How to Get Rid of Cat Odor in House: A Comprehensive Guide

By MSPure Life Jun 21, 2024

Even if you’re not a cat lover, you can recognize a cat house by its smell. Dogs, cats, and most mammals have the habit of marking their territory by urinating. This might be their unique way of marking their territory, but for humans, ‌urine odor is one of the most unpleasant smells.

Whether you are a cat owner looking for a way to eliminate the cat smell or want to adopt a cat but don't like the smell, this comprehensive guide can help you keep your home smelling clean and fresh.

Understanding the Sources of Cat Odor

Cat urine is not ‌the only culprit for cat smells. Musty smells from cat fur, foul odors from feces, and smells from the litter box can all contribute to cat odors.

To get rid of cat odor, you first need to find the sources and their underlying causes. So, how do you do that? To find the sources, you might need some detective work here.

Litter Boxes

The litter box is where the cat pees and poops, and this is the primary source of cat odors. This alone can contribute to the overall smell in the house. If it’s from the litter box, change it or give it a complete wash as odors can seep into plastic over time.

If you don’t see any pee and poop in or out of the litter box and if the smell persists, it means your cat is making his/her bunker somewhere else.

Cat Urine or Feces

The chemical composition of cat urine includes pheromones and ammonia. Both chemicals have a strong smell, particularly ammonia acid. The best way to find the sources of urine smell is to do a sniffing test. Go around your house and sniff different areas and see where the odor is the strongest.

Or spy on your cat and see where they frequently visit. It could be ‌in your basement, behind a door, under a table, or anywhere. This is often the best way to locate hidden urine stains or areas where your cat has marked.

Cat Food and Toys

Have you ever smelled cat or dog food? If yes, you know how disgusting it smells. The food you give your cat, both dry and wet, can also be the cause of undesirable odors in your house.

Another thing that can contribute to ‌unpleasant cat smells in the house are cat toys. The saliva and food remnants left behind can leave a foul odor over time.

Cat Bedding

Cats also naturally produce body odors like us that can cling to fabrics and furniture, which are usually invisible. You can use a black light (UV-A light or ultraviolet light) in a dark room to reveal old or dried stains by making them glow.

How to Prevent Cat Odor at Home

The first thing you should pay attention to is the litter box. Select a litter that offers good odor control and is easy to scoop. Make sure to scoop it at least once daily and clean it with detergents or specially formulated cleaners thoroughly at least once a week.

Other than that,

Regularly Groom Your Cat

Regular grooming helps minimize the shedding and accumulation of oil and reduces excess fur and dander. In addition to regular grooming, you should also bath your cat and regularly clean their teeth to prevent dental and overall health issues.

Keep Your Home Well-Ventilated

Keeping windows and doors wide open whenever possible allows fresh air to enter your house and push the odor out. If you want maximum airflow, you can use fans, and air filters, or even install a duct.

Clean your Home Regularly

Cleaning is the best way to keep your home smelling fresh. When cleaning, make sure to vacuum your carpets and furniture even if you don’t see any pet hair and dander. Wipe down surfaces where odors might linger and clean fabrics and textiles, such as curtains and sofa covers, which can absorb odors.

How to Remove Cat Odor and Cat Urine Odor from Your Home

The first step to keeping cat smells at bay is to avoid them in the first place. But, if you’re a cat owner, you know this is not always possible. So what can you do?

Here are a few methods that will help you effectively remove existing odors and prevent recurrence.

Invest in a Quality Air Purifier

One of the best ways to combat cat odor is by using a quality air purifier. Air purifiers remove pollutants, allergens, and odors from the air and improve indoor air quality. But remember, not all air purifiers are designed to combat smells. Some are only designed to remove specific contaminants like dust, mold, or pet dander, and not unpleasant odors.

Go for an air purifier that has an activated carbon filter or you can opt for a purifier that comes with all three filter such as HEPA filter, activated carbon, and pre-filter. The best example is the MSA3 HEPA Pet Air Purifier.

The HEPA Pet Air Purifier has a pre-filter to capture pet hair, dander, and debris. The HEPA 13 filter can trap up to 99.97% of small particles and the activated carbon helps to neutralize unpleasant odors.

Use Enzyme-Based Cleaners

In addition to using an air purifier, you’ll also need to clean the spot. To clean the peeing spot, you can use enzyme-based cleaners. These cleaners contain organic microorganisms that help to break down the urine molecules (especially ammonia acid) that cause odors. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results and use it with caution.

Activated Charcoal for Odor Absorption

Activated charcoal is best known for its absorption ability. That is the reason why it is used in many home appliances such as HVAC and air purifiers. Applying some of it in areas where your cat spends most can reduce the smell in the house. But if you buy the HEPA Pet Air Purifier, you don’t apply it.

Natural DIY Solutions

If you prefer natural solutions, you can try some of these methods.

Vinegar and Water - Mix vinegar and water equally in a bottle, and spray it on the affected areas. You can also use lemon juice instead of vinegar. Both have the same acidic properties.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Solutions - Another potent combination for combating cat odor is the mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Mix both the solution and spray it on the affected area and leave it overnight, then wipe it off the next day.
Essential Oils - Add a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus oil ‌to the solution mentioned above to freshen the air.

Remove Cat Odor with MSA3 Air Purifier

Adopting a cat is a way of showing love to animals. But the smell are what annoyed ‌most people. In this comprehensive guide, we talk about how to tackle cat odor in a house. So, now there are excuses for why you shouldn’t adopt a cat.

Before you invest in a cat, make sure to give the air purifiers a thought. Air purifier not only removes the odor from the air but also makes the air clean and healthy to breathe. It can help you ‌combat allergies and asthma, and improve overall wellbeing.

Give your home a new life with MSA3 air purifier today!