Detecting cat urine isn’t as simple as it sounds.  Unless you catch your cat in the act, the cat urine odor won’t always be detectable until a few days have passed.  Even then, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the cat urine smell, especially if the odor is strong. 

Blacklight

One of the best ways to pinpoint the location of cat urine is with the use of a blacklight.  Cat urine glows under a blacklight, and that makes it easy to find and clean.  Simply shine the blacklight at the suspected area and look for the bright glowing spots.  Then, you can apply a cleaning solution to the glowing spots.

There are several different models of blacklights available.  I prefer the bar style but there are also flashlight-style blacklights available too. 

Scratching and Fake Digging

When your cat urinates in his litter box, he will usually bury it with a digging motion with his paw.  If you find your cat doing the same digging motion outside of the litter box, chances are good that he’s urinated there (or about to).  Grab a blacklight and see.

The Old-Fashioned Way

Of course, there’s always the old fashioned way – using your nose!  If you can stomach it, get close to the ground with your nose and sniff out the source of the cat urine odor.  Try to find the place with the strongest odor, and apply a liberal amount of cleaning solution over the entire area.