Home Remedies for Cat Urine

Home remedies for cat urine are a controversial topic. We go through the most common methods and explain the advantages and disadvantages compared to commercial cleaners and odor removers.

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! Home remedies are not without risks and should be avoided if possible. Damage to materials and discoloration can occur. Additionally, some home remedies carry health risks. The information here is provided purely for completeness.

Preparing for Cleaning with Home Remedies Against Cat Urine

Before applying home remedies to remove cat urine, the spot must be dry. Don’t just let it dry - use paper towels to help. Remove as much urine as possible from the spot with them. Paper towels are very helpful when cleaning cat urine. Best to use several layers on top of each other. Then apply good pressure (or even stand on it if possible) to push the cat urine from the carpet. Paper towels are so absorbent that they absorb the urine very quickly and leave fewer residues in the carpet or upholstery. This process should be repeated several times with new towels until hardly any liquid (urine) is absorbed by the paper towels.

Once this is done, you can try the following remedies. These are generally made with things found around the house for other purposes. In case some of these are not in stock or all components need to be purchased, I would recommend proper cat urine products like Bio Urin Attacke, as the extra effort usually isn’t worth it and the results of home remedies often don’t match the professional variant. If you don’t normally have the home remedy components at home, buying them can sometimes end up costing more money.

• This is how you have the greatest success removing cat urine.

Small Helpers Against Cat Urine Odor

Here are some smaller helpers that can make life as a cat owner a bit easier.

1. Pure Myrtle Oil

Myrtle oil has been popular among cat owners for a while - it works as an all-around air freshener and works wonderfully against cat urine odor. Caution is advised, as myrtle oil contains substances that are toxic to cats.

Mixed with water (just add a few drops to water), it can be used for mopping. It has an odor-neutralizing effect.

Myrtle oil is available e.g. on Amazon

2. Baking Soda or Baking Powder

Can be used to bind cat urine and trigger reactions with other home remedies mentioned below.

3. Lemon Concentrate or Cleaners with Citrus Scent

Cats don’t like the smell of citrus fruits at all. To keep a cat from peeing on the sofa, a few squirts of diluted lemon concentrate can sometimes be enough.

Making Your Own Vinegar Cleaner Against Cat Urine

Let’s get to the first real home remedy! Probably the most common way to tackle cat urine. Unfortunately not quite as effective and often only temporarily odor-eliminating, but still worth a try, especially for lighter stains.

The following mixture:

• 1 part white distilled vinegar
• 2 parts warm water

Apply this mixture to the urine stain using a spray bottle, cloth, or sponge and rub it in. After about 5-10 minutes, the vinegar should be dry and you can rinse with warm water.

Hydrogen Peroxide Mix Against Cat Urine

Alternative to the vinegar solution. Requires a few more ingredients and a bit more effort.

• 450 ml 3% hydrogen peroxide solution
• 2 tablespoons baking powder or baking soda
• Two drops of liquid soap or dish detergent

This mixture is best made in a disposable plastic container with disposable utensils, which should be thrown away afterward.

Note before preparation: NEVER store this mixture, especially not in closed containers! Gases are produced that can cause containers to burst. The product loses its effectiveness very quickly as the reaction of the components diminishes. Please use within 2 hours.

Caution: Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent. Test on an inconspicuous area before use!

Instructions for Making the Cat Urine Home Remedy

1. Put on protective gloves!
2. Pour the 3% hydrogen peroxide solution into the container
3. Add the 2 tablespoons of baking powder
4. Now add the two drops of liquid soap or dish detergent
5. Optional: Add half a tablespoon of lemon juice (for better smell. Deters cats from the spot)
6. Apply the product generously to the cat urine stain and work in with sponge or brush
7. Let the spot dry well
8. Afterward, simply vacuum the carpets. Clothing and other textiles can go in the washing machine. Harder surfaces like PVC can be wiped with a damp cloth.

After this is done, the cat urine and odor should be gone. If you’re not sure if you can make the recipe work or if the material is too sensitive to be treated this way, I still recommend looking at cat urine products.

Unfortunately, we cannot answer questions about home remedies. But if you want, you can read more about cleaning cat urine.

Updated on 27.02.2023