How to Get Cat Urine Smell Out of Carpet, Couches and Mattresses

Cat urine has a reputation for being the hardest pet smell to get rid of, and most cat owners would agree. It is strong, it seems to come back on humid days, and once a cat has used a spot, it is likely to use it again unless the smell is fully gone. The good news is that the same careful process that works for any pet urine works for cats too. You just need to be more thorough, and you need to deal with the reason your cat is going outside the box.

This guide covers carpet, couches and mattresses, what not to use, how to find old spots, and how to stop the problem from coming back.

First: is your cat okay?

Before you focus on cleaning, rule out a health problem. The ASPCA says the first step in fixing any elimination problem is to rule out medical problems, and it lists urinary tract infections, feline interstitial cystitis and kidney stones or blockages among the things a veterinarian should check. Cornell Feline Health Center also lists kidney and thyroid disease and diabetes, which make cats drink and urinate more.

Emergency warning: if your cat, especially a male cat, is straining in the litter box and producing little or no urine, call your vet or an emergency clinic right away. Cornell Feline Health Center describes urethral obstruction as a true medical emergency that can become fatal within 24 to 48 hours.

Why cat urine smells so strong

Cat urine is concentrated, so a small amount carries a lot of odor. It also soaks into carpet backing, pads, cushions and mattresses, and it keeps smelling from deep inside the material long after the surface looks clean. Your cat’s nose is also far more sensitive than yours. Cornell notes that odors must be neutralized, not just deodorized to escape a cat’s keen sense of smell. If your cat can still smell the spot, it can still read as an acceptable toilet.

Fresh cat urine on carpet

Blot right away. With gloves on, press paper towels firmly onto the spot and replace them until they come up barely damp. Do not rub, which spreads it.
Rinse with cool water and blot again. Pour a little cool water on the area and blot or use a wet vacuum to pull it back out. Never use hot water or steam (see below).
Apply an odor neutralizer made for pet urine. The ASPCA recommends an enzymatic cleanser designed to neutralize pet odors. Use enough to reach as deep as the urine did, follow the label, and test on a hidden area first.
Let it work and dry fully. Leave the product for the time on the label, then let the area dry completely. An absorbent powder can help pull out moisture while it dries. Vacuum once dry.

Old cat urine stains

Old spots are where most of the smell in a “cat house” comes from. Work through them one by one:

Find every spot. Use a UV black light in a dark room and outline each spot with chalk, as Humane World for Animals recommends. Our black light guide explains where to look and what else glows.
Rinse and extract. Rewet the spot with cool water and pull it out with a rented carpet extractor or wet vacuum, several times.
Treat generously. Soak the spot and a margin around it with your odor neutralizer so it reaches the backing and pad.
Dry, then check again. Smell and black-light the area once it is fully dry. Old spots often need two or three rounds.
Know when to replace. If a cat used one area many times, urine may have soaked through the pad into the subfloor. Humane World for Animals notes you may need to replace that section of carpet and pad. Clean or seal the subfloor before new carpet goes down.

Cat urine on a couch or upholstery

Check the care tag. W means water-based cleaners are fine, S means solvent only, WS means either, and X means vacuum only (call a professional).
Remove covers and wash them if the tag allows.
Blot and use little liquid on the cushion itself, so urine and water do not sink deeper into the foam.
Treat the cushion foam if urine reached it. Remove the cover, apply the neutralizer directly to the affected foam, and let it air dry fully. Badly soaked cushions may need new foam.

Cat urine on a mattress

Strip the bed and wash the bedding (see below).
Blot the mattress thoroughly with paper towels.
Apply an odor neutralizer to the spot, following the label for mattresses or upholstery.
Cover the damp area with absorbent powder and let it dry completely, ideally with a fan and an open window. This can take a day.
Vacuum, check by smell, and repeat if needed. A waterproof mattress protector helps prevent a repeat.

Bedding, blankets and clothes

Humane World for Animals suggests adding baking soda to your regular detergent and washing as usual. If the smell is still there, treat with an enzymatic cleaner and wash again. Check that the smell is gone before you put anything in a hot dryer.

For dog accidents on laundry, shoes and bulky bedding, see how to get dog pee out of clothes, bedding and shoes.

What not to use on cat urine

Ammonia-based cleaners. The ASPCA explains that urine contains ammonia, so cleaning with ammonia can attract your cat back to the same spot.
Vinegar. Cornell advises avoiding cleaning products containing ammonia or vinegar, because they smell like urine and can be irritating.
Steam and hot water. Humane World for Animals warns that heat can permanently set the stain and odor by bonding the protein into man-made fibers.
Air fresheners and scented sprays on their own. They cover the smell for you, not for your cat.
Mixed products. Never mix cleaners, especially bleach with ammonia, which can release dangerous fumes.

Stop it from happening again

Once your vet has ruled out a medical cause, the litter box setup is the most common thing to fix. The ASPCA recommends:

One box per cat, plus one extra. Two cats means three boxes.
Scoop at least once a day, and once a week wash the boxes with warm water and unscented soap (or baking soda) and replace all the litter.
Unscented, clumping litter in a shallow layer of about one to two inches. Most cats prefer it.
A quiet location that is not cornered, where your cat can see anyone approaching and has more than one way out.

Also make previously soiled spots less appealing for a while: once they are clean, put a food bowl, bed or toy there, or cover the area temporarily. Cornell mentions that a synthetic feline pheromone product (Feliway) may help some cats.

Marking versus going outside the box

Spraying small amounts on vertical surfaces such as walls, curtains and furniture is usually urine marking, which the ASPCA treats as a separate behavior from litter box avoidance. Marking is often linked to stress or other cats, and spaying or neutering may reduce it. If you have several cats and do not know which one is marking, the ASPCA notes that a veterinarian can give one cat a harmless fluorescein dye that makes its urine glow blue under UV light for about 24 hours.

A dirty or badly placed box is one of the most common reasons a cat goes somewhere else, and the box itself can be the source of the smell. Our litter box smell guide covers the daily and weekly routine.

If the accidents are right next to the litter box, see how to stop cat litter tracking and clean up around the box.

Keep cleanup supplies together

The faster you treat a spot, the easier it is. Keep gloves, an odor product, an absorbent powder, a brush and a black light together. Our Pet Cleanup Kit has all of these in one pouch. For dog accidents and general steps, see how to get pet urine smell out of carpet, and for other messes, how to clean pet vomit from carpet.

Frequently asked questions

Why does cat urine smell come back on humid days?

Moisture in the air can make leftover urine in carpet, pads or cushions smell stronger. If the smell comes back, there is still urine in the material, so find it with a black light and treat it again.

Will my cat keep peeing in the same spot?

Often yes, if it still smells like urine to them. Neutralize the odor completely, make the spot unappealing for a while, check the litter box setup, and see your vet to rule out a medical cause.

Is cat urine harder to remove than dog urine?

It is usually stronger smelling and cats often return to the same spot, so it can take more rounds of treatment. The cleaning process is the same.

Can I use bleach on cat urine?

Bleach can discolor carpet and fabric, and mixing it with ammonia-containing products releases dangerous fumes. A product made to neutralize pet urine is the better choice.

My cat suddenly started peeing outside the box. What should I do?

Call your veterinarian. A sudden change is a common sign of a medical problem. If your cat is straining and producing little or no urine, treat it as an emergency.

Sources

ASPCA: Litter box problems
ASPCA: Urine marking in cats
Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline behavior problems: house soiling
Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline lower urinary tract disease
Humane World for Animals: How to remove pet stains and odors

This guide is general cleaning information, not veterinary advice. If your cat’s litter box habits change, contact your veterinarian.