Dealing With Cat Urine Odor and Stains

By Blake Hygate

With many American households having a cat indoors, you don't have to look hard to find a cat owner that has a problem with cat urine odors and stains. The problem with cat urine stains are that they soak through the carpet or upholstery where they stay and cause serious odor problems in your home. In a perfect world all cats would know how to use the litter box properly, but this is wishful thinking. Sometimes cats just have a mind of their own and decide to urinate wherever they see fit. Unfortunately that's usually on your carpet or the couch.

Because the odors left behind from cat urine are so potent, many have resorted to pulling up the carpet and replacing it which is extremely expensive. Others have compromised the health of themselves, their children and their pets by using harsh chemicals to try to rid their home of cat urine odors. As your cat ages, the urine problem gets worse as the cat tends to have more accidents and their renal function has reduced causing very powerful urine odors which will linger in your carpet, upholstery or mattress.

Learning to clean cat urine odors and stains in an environmentally safe and economical way is important. There are a few things that you can do that can help get rid of cat urine odors and stains, but this will depend on the severity of the stain or odor.

1. Sprinkle baking soda onto the affected area and rub or pat with a damp cloth. After its dry, vacuum any excess baking soda.

2. Try cleaning the area with warn water and vinegar. This may work, but then you are left with the odor of vinegar, which is not pleasant.

3. Some people suggest that cleaning the area with mouthwash might work.

Any of the above things might work, but it's also best to seek professional help or read up on the subject written by someone that actually knows. The problem with just trying something out is that you might end up wrecking your carpet or upholstery and actually do more harm than good.

Blake Hygate is the owner of a website What Removes Cat Odors which discusses how a homeowner or renter can deal with the issue of cat urine odor and stains.