As much as we all love our pets, nobody likes dealing with the smell of urine when they have an accident. So, when we saw this helpful tip from Best Friends Animal Society, BFAS, we wanted to pass it along. They are one of the largest no-kill sanctuaries in the United States, founded in Utah in 1984. Today, they help pets all across the country through lifesaving programs.
BFAS’s Samantha shares tips for eliminating cat urine from carpets and furniture. What we love is it’s an easy DIY recipe that is affordable. So it’s something anybody can try and could be a real lifesaver. If you foster cats and kittens, you may have tried something like this, but it’s helpful for anybody who lives with kitties.
Image via Instagram/ Best Friends Animal Society
The rescue prefaces these tips on YouTube (see video below) by noting that keeping a cat’s litter box clean and accessible will be the best way to eliminate accidents.
“The best way to prevent litter box accidents is to ensure the litter box is large, clean and in a spot your cat likes. But if your cat does have an accident, we hope these tips help eliminate the odor as well as some of your stress,” they write.
Samantha’s cat Packard via Facebook
Please check out our helpful article for more tips on why cats may sometimes go outside their litter box.
DIY Method to Get Cat Pee Out of Carpet and Furniture
Samantha says she arrived at this recipe after years of trying “all the cat pee cleaning methods.” With some trial and error, she arrived at what worked best, and it’s super easy. What’s even better is Samantha says it will work even if the urine has dried out.
Packard lying on the cleaned carpet
In the video below, we see Samantha’s cat Packard, a sweet kitty rescued as a hospice kitten seven years ago. He overcame many health concerns and now is a cuddle bug with many foster kittens.
Four Ingredients to Have On Hand
There are four readily available and inexpensive ingredients:
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Baby Laundry Detergent
The last part makes perfect sense since baby detergent eliminates urine from baby diapers.
Screenshot via YouTube/ Best Friends Animal Society
Remember to use gloves to protect your hands, and don’t try the method on your expensive furnishings until you’ve tested it out on a small area first. Otherwise, you might have an unsightly stain, although it won’t be smelly anymore!
Easy Peasy Pee Elimination
First, soak up the urine with a clean towel or rag. Then, pour the vinegar all over the pee area and extend the area outside by a few inches to make sure you get it all.
After it sits for a few minutes, blot up the vinegar with a clean cloth. Next, apply the baking soda powder. While that sits, mix a solution of 1/4 cup of Hydrogen peroxide with one teaspoon of the baby detergent. Pour it over the baking soda and “massage it in” with your gloved hands.
Finally, just walk away and let it dry or use a hair dryer if you are in a hurry. Lastly, vacuum the area, and you are finished.
“Do you know the best method of getting cat pee out of carpet or furniture? 🐱 Try this easy ✨ DIY ✨ technique! -Samantha”
For more, you can follow Best Friends Animal Society on Instagram and Facebook.
Video by Best Friends Animal Society:
Eliminating Another Stinky Situation
If you notice, Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, along with a little liquid hand soap, are also widely recommended to eliminate skunk smells if your cat or dog gets sprayed.
Note: It’s best to talk to your veterinarian before proceeding.
Related: Cowboy Cat Wrangler Encounters Skunk’ Stinky Twins’ Caring for Cat Colony
For cats, three percent hydrogen peroxide is recommended to avoid irritating their skin. (And don’t get it in their eyes.) The Spruce Pets suggests a quart of three percent hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup of baking soda, and one to two teaspoons of liquid hand soap.
Images via Facebook/Best Friends Animal Society
