I was in it. My fault because the velvet quilt hadn’t washed adequately in my 5kg front loader. *le sigh*
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, any trace of the smell will draw the cat back to the same spot! I have sprayed this solution on towels before I put them in the laundry and had an easier time removing the smell. (because kids clean up cat pee with a bath towel! lol) Spray the bedding and allow to set for about an hour, then toss in the washer and wash as usual!
DeleteLisa
did you use peanut butter?
ReplyDeleteno? well then you hadn't "literally tried everything."
LOL Ok, you got me there! But I did try everything reasonable! Thanks for the laugh!
DeleteLisa
So funny. I checked the ingredients on a brand name urine remover and it said "contains hydrogen peroxide". I'm going with your recipe! I'll let you know how it works!
ReplyDeleteReally? That is interesting! I didn't know any commercial cat pee removal products used peroxide..but I see that as a sign that they know it works!
DeleteLisa
Will this solution work on wood, concrete and drywall? We live out of town limits. People will dump a litter of kittens in our yard about once a year. We have a spare garage that we keep the kittens in until we can find a home for them. We do have litter boxes but there are times when they don’t make it. We have done our best to keep it clean but I believe there were times that the pee got into the wood and drywall. We want to keep these little guys safe and show them the love their owners didn’t want to provide. But the smell has gotten worse over the years. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteThis solution has worked to remove cat smell on just about everything I've tried it on...including floors and walls. That is so awesome that you take care of the kittens! This solution should take care of the smell for you.
DeleteLisa
I know you say to spray and leave to set dry on areas that have been peed on. Have you or has anyone said they have tried washing their floors with the solution to cover a larger area? I don't know what washing the floor will do to the areas as a whole, leaving a film maybe from the baking soda. I have cats marking many areas and need the smell to go away and I can't find exactly where the pee is, even with an led flashlight. I have tile and wood floors where I need to clean. Obviously I need to find the root of the problem but in the meantime, I have cleaning to do!
ReplyDeleteI have never tried an area larger than maybe 2 feet wide, but it should work exactly the same. If it leaves any type of residue you can just vacuum or sweep it up. Good luck finding the spot you're looking for!
DeleteLisa
I have a male cat that is neutered and we’ve had him for about 4 yrs now. He recently started peeing on the coffee table and then moved to one of the sofas. I don’t understand why? I have twin size waterproof mattress protectors covering the cushions because I also have a senior female dog who dribbles a little sometimes but this big urine spill is definitely not from her, it’s from the cat. You know how distinctive cat urine smell can be. Even with a waterproof mattress protector on the cushions, although not as strong, somehow the smell still gets through. I am going to take him to the vet to see if something is wrong, and I’ll be trying out your recipe to get the smell out of the sofa. ��
ReplyDeleteDefinitely use this recipe to help control the smell. It also works on dog urine, and dog diarrhea...but that's a story for another day. The cat can smell the few little pee spots the dog makes and he might be trying to cover them up with his own scent. A vet visit is a great idea. Hopefully nothing is wrong and he's just remarking the dog pee dribbles. Good luck with them both!
DeleteLisa
Definitely going to try this, my house is smelling horrible! I have 7 cats, they are now all spayed and neutered. I have spent a lot of money on enzyme cleaners that do not work. Praying this works!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt will definitely help! I had also spent a lot of money on fancy enzyme cleaners to remove the cat urine smell and they only worked for a short while...the scent always came back. This homemade solution will take the smell away for good!
DeleteLisa
Just wanted to clarify. Do I spray this directly on hard wood floors and just let it dry? My daughter had to move back in and brought her 3 cats. I have one. It's been chaos ever since. They (I feel) have literally peed / sprayed every where and every thing. I've tried so many products and NOTHING has worked. I am going to try this and pray it works as I've already had to throw away furniture, clothes, shoes and ready to lose my mind. Seems like as quick as I can clean the smell comes back.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I did. Spray it right on the floor and let it dry. If the urine is puddled on the floor (or dried/crusty) then wipe that up first, but otherwise just spray and let dry. Good luck with the new cats!
DeleteLisa
I’ve recently rescued an 8 month old male cat. He peed on my bed this morning and I immediately removed all linens however, not quick enough that it didn’t get n my mattress. Will this work on my mattress. I sure don’t wanna buy a new one. Also, since I treated the area with cleaners and used the upholstery scrubber can your mixture be used while the area is already wet?
ReplyDeleteIt will also work on the mattress. You'll want to blot up as much as possible of the solution you treated it with already and allow it to dry first. Then mix up this solution and treat the mattress. Good luck and thanks for rescuing him! Rescue cats are awesome!
DeleteLisa
Could I use this solution in the washing machine? How much would I use. I have about 6 garbage bags of clothes. Cat keeps peeing in my baskets and laundry when sorting, or lay clothes out for the next day. I have no idea what to do and would hate to through out all those clothes. We're a large family so the clothes are adding up fast. I have a soak setting and sanitize setting. Not sure if it would help.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica!
DeleteI don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure as soon as the water hit it the solution would become too diluted to work properly. You might just have to spray them all. Use a black light to find the stains then spray directly on them. Good luck! You definitely have your work cut out for you!
Lisa
Used this yesterday and the smell is gone! THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteYeay! I am so glad to hear this!
DeleteLisa
I aqquired furniture that had been in a house with a mouse infestation and dog hoarding. The smell of this furniture is a mix of dog urine and mouse urine...just gosh awful!!! Has anyone tried this solution for that smell?! Thanks any info will be helpful
ReplyDeleteI have not, but I've heard from people that used it on dog urine and this solution cleans the stains and smell up well. Give it a try and let me know if it helps for the mouse urine. Good luck!
DeleteLisa
What percentage strength is the peroxide please?
ReplyDeleteI use 3% hydrogen peroxide. The kind they sell at walmart or the grocery store.
DeleteLisa
Two male kittens here. Desexed. Five months old. One pees on my clothes, he peed on my doona which cannot be put in a machine to be washed and he has peed on my couch for the second time. I pushed a towel onto the couch pee to try and soak some up and the poured a whole box of bicarb thick all over. I'll vaccum off the bicarb and then use your recipe. Do I totally soak into the couch cushion??
ReplyDeleteI sprayed it on till I know it completely wet the fabric then allow to dry. Good luck with your kittens, I hope they settle down soon!
DeleteLisa
My cats spray but they spray up on horizontal surfaces..like walls. What do you do then? The solution isn't able to sit and dry. My cats spray walls..not floors. And what does this do to paint? This is a wonderful idea..I have 15 cats, but I think only one of the male cats is doing this, but can't be certain. They are all spayed and neutered and are all rescues.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy! You can spray the solution on the wall. Allow it to dry naturally. Spray a second coat on later and then wipe off while still wet....to get all the stains and watermarks off. I haven't had a problem with it harming paint, but you might want to try it on an out of the way spot first.
DeleteHope it helps!
Lisa
This saved my couch today! My cat was home alone during a bad storm and we came home to pee all over a new couch. I tried Natures Miracle (my usual go-to) & then cleaned the entire couch with my carpet shampooer but it wasn't enough, the room reaked. I found 8 oz spray bottles of peroxide, added the dawn & baking soda and sprayed. It immediately made a huge difference. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! I'm so glad that it helped get the cat pee smell out of your couch! Thanks for letting me know!
DeleteLisa