Removing Cat Smells

While we all LOVE our furry friends and studies have shown that pets can help with child development, it is important to be careful about urine odors.

It is not uncommon for students to be sent to the nurse's office or guidance with complaints of odor and more often than not it is related to cat urine. This odor is difficult to remove because it is the bacteria in the urine that has broken down and created the strong ammonia smell.

Many times a cat sprays to mark their territory and being fixed can help eliminate the problem. Other times, the cat may be urinating outside its litter box for reasons that may require a vet visit. It is important to bring this up to the vet and reach out for community resources in assisting you with taking care of your furry friends.

Now that we addressed the cat we can focus on the odor on the clothing and other household areas. Google can easily assist in finding a quick home remedy and computer access can be found at the local library or Community Connection.

Below is an easy way to try and remove the odor from clothing/linens.

How to Get Cat Urine Smell Out of Linens and Clothing

If your bed linens and clothing items are machine washable, first rinse the spot in a sink with cool water, then add them to the washing machine with detergent and a cup of baking soda or a quarter cup of cider vinegar. If you can still smell the urine after the cycle is complete, add enzyme cleaner to the load (following instructions on the package) and run the cycle again. Remember never to use bleach (when mixed with ammonia and cat urine, it can cause harmful gases). Always air dry linens, as the heat of the dryer may lock in the smell before it’s completely gone. You may need to re-wash one or more times until the scent is completely gone.