Cat urine smell in furniture

Why cat urine smells so sharp

Urine marks contain extra chemicals for communication between cats, and to people they seem sharp. One of them is felinine, which is excreted in urine and is the precursor of the smells typical of cats. Unneutered tomcats excrete more of it.

That is why even a small mark can smell very sharp. It is usually on a vertical surface: the side of a sofa, a backrest, a bed frame. Look there too, not only on the seat.

What to do at once

1. Blot Use a clean cloth or paper to blot gently, without rubbing.
2. Cool water, very little Gently blot with a damp cloth and then a dry one; do not saturate the fabric.
3. No ammonia Feline vets warn against ammonia-based cleaning products: to a cat, they smell like urine.
4. Check a wider area The area of smell can be up to three times larger than the stain, so look at the area around it too.

ASPCA and MSD mention enzyme products as a way of cleaning thoroughly. If you use one, choose a product made for pet smells and test it in a hidden spot first. Do not use heat or chlorine bleach.

First the cat, then the sofa

If the cause remains, the effect of cleaning is short-lived. About one cat in ten urinates outside the litter tray at some point in its life, and medical reasons have to be ruled out first. Unneutered tomcats and cats in homes with several cats do this more often.

If the cat repeatedly urinates on furniture, it is advisable to consult a vet before cleaning. The MSD Veterinary Manual writes that cleaning the soiled spots, adding more trays and other steps reduce or stop marking in some cats. Some, not all.

Marking or an accident

In both cases the vet is the first step, but for the furniture the difference is significant. A mark is small but very sharp, whereas a large amount on the seat can soak into the upholstery. Say in the form which of these is your case, and attach a photo from the side as well.

The limit of cleaning

International Cat Care writes that heavily soiled fabric should be thrown away if possible, because it stays attractive for marking even after cleaning. This does not apply to every stain, but it shows that cleaning has a limit. The sources give no measured limit for foam, so that can only be judged after an inspection.

What to order

Cats mark vertical surfaces, so a headboard and the sides of an armchair are the places worth inspecting first. Headboard from €35.

If the cause is clear and the urine is not deep in the upholstery, order cleaning at your home. Read this first: sofa cleaning after a cat or dog. If the stain is on a mattress: cleaning urine from a mattress. What to do about a new accident: what to do about urine on a sofa or bed.

Sofa: two-seater from €35, three-seater from €45, corner from €50. Armchair from €20. Mattress: single from €30 (one side). Smell treatment is extra, from €15. The price depends on size, fabric, how dirty it is, smell and distance. The minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45. Travel is included in Riga and up to about 15 km outside Riga; further out it is from €10.