Cat spray odor is a common problem for many pet owners, as cats develop a bad habit of urinating outside the litter box when they’re sick, stressed, or feel threatened. After all, misfortune calls friends, and that extremely strong smell is a sure way to make everyone in your home feel equally uncomfortable.
Cat spray is more persistent than everyday odors, making it impossible to resist and extremely difficult to remove. If the smell is making your home uncomfortable, here are 6 tips and home remedies to get rid of the odor quickly, easily and effectively.
How to get rid of cat spray odors
1. Look for spray paint under a black light
The first step in getting rid of cat spray odor is to find where it was sprayed. Cats will spray again in areas where the urine smell lingers, so if you don’t remove it, you’ll end up having to clean up repeatedly.
Cats often spray around doors and windows if they have a stressor outdoors or if there’s a new object in the house that brings an unfamiliar smell into the house. Once you’ve identified the smell in a particular room, use a black light to pinpoint the exact location of the spray. Phosphorus in dried urine glows neon yellow or green under ultraviolet light.
Darken the room and shine a light on the floor, walls, and baseboards to illuminate the spray pattern. Cats are sneaky, so you may need to check behind furniture, in closets, or between piles of clothes. Once you find the spray, mark the perimeter of the area to be cleaned.
2. Use an Enzyme Cleaner on Spray Marks
Enzymatic cleaners are the most effective way to get rid of cat spray odor. While many cleaners only mask the odor, enzymatic cleaners contain active enzymes that target and break down the odor-causing compounds. The odor will be completely gone, and your cat will no longer smell the odor and spray again.
Our Favorite Enzyme Cleaners
of Hepper Advanced Bioenzyme Pet Stain and Odor Removal Spray is our favorite enzyme cleaner that will permanently remove even the toughest cat stains and odors, leaving your home feeling fresh and clean. click here Find out more about this amazing product and grab a bottle today!
Hepper Advanced Bioenzyme Pet Stain and Odor Removal Spray
- Advanced Enzyme Cleaner – penetrates the toughest odors and stains to the deepest molecular depths…
- FOR ALL STAINS, ALL SURFACES – This pet odor eliminator cleans carpets, floors, furniture and more…
- FRESH, NATURAL Scents – Our proprietary formula doesn’t rely on dangerous or harsh chemicals…
At Catster, we have admired Hepper for many years and decided to acquire a controlling stake so we could benefit from the great products of this cool company.
Shake the bottle and allow it to work into the stain. Leave it for at least 10-15 minutes and the odor will gradually dissipate. For tough stains, you may need to use it multiple times to completely remove the urine.
3. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain.
Although baking soda won’t completely remove pee stains, it’s one of the easiest home remedies to get rid of cat spray odor. The powder absorbs odors and moisture, making it a convenient solution for soaking up fresh urine and preventing old stains from smelling.
Wipe the spray stain with paper towels to soak up as much of the urine as possible, then sprinkle baking soda on the area. Leave it for 30 minutes or until the area is dry. Once the odor is gone, vacuum up the baking soda with a HEPA-filtered wet/dry vacuum. Fine particles can damage a standard carpet vacuum.
4. Ventilate your home
The quickest solution to get quick relief from cat spraying is to open the windows. It won’t have a permanent effect, but airing out and ventilating your home will make it much more bearable until you find a more permanent solution. After opening the windows, turn on a fan to circulate the air and drive the cat urine smell out of your home.
5. Spray with vinegar and water
Vinegar is a versatile kitchen essential that’s great for quickly removing urine from walls, hard floors, and carpets.
First, blot the stain with paper towels to remove as much cat urine as possible. Mix one part distilled white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to thoroughly soak the stain with water. Leave it for a few minutes, then blot with paper towels and air dry.
6. Set up a spray station
While you may be able to reduce spraying, you may not be able to eliminate it completely. If your cat won’t stop spraying, you can reduce stress by setting up an easy-to-clean spray station. This arrangement encourages your cat to spray into the litter box, which covers the area where she normally sprays.
Use two litter boxes, stacking one inside the other at a 90-degree angle to create an L shape. Fill the bottom section with cat litter and place the vertical section facing the wall where your cat will spray. Once your cat gets used to the litter box, you can move it to a more discreet location. This won’t solve the problem, but a spray station will make cleaning easier.
Stopping the Odor at Its Source: How to Stop Your Cat from Spraying
Even the strongest cleaning solutions cannot be expected to eliminate cat spray odor for long periods of time unless you eradicate the cause of your pet’s behavior.
Common causes of spraying include:
- Physical problems such as hormone disorders or kidney disease
- Stressful stimuli, such as resident or neighborhood cats
- Changes in daily life or the arrival of a new member in the family
- Poor maintenance of toilets
Unneutered cats are more likely to spray because they spray to find a mate. Neutering can help alleviate this problem by removing most or all of the sexual motivation that motivates a cat to mark, but spraying may continue in neutered cats if they are stressed enough.
How to stop your cat from spraying
Keep the toilet clean
Keep litter boxes clean and comfortable for your cat by scooping out waste daily and changing the litter weekly. Make sure the litter boxes are easily accessible and that there are enough for all the cats in your home. Ideally, you should have one litter box per cat plus a spare, all in convenient and safe locations.
You can also try a different litter, such as switching from clumping litter to clay or paper litter, as some cats prefer certain materials. If the box is the right size, accessible, clean, and the litter is comfortable for your cat, there should be no reason for her to avoid it.
Managing outdoor stimuli
If other animals are bothering your cat, keep them out of your home or grounds. You can also try closing the blinds or blocking access to certain rooms to keep your cat from discovering outdoor stressors, and monitor your cat’s outdoor time to keep them safe.
Maintaining the environment
Adding new family members or changing the environment can often disrupt the look, smells and sounds of the home, making cats feel anxious or worried. To prevent spraying, any changes should be made slowly, and you should consider how to minimise the impact on your cat.
For example, you can keep things in the garage that could make your home smell bad, like a stroller or sweaty running shoes. If you’re replacing or renovating furniture, do it little by little to maintain familiar spaces. You can also provide a safe place for your cat to escape to. You may want to hold off on making drastic changes until the spraying behavior has subsided.
Provide attention, enrichment, and routine
By strengthening your relationship with your cat and providing more stimulation, your cat will feel happier and more secure, which will hopefully reduce spraying. Provide a rotating selection of toys and devices, such as cat trees, scratching posts and shelves. Strategically placed items give your cat ways to stay active and a place to escape when she feels stressed.
Are you looking for a toy that meets your cat’s different needs? Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher is one of our favorite cat products. Its clever triangular design gives your cat plenty of ways to climb, stretch, and exercise. Made with a sturdy plywood base and interchangeable cardboard inserts, this scratching post is an option your cat will enjoy for years to come. If your cat needs a little encouragement to play on their own, Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker is a great choice, with its chew- and kick-resistant fabric, attractive internal bell, and organic catnip, allowing your cat to satisfy their natural predatory instincts while getting the exercise they need to thrive.
At Catster, we have admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so we could benefit from the superior designs of this cool company.
Maintain a consistent routine with your cat. Grooming, feeding and play should occur at set times so that your cat feels comfortable with predictability. Provide as much interaction as possible to strengthen the bond, and minimise stress by rewarding and avoiding punishment.
You can also help your cat feel reassured by creating positive associations with changes in your home, using treats, toys, attention and other rewards. If you maintain a positive attitude and give your cat the care she deserves, new household members like pets or babies will seem less threatening and less likely to cause new spraying behaviors.
Consult your veterinarian
If you don’t know why your cat is spraying, or if you notice other signs such as behavioral changes, weight fluctuations, or illness, it’s wise to consult a vet. Your vet will carry out a range of tests and evaluate any environmental factors that may be contributing to the spraying behavior. Your vet will then provide insight, advice, and treatment, including medication.
Final thoughts
Cat spraying is not a problem that can be put off. The smell of urine can quickly fill your home and the longer you let it, the harder it is to get rid of. Plus, the persistent smell will make your cat want to keep spraying. Enzyme cleaners are your best bet for eliminating the odor long term, but if the smell becomes unbearable, following these simple tips and home remedies will help you eliminate the odor quickly and get your home back on track.
Featured image credit: Sorapop Udomsri, Shutterstock
