Find the Spot Before Treating the Room
Check the places where the smell is strongest, including rugs, furniture edges and areas beside the litter box. Blot fresh urine with an absorbent cloth instead of rubbing it farther into the surface. Keep your cat away from the cleaning area while you work.
Treat Fabric and Carpet According to Their Care Labels
Check the material's cleaning instructions and test the chosen product in an inconspicuous place. Use a pet urine cleaner suitable for that surface, following its directions for application and contact time. Let the area dry as directed, then check again before repeating treatment.
Protect the Floor Finish as You Clean
Use a cleaner approved for the floor material and avoid soaking joints or unsealed surfaces. Follow the floor manufacturer's instructions as well as the cleaner's label. For odor that remains below carpet or in porous flooring, ask a qualified cleaning professional about the next step.
Use One Suitable Cleaner at a Time
Keep cleaners out of reach and follow the label for ventilation, rinsing and drying. Do not mix cleaning products. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners on accident spots and keep cats away until the area is ready for use.
Address the Accident as Well as the Smell
Review litter box cleanliness, access and recent household changes when accidents repeat. Contact your veterinarian about new or persistent changes in urination. Straining with little or no urine needs urgent veterinary attention.
Related: cat not using the litter box; litter box cleaning guide.
Cat Urine Cleaning Questions
Will covering the smell with fragrance solve the problem?
Locate and clean the source rather than adding fragrance over an untreated spot.
What if the smell returns after the surface dries?
Recheck the affected area, follow the cleaner's repeat-treatment directions and seek professional help for deeper contamination.
Related: ASPCA Litter Box Problems; Cornell Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.
