Question: How can I remove cat urine odor from laundry?My cat has peed all over the clothes in my laundry basket; she also has urinated on a stack of blankets next to the basket. How can I remove the urine odor from my laundry? If at all possible, I'd like to be able to use products I already have around the house.
This FAQ falls in the areas of one of the most frustrating problems cat owners deal with: litter box avoidance. I remember one forum member several years ago who was literally reduced to tears of frustration over a cat that urinated on her bedding regularly. She was exhausted from having to do laundry in the early morning hours.
The good news is that it isn't necessary to be held hostage by a cat urinating on clothing and bedding. It may take some detective work, but the result can be a fresh, clean-smelling home. Read my reply for the details.
Suggested Additional Reading:
Cleaning Kitty Messes
Top Urine Odor Removal Products
Spray Prevention Products
Note: I've now added a form to the linked article for those who want to post a serious reply with their own tips for removing cat urine.
Comments
I would first add vinegar to the wash water, then I would try adding pine-sol and wash again. Good luck
I would suggest using human urine to combat this unwanted problem. It may sound extreme, but this is really a territorial turf battle with your loved one. I had the same problem with my cali Mr. Theodor. He would regularly urinate on my favorite futon to mark his territory and it would drive my partner Kurt into fits of rage. Since I wasn’t about to get rid of either Theodor or Kurt, I had to try something. I mixed about a thimble full of my own urine with a cup of regular water, poured the concoction into a spray bottle and sprayed it on the futon where the source of the promblem came from and do you know what? The problem behavior stopped!
It’s been three years and we’ve only had this problem two or three times since then, usually when we are on vacation to Greece and we have a caretaker stay in our apartment. Ciao!
My neighbor suggested that you rub the feline’s nose in the spot like you would with a dog. Any suggestions?
I find that vinegar and water works well. And it is not even appropriate to rub a dog’s nose in it let alone a cat, not the correct solution.
If rubbing an animals nose in the spot works, then it makes sense to me.
Nickey, that technique does not work with cats, so don’t do it.
Kahrl: Might I suggest you read the linked article? You’ll need it to get the smell of feline and human urine out of your futon.
Nickey and Donna: Rubbing a cat’s or dog’s nose into his own urine not only doesn’t work, but it is CRUEL and inhumane. You wouldn’t rub a toddler’s nose into it if he had an accident. Why would you treat a helpless animal any less kindly? In many cases, cats urinate outside the box either because the box is dirty, OR because the cat has a urinary tract problem that causes pain, and the cat associated the litter box with that pain. In either case, punishing him for it is just plain WRONG!
One of my co-workers asked me how to stop his cat from relieving herself all over the house; he thought it was due to a behavioral issue or the fact that his daughter hadn’t cleaned the box enough (but, the problem continued after he took over the job). I told him to go to the vet; turns out she had a UTI. When they finished the antibiotics, she was still urinating outside the box. Back to the vet she went, and her retest showed crystals in her urine, so she went on prescription food. Now, she’s clear, and they are using enzyme cleaner and gentle encouragement to retrain her to the box, because she’s been afraid of it (except for doing no. 2) for quite a while. They are also eliminating possible sources of excess minerals from her diet.
My Audrey was urinating on her bed and in the bathtub for a while, and I finally figured out she’d decided she liked the litter I had bought when I couldn’t find her regular litter better than the regular litter (plus she seemed quite pleased when I bought her a different style of litter box in case that was part of her issue).
The point is, if you do a little detective work, it can save you and your cat from long-lasting animosity or the major heartbreak of rehoming.
Anyway, my friends and I have had great success with enzyme cleaner, especially Nature’s Miracle, for urine, hairballs, vomit and pretty much everything else in the “ew, gross” category.
Rubbing a cat or dog’s nose in urine or feces is so wrong! Why do humans have to act so awful to helpless animals? Use your heads people.
Take your cat to the vet IMMEDIATELY! Even faster if it’s male! Especially an un-neutered male.
That behavior, urinating in plain sight and on things that make it very obvious (such as your bed!), is a sure sign of a urinary tract infection or bladder infection. Since they can’t tell us verbally, it’s the best way they know to tell us something isn’t right.
We had a neutered boy who actually peed on my husband’s head while he was asleep!!! Uummm, how weird and disgusting is that? Needless to say, $200 later he was digging away in the boxes again! Whew!!!
And, if the vet says all’s well…then you got a problem. Have you tried putting a cat box in your room?
Add 2 cap fulls of listerine to your laundry – trust me – I had 2 male unnuetred cats and this works WONDERS. Als oI’d reccommend getting the cat spayed or neutred ASAP.
My cat occasionally “poops” out of the box… Always for a reason… new litter, not enough litter in the pan, new cat food, etc.
I carry him over to the spot; Set him down *near* it and hold him down gently so he know’s exactly what’s up. I tell him (very firmly) that he’s been a bad boy. If he did it in a really bad place, I’ll tap his nose gently. He runs off, hides under the nearest chair, etc. When he comes to sit next to me, I say “Hi, baby..” He’ll come out, sit next to me, at which point I pet him and he starts purring.
Note that he poops in non-rug areas (unless he’s sick or pissed) Bathtub, or shower stall first. I don’t discuss, I just figure out why. If he repeats the next day, I guessed wrong. If I still don’t get it, he’ll use a stone floor. If he uses the throw rug in front of my sinks, or in front of my bedroom door, then it’s attitude. In front of the litter box, it’s time for the vet.
If it’s just attitude [and I usually know why], he pees on clothes, towel, etc. I discuss those incidents differently. I take the item, and toss it “at” him while saying “Bad Boy” very, very firmly. He’ll take off, but when he comes to me. I do not invite him up next to me (usually I do it) He’ll “ask” and finally in a few minutes, he’ll go ahead and climb up next to me. I then pet him, tell him I love him, and all is good. He has apologized, I have accepted.
It works.
C’mon people. The thread is about how to remove cat urine odors from laundry. Not how to train the cat not to pee on it in the first place. A lot of folks are researching urine odor removel.