How do I Treat Cat Odors?

Untrained cats can produce strong and difficult-to-remove odors around many household surfaces. Their behavior is often related to territorial marking, and the odor must be treated to ensure they do not use the same space again.

  1. Prevention/Solution

    • Untreated cat odor can lay deep within surfaces for months. If the urine or spray is fairly fresh, soaking it up with a cloth or paper towel can help to remove some lingering moisture. Chemical products containing enzymes that break down urine, or steam cleaners can also aid in the soaking and neutralizing process. Vinegar is also a common product in treating cat odors. After product treatment, thorough drying, such as with a vacuum, can also help.

    Types

    • Most often, cat odors develop from territorial marking where a cat can "spray" or urinate on a surface. In preventing odor, distinguishing between cat spraying and urine is important. While spray also contains urine, it is also made of fatty material that can produce a strong smell. Spraying can sometimes be a behavioral issue, where normal urine could be a serious medical issue or territorial marking.

    Identification

    • It is sometimes difficult to notice and distinguish when exactly a cat urinates or sprays on an area. Because of this, lingering bacteria is given time to grow and interact with urine to produce odors.