How to Get Rid of Cat Urine Smell in Carpet
Short answer
Cat urine smell lasts because ordinary cleaners leave residue behind in the carpet. Find every spot with a UV blacklight, blot up what you can, then soak each spot with an enzyme cleaner and let it dry completely. Don't steam clean and don't use ammonia; both make the problem worse.
Quick steps
- Turn off the lights and find every spot with a UV blacklight. Mark them with tape.
- Blot fresh urine with thick paper towels. Press, don't rub.
- Soak each spot with enzyme cleaner deep enough to reach the padding.
- Leave it to work and dry completely. This can take a day or two.
- Don't use steam cleaners or ammonia cleaners on urine.
Need supplies? Jump to what to buy
Why the smell won’t go away
Urine soaks down through the carpet into the padding underneath. Surface cleaners take care of the top layer and leave the rest. The smell then comes back every time the room gets warm or humid.
To get rid of it for good, you need to reach everything the urine touched and break it down, not cover it.
1. Find every spot
You can usually smell cat urine before you can see it. Wait until dark, turn off the lights, and sweep a UV blacklight slowly over the carpet, baseboards, and furniture legs. Dried urine usually glows yellow-green. Mark each spot with painter’s tape so you can find it with the lights on.
2. Blot what’s still wet
For a fresh accident, lay a thick layer of paper towels on the spot, cover it with newspaper, and stand on it. Repeat until the area is barely damp. Rubbing only spreads it.
3. Treat with an enzyme cleaner
Saturate each spot with an enzyme cleaner. Use enough to reach as deep as the urine went, which is usually wider than the stain on top. Leave it for as long as the label says. The enzymes need time and moisture to work.
Then let the area dry naturally. Cover it loosely with foil or a laundry basket if you need to keep the cat off. Keep pets away until it’s dry.
What not to do
- No steam cleaners. The Humane Society warns that heat can permanently set urine stain and smell into synthetic fibers.
- No ammonia cleaners. Urine contains ammonia, so these can smell like a toilet spot to your cat and draw it back.
- Don’t mix cleaners. Rinse between products and never combine bleach with anything else.
When the carpet can’t be saved
If the urine soaked into the padding many times over, cleaning the top may not be enough. The Humane Society notes you may need to replace parts of the carpet and padding, and seal the subfloor before relaying.
If the cat has peed on a bed, see how to get urine smell out of a mattress.
Stop it happening again
Cats come back to spots that smell like a toilet, so treating every spot fully matters. Look at the litter box too: keep it clean, and have enough boxes in quiet places. If your cat suddenly starts going outside the box, the ASPCA suggests a vet visit to rule out a medical problem.
For other carpet smells, see how to get a smell out of carpet. If your cat went on the sofa, see how to get a smell out of a couch.
What to buy
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UV blacklight flashlight
Vansky 51 LED UV Blacklight Flashlight
Finding old, dried urine spots you can smell but can't see. Dried urine usually glows under UV light in a dark room.
Good to know: Other things glow too, such as some detergents and spills. Confirm with your nose before treating.
Check price on Amazon
Enzyme pet odor cleaner
Rocco & Roxie Enzyme Stain & Odor Eliminator, 32 oz
Urine, vomit, and other organic stains in carpet, upholstery, and car seats. The enzymes break down what causes the smell instead of covering it.
Good to know: Test on a hidden spot first and keep pets away until it has dried. It needs time to work, so don't rinse it off early.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Does vinegar get rid of cat urine smell?
Vinegar can mask a fresh smell, but the Humane Society advises against relying on it for old stains. An enzyme cleaner breaks down the cause of the smell, so it works better on set-in urine.
Why does the smell come back when it's humid?
Moisture brings dried urine back to life and the smell returns. That usually means the urine reached the padding or subfloor and wasn't fully treated.
Why does my cat keep peeing on the carpet?
Leftover smell can draw a cat back to the same spot, but there are other causes too, including litter box setup, stress, and medical problems. The ASPCA suggests a vet check to rule out a medical cause.
Will cat pee smell eventually go away on its own?
Rarely. The residue stays in the carpet and padding and smells again whenever the room gets warm or humid. It needs an enzyme cleaner, or new padding if the urine soaked through.
Why did the smell get worse after I shampooed the carpet?
Water re-wets the dried urine and releases the smell, and a carpet cleaner can't reach the padding underneath. Heat from steam can also set it. Treat each spot with an enzyme cleaner instead.