How to remove cat urine and its smell.

Oops! Kitty had an accident. That cutting scent of ammonia let you know right away. Look, if we’re going to share our homes with cats, we have to talk about the dirty parts of life.

Fascinating facts about cat urine:

•  Cat urine is difficult to remove. Even when the substance is gone, the smell can linger. That’s because it’s loaded with pungent ammonia, and the rest of the smell comes from the five kinds of bacteria in the urine.

•  A male cat’s pee, in particular, is laden with hormones like testosterone. That lets other male cats know where his territory is and serves as a calling card to any female cats. Think of it like a dating app that’s hard to get rid of. It has a half-life of six years in fact.

• Was that more than you wanted to know about cat urine? Forgive us, but at Modkat, we spend a ridiculous amount of time pondering the mysteries of cat pee and other cat box goodies.

Based on our deep experience in the litter box, here are our best tips for getting rid of that cutting cat-pee odor and for making your home smell fresh as a daisy.  

1. Find the Stain.
Easier said than done, especially if your cat is prone to worming its way into tight spaces. Hopefully, you find it on a wall or other hard surface, but you might discover that Kitty made use of your laundry basket, carpet, or sofa. Don’t panic. We can help you get it out.

2. Employ a strong enzyme cleaner. 
Hard surface? You can mop it. Upholstery or carpet? Blot up as much as possible. Treat the area with an enzyme cleaner, especially if your cat has urinated on the carpet or furniture rather than a hard floor. Enzyme cleaners can break down the urine, particularly the strong-smelling hormones.

Why pick an enzyme cleaner over a general air freshener? Air freshening sprays often can't handle the odor caused by the hormones in cat urine. Since cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans do, the air freshener isn’t fooling your cat, either. This makes it more likely your cat will urinate in the same spot, meaning you'll have to start the process all over.

3. Dig out the wet vac.
We recommend removing any lingering urine with a wet vac. Cat urine can penetrate carpet fibers, making it difficult to wipe up even if it has been neutralized with the cleaner.

If you do use a wet vac to rinse your carpet, stay away from steam cleaners! They use intense heat, which can make that pesky ammonia smell set into your carpet. That’s the last thing you want.

4. Mop the floor.
Cats don't often urinate on tile or hardwood floors (such clean animals wouldn't be keen on the chance it could splash on them). When they do, you'll want to make sure you mop the area thoroughly.
 
What if she did it in right on your favorite outfit in the laundry basket?
It’s not the kind of discover you hope to make, but finding out your cat peed on your laundry is not the end of the world either. Be sure to read your clothing's care tag before treating it. Unless otherwise instructed, use the process for defeating cat urine stains on carpet. Spray some white vinegar on the spots before tossing the item into the machine for a round with your favorite detergent.

If your cat has an accident in the house, keep an eye on her. It can be a sign of a urinary tract infection or other medical condition. For many cats, a trip to the vet will soon have them right as rain. If not, consider that your cat may be stressed, her litter box may be blocked, or her litter could require a refresh. Take appropriate action, and your cat should soon be shimmying down her Modkat every time nature calls.

Do you have any great, foolproof methods to remove cat urine that we may have overlooked? Any little-known secrets that you can share with us? Let us know!