After you’ve found a spot of cat urine on your floor, you’ll need to remove it right away, or it will smell worse and the cat will continue to urinate in that area.  Removing cat urine is easy, but the techniques and cleaning solutions vary depending on how bad the smell is and the surface.  Removing vomit is easier, but if your cat has vomited, you need to clean it up right away to prevent the odor from getting any worse.

Caution:  you should never use water to remove cat urine.  Water activates the smell in the crystallized urine and will only make the problem worse!

Removing Cat Urine from Carpet

To remove cat urine from carpet, apply the following steps:

1. Identify the exact location of the cat urine, using a blacklight if available.
2. Apply a liberal amount of cleaning solution to the area.  Ensure you are fully saturating the carpet and are fully covering the area, including the edges.
3. Allow the cleaning solution to sit for several minutes.  Follow the manufacturers directions, but most solutions require 5-10 minutes to sit.
4. Either allow the solution to air dry, or blot the area with a paper towel.  Do not rub. 

There are several different types of cleaning solutions available, depending on your situation.  I suggest the following:

• For minor to moderate carpet stains:  I suggest a product such as Nature’s Miracle or Petastic.  These are enzyme-based cleaners that use natural enzymes to “digest” the urine crystals and proteins.  They work best on carpet that isn’t overly soiled. 
  • Nature’s Miracle also offers an Advanced Formula for quicker dry times and more serious stains.
  • Both Nature’s Miracle and Petastic offer gallon sizes.  I suggest these larger sizes as they are often a better value than the spray bottles.
• For heavy or repeated carpet stains:  Use a product such as Urine Away or Urine Off.  These are more powerful cleaners that will do an excellent job at breaking down the urine crystals, completely removing the cat urine odor. 
  • Again, I suggest a gallon size of a product like this as it’s a better value.
• For deep stains that reach through the carpet and/or pad:  Your best bet will be to pull up the carpet and pad and treat the floor underneath the carpet with a product like Killz.  Killz will seal in any cat urine odor that has permeated the floor.  I also suggest a heavy amount of Urine Away or Urine Off on the carpet and pad above the treated area.
  • Please use caution with Killz as it emits a strong odor while it is being applied.  Work in a well-ventilated area, and consider breathing protection.

All of the products I recommend, with the exception of Killz, are natural and safe for your cats!

Removing Cat Urine from Non-carpet (wood, concrete, laminate, etc)

For non-carpet situations, your options are a little easier.  Again, do not use water as it will only make the odor problem worse.

• For most urine stains on all surfaces other than concrete:  Use a product such as Urine Away or Urine Off.  Apply some product to a paper towel and scrub the floor in the area of the stain.  Wipe clean with a dry paper towel.
  • I have not personally tried it, but you can also mop your floor with Urine Away or Urine Off if you have a really bad cat urine odor problem!
• For concrete or other permeable surfaces:  You will likely need to seal the odor in with a product like Killz.  Remember, Killz emits a strong odor and you must use breathing protection and work in a well-ventilated area. 

Removing Cat Vomit from Carpet

To remove cat vomit from carpet, apply the following steps:

1. With a paper towel (or several), remove as much of the solid matter as you can, as gently as you can.  Don’t press or grind it into the carpet.
2. Use a cleaning solution to soak the area.
3. Let the solution stand for 5-10 minutes, or as specified by the manufacturer.
4. Blot the carpet to remove the cleaning solution.  Unless the manufacturer says otherwise, don’t allow it to air-dry.
5. If there is still vomit left, repeat the steps.  You may also want to use a vacuum cleaner or carpet cleaner to remove the remainder.

Some additional tips:

• For food vomit, it’s usually easier to let the vomit dry for a few minutes before attempting to clean it.  Once it has dried, you can usually pick most of it up with a paper towel.
• Never scrub carpet.  You will only grind the vomit into the carpet and make it harder to remove.
• For hairballs, usually you can pick the majority of them up with a paper towel.  A quick spot of cleaning solution will usually finish the job. 
• Most cleaning solution isn’t safe for cats to drink, so don’t allow your cats near the area that’s being cleaned.  Or, use a pet-safe carpet cleaning solution, but you may sacrifice some performance.
• When you’re done, spray a product like Pure Ayre in the area to eliminate any residual odors.  Pure Ayre also works great for eliminating odors from stinky litter boxes!