How Long Does Cat Urine Odor Last?
If it is not dealt with, the smell of cat urine can last for years and years. This is uric acid and can release small amounts of ammonia into the air indefinitely if not broken down.
Why does cat urine smell so bad?
Fresh cat urine actually doesn’t smell noticeably bad at all, it is when it is broken down that it does start to smell bad.
This is because as urea is broken down by bacteria ammonia is released. Ammonia has a particularly strong unpleasant smell.
Ammonia is a highly volatile gas that can be detected in the air at extremely low levels, it can cause cells in our olfactory system to become irritated very easily.
This is why cat urine has such a strong and nasty smell.
How do you get rid of cat urine smell?
Getting rid of the smell of cat urine is simple enough if you have either an enzymatic cleaning solution available or some vinegar and baking soda available:
1. Use An Enzymatic Cleaner
To get rid of cat urine smell using an enzyme cleaner follow these steps:
- Soak up as much of the urine as possible first.
- Wash the area with a damp cloth or rinse it off.
- Soak with your enzyme cleaner.
- Leave it for up to 20 minutes.
- Blot using a clean cloth.
Vinegar has many uses in the home and it is very effective at getting rid of the smell of cat urine, simply follow these steps:
- Mix ½ cup vinegar with ¼ cup of baking soda and then pour the solution into a spray bottle.
- Alternatively you can soak a cloth in it and rub this on the effected area.
- Spray the effected areas with the solution and leave it to sit for up to 20 minutes.
- Vinegar and baking soda will help break down the proteins in the urine that cause odor.
- After 20 minutes wipe the area clean with a dry cloth and sprinkle some baking soda over the area.
- Leave the baking soda overnight and hoover it up in the morning.
- The smell should have disappeared!
Methods to minimise the smell in your cat’s litter tray:
1. Try a different cat litter
Some types of cat litter do not absorb urine particularly well, using a different cat litter that is better at absorbing urine will help minimise the urine smell.
Silica is a good option as this is highly porous meaning it can trap upto 40 times its weight in liquid and it traps odious meaning your cat's litter tray will smell far less.
2. Change The Litter More Frequently
The more frequently you change the cat litter, the less chance there is of smells building up in the tray.
If you notice even a faint odour coming from your cat's tray, then it's best to change it sooner rather than later.
Also if you have more than one cat in your household, it makes sense to have more than one tray set up so that they each have their own private place to go when they feel the need.
This will also reduce the concentration of urine in one place and therby minimise the smell.
3. Use Moodify
Moodify pendants are famed for their patented scent neutralizing technology. They create a "Scent Screen" which makes bad urine odours effectively dissappear.
Written by Dan Richardson, our friend and founder of Tuxedo-Cat, make sure to check his website out for great articles and advice about raising cats and more.
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