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Cats are funny, gorgeous, elegant, fluffy goofballs that we just can’t enough of! They can go from being completely adorable and loveable one minute to annoyingly destructive the next. This might even include peeing on your couch.
You should first ensure that your cat isn’t suffering from some kind of health condition, particularly if this behavior is completely out of character. After that, you’ll need to tackle the stain before it sets in. Don’t forget about the unpleasant stench that will emanate from it!
Our guide will walk you through the methods and products that you can use to remove the stains and stench quickly and relatively easily.
Why the Couch and Not the Litter Box?
Why the Couch and Not the Litter Box?Before we get into the how-to-clean-it-up part, we look at the whys of the situation.
- Medical Problems: This is a common reason for inappropriate urination. Several different conditions, such as cystitis, bladder stones, and lower urinary tract infections, can cause your cat to start avoiding the litter box, due to an association of pain with the box. There could also be an overall increase in urination due to other conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease.
- Litter Box Issues: There are all kinds of problems with the litter box that could make your cat decide that it is worth avoiding. The litter box itself could be too small, or your cat might have difficulty getting into it. Location can also be a problem if it is in a high-traffic area. Then there’s the litter. Most cats prefer a medium or fine litter that’s unscented, or perhaps it isn’t being cleaned often enough.
- Stress: If your cat has been experiencing anxiety and stress lately due to a change in their environment, that could also help explain the behavior. Has a new pet or person been introduced to the household, or have you moved recently? Cats are creatures of habit, so when things change, it can cause behavioral problems.
Speak to your vet if you’re ever worried about your cat’s behavior or health to ensure that you understand the root reason and can work on it.
If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
The 6 Tips on How to Get Cat Urine Smells & Stains Out of a Couch
The 6 Tips on How to Get Cat Urine Smells & Stains Out of a Couch1. Blot Away
If the urine is “fresh,” your first step is to blot it dry. Don’t rub. Try blotting and dabbing gently. If you rub at the stain, you’re essentially scrubbing it further into your couch, which is obviously the last thing that you want to do.
Use a clean paper towel or rag, and gently press it into the stain so it soaks into the rag instead of the couch.
2. Cover and Wait
Now that you’ve blotted, you should cover the spot with a clean paper towel or rag (another one) and leave it. This will allow the rag to absorb more of the excess liquid, which also means it will dry quickly.
3. On to the Cleaning
Once the urine has been mostly absorbed, you’ll need to use a bit of elbow grease, along with a suitable cleaner. There are several options that you can use, including some that you might already have in your home.
4. Enzymatic Cleaner
If you already have one, this is probably your best bet. Otherwise, in the future, you could invest in one.
Enzymatic cleaners work by breaking down the components in your cat’s urine that cause the rather unpleasant odor. Most enzymatic cleaners are sprayed onto the stain and left to sit for about 5 minutes or longer. Some cleaners might tell you to scrub a little, so be sure to read the instructions for whichever kind you have.
Once you’ve finished cleaning with the enzymatic cleaner, cover the spot with a clean towel (or something else that’s clean and absorbent), and keep it there until the area is completely dry. This might take several days in some cases. If this occurred on your couch cushions and the weather is excellent, you can try putting them in the sun to speed up the drying.
Some of these cleaners are only meant to remove the odor and not the stain, so check the listing before purchasing. That said, enzymatic cleaners can work well at removing any residual cat urine smell after you’ve removed the stain.
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5. Vinegar and Baking Soda
If you don’t have any enzymatic cleaners on hand, you can use white vinegar and baking soda. You’ll want to dilute the white vinegar with water (distilled or tap water), approximately 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water.
Add the vinegar/water mixture to the stain—your best bet is to have it in a spray bottle so you can lightly spray the area. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, and then lightly blot and dab at it to remove most of the excess moisture. This is where the baking soda comes in.
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the stain and let it sit for several hours. This should help absorb the odor (from the urine and the vinegar) and absorb any extra moisture. You might need to repeat both steps a few times.
6. Dish Detergent, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Baking Soda
If the stain is really in there or old and stubborn, you might need to use something a little stronger. Most people have dish detergent and hydrogen peroxide lying about, so it won’t cost you anything extra. You should be careful with these products, since they may discolor fabric. It’s recommended to test it in a non-visible area and check how the fabric reacts to it.
After you’ve done your initial blotting of the urine, mix approximately 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of grease-cutting detergent and 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle.
Spray the stain with a small amount of this mixture, and let it sit for a few minutes. As it dries, the baking soda will leave a residue that you should vacuum once the area is completely dry. You can repeat the process if necessary until the stain is gone.
What If Your Couch Is Leather?
If you’re wondering how to clean cat urine from a leather couch rather than a fabric one, there are a few differences to be aware of. Most enzymatic cleaners work well on fabric couches but are likely to cause discoloration or fading on leather. Make sure you read the directions on the bottle before you try any cleaner on leather.
Before using any cleaner on your leather couch, you should pre-test a tiny spot in a place where you won’t notice it. You’ll need to allow it to completely dry before you see the final results and whether it will discolor your couch.
You’ll need to soak the area where the urine is with the cleaner and let it air dry. Repeat if necessary. Follow up with a leather conditioner to prevent it from drying out. You can also try the homemade remedies. Just dab it or spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe it off. Again, try a test area first.
A Few Warnings
Before cleaning the mess, you should consider a few things.
Ammonia
Don’t use any ammonia-based products or cleaners. Ammonia is one of the reasons why cat urine is so pungent, so if you use any kind of ammonia cleaning product on it, it may keep drawing your cat back to the same area.
Testing
Before using any product, homemade or not, on your couch, you’ll want to do a little test run first. Find a small spot that no one will notice, and test it out there. As long as no damage occurs, you’re free to use it on the actual stain.
Conclusion
Hopefully, by following these tips, you’ll eradicate that stain and odor in no time! In some cases, you might end up needing to pay for a professional cleaner if all else fails. It’s important to remember that you should avoid using essential oils to mask the urine odor, as they are highly toxic to cats. Essential oils can prove fatal if some gets on their fur and they ingest it, but also if they inhale it.
Just a little patience and determination are needed here. Ensure that you’ve figured out why it happened in the first place, and fix the problem. Not only do you want to keep your furniture free from cat urine, but you also want to ensure your cat’s well-being.
See also:
- Why Is My Cat Peeing on My Couch? Potential Causes & How to Stop It
- Cats and Peeing Outside of the Litter Box: Why Did Miki Pee on the Sofa?
Featured Image Credit: cunaplus, Shutterstock
