How to get rid of cat urine odors

Jill Stacy
by Jill Stacy
The cat has gone crazy and is marking her territory on everything. My house smells like a litter box and it's grossing me out. Her box is clean, but she still is spraying on everything. I looked up why, on the internet, and it suggests that its because she really loves me and my boyfriend and is marking her territory by spraying on everything like she owns us. She's lived with me since she was a 6 week old kitten, 9 years ago, and this is a new thing that's got to stop immediately, but for the meantime, the smell is nauseating. Any suggestions?

  8 answers
  • Louise Louise on Mar 23, 2018

    Cats will mark if they're stressed. Has something happened in your home to stress her? Also, if the litter box isn't as clean as she wants it, she'll go outside the box. I've read that a person should have one more box than they have cats. I have 3 cats and 4 boxes. Also, have you taken her to the vet to see if she has a physical problem that could be causing her marking? If places where she marks can be cleaned with bleach, that will work well on eliminating the odor. Also, there's a product called OdoBan that works well. I found out about OdoBan when my vet's office used it to clean their floors. You can buy it at Home Depot and places like that and also online.


    • Willow Willow on Dec 01, 2019

      Sorry for chiming in a bit late to the discussion, but I really feel like I need to add my 2 cents.


      Cats don't just pee on floors and beds because they're in pain - could be a multitude of other reasons! Most common is that male cats feel the need to mark their territory.


      As for myself, I finally found something that works for the cat pee smell in my home! A herbal mixture of sorts! I now recommend it to everyone because it works so freakin' well and we save SOO much money!


      You should definitely check it out, we don't even buy Odorban and the likes any longer :)


      What a relief to finally have gotten rid of the horrible cat pee smell, and for a decent price as well.


      Registered an account only to say this:


      One of my 2 cats (both neutered males) had taken to painting all of my walls, furniture, and anything else he could reach. I was horrified when I got a UV light. He never did that in all of the 9 years I've had him and didn't when I got him a buddy (they love each other and did so right away) but when a strange black cat started showing up outside both of my cats went nuts and the older one (9) started his wall painting, as well as the curtains out in the kitty room. I couldn't keep up with it.


      My cats are indoor cats so it's not like the stray is actually going to get in here but they both hate him (and he is weird...my neighbor's cats hate him too). I've tried cleaning with a pet urine enzyme and then spraying some "No More Spraying" but that hasn't worked.


      He's a sneaky little bugger too; he waits until he thinks I'm not looking and then does it. He's learned that the minute I see him backing his butt up to something he gets yelled at. It wasn't until I found "Cat Spraying No More" that I was able to finally get rid of this tiresome behavior. Now my house doesn't smell like a litter box anymore :)


      To be honest, I don't know too much more about it so I did a quick Google search and here's a description of the spray with a long review as well: http://26.nomorecatpee.com


      No I have not been paid for this post nor do I make any commissions off of it. I really just want to help you guys out. I hope you don't mind.


      I'm based in Sweden, by the way, so you should be able to get it too.


      Good luck with the odor! It really lowers your quality of life, doesn't it?

  • Dfm Dfm on Mar 23, 2018

    natures mirical has enzymes to break down the wee. Odo ban is also good, but after a while I can’t stand the scent of it. Don’t use bleach.

  • Tammylu Tammylu on Mar 23, 2018

    I use a product called nok-out. It's available on the internet. Its not really scented. I buy the gallon and dilute it 50/50 with water. Put in spray bottle and I use it in my carpet shampooer. I feel it works better than nature's miracle. Look it up!

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Mar 23, 2018

    All I use for cat urine, which is the worst, is vinegar. We had a hybrid cat that marked a lot for a while. It would sometimes take two tries sometimes, but it worked really well, even in shag carpet in the basement. I keep straight vinegar in a quart spray bottle for uses around the house. If it is carpet or a rug, check to make sure that no matter what you use, it won't change the color or damage the fiber. If it is ok, saturate the area with the vinegar so that it goes through the rug, or down to the padding. Let it dry, you will no longer smell the vinegar. Check to see if the odor is completely gone, if not do it again and the second time usually will take care of what odor is left. It took no more than twice for me. After I took care of all the spots she used, we have not had another problem, we just had to find all the spots! It will work on anything, but again check to make sure it won't damage the surface. I have used Odo Ban, it works, but it took a long time to get rid of all the odor, as did any of the other ones I tried until I went back to the vinegar. I hope this helps! You may want to find out if she has a bladder infection which can cause a problem like that.

  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Mar 23, 2018

    Please take her to the vet!

  • Kathy Kathy on Mar 23, 2018

    Have her checked by a vet for urinary problems. My friend's cat was doing that and it turned out to be a kidney problem I believe. One of her cats ended up on pills, the other sadly did not get to the vet on time and it got to the point that it could not pass its urine. Please have her checked and good luck.

  • Sharon Sharon on Mar 23, 2018

    I doubt that is the reason, its more likely she has crystals in her kidneys making it painful to use the litter box, see vet for check up. or she is seeing another cat outside coming on "her turf" and she is marking because of another cat.

    When I am doing a client's house that has cat accidents, first use a black light flashlight to find all the spots, treat and wipe clean..... I use the tablets you mix in warm water cause it is fresh and much stronger at deodorizing than the stuff you buy in the store... after all why pay for water. I even put the tablets in my carpet cleaner water reservoir so I can clean up fast and thoroughly..... https://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Galaxy-Stain-Eliminator-Fizzion/dp/B019YMYNR0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1521846659&sr=8-3&keywords=jackson+galaxy+stain+and+odor+remover there is enough in for over a year. Get the flashlight, cause if you don't get it all, she will continue spraying... https://www.amazon.com/Escolite-Flashlight-Ultraviolet-Blacklight-Detector/dp/B008133KB4/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=67VXDPW3W25C5F1YCSXG

    If it is outside or feral cats, you might also get the motion detector pet deterrant hose attachment, and move it around the yard until the cats don't come around anymore.... https://www.amazon.com/Activated-Motion-Sensor-Sprinkler-Repellent/dp/B0742MB4MR/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1521846897&sr=8-6&keywords=motion+detector+pet+deterrent they also have air spray cans,,,, https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-PDT00-13914-SSSCAT-Spray-Deterrent/dp/B000RIA95G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1521846984&sr=8-4&keywords=motion+detector+pet+deterrent

    I haven't found anything else that really works and trust me I've tried all of the pet enzyme cleaners before finding the tablets.

    • Jill Stacy Jill Stacy on Apr 12, 2018

      Thank you for all of the helpful links, especially the ever-so crucial ultra violet flashlight link.

      I will also be taking her to the vet, as many people have suggested.

      👍😎

  • Ginny Ginny on Mar 23, 2018

    See your vet for advise as to why she is spraying. I was told marking territory from other cat I had put down a week before getting the spraying cat. They don't like mothballs or aluminum foil. Put foil over area(s) she sprays constantly and good l luck...cat pee stinks but good!