Cats typically come pre-programmed with the natural ability to litter train themselves. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be accidents. And if your pet cat loves to hang around the living room area, it just might pee on your couch.
And yes, we know. That sounds absolutely ghastly.
If your cat has ever peed outside of its litter box, it will soon be very evident to everyone around. Cat pee is noxious and will quickly stink up your whole house. And that’s not the worst thing about it either!
Cats usually urinate in the same spot where they can smell their previous pee. So, if you don’t get rid of the pee smell from the forbidden spot completely, your cat will pee on your couch again. And this can perpetuate a cycle that may lead to you needing a new sofa.
Fortunately, there are some tactics you can use to remove the stench and prevent the behavior from happening again.
The 3 Easy Ways to Clean Cat Urine Out of Your Sofa
When it comes to getting cat stains and odor out of your couch, you’re going to need to employ more than soap and water. Thankfully, there are some natural, safe cleaning solutions you can utilize to get the job done.
1. Vinegar
Even though vinegar can be just as smelly, it works wonders when getting rid of different kinds of foul odors. This is because vinegar kills the bacteria that cause the bad smell in the first place. It also contains acid that can neutralize the alkaline salts from the cat’s urine.
2. Baking Soda
You can also use baking soda to get rid of cat urine smell. This is very easy to find as you might already have it inside your pantry. It’s best to do this while your couch is outside, under the sun.
Important note when using baking soda: Baking soda can be dangerous to your cat if inhaled. Make sure that your cat is nowhere near the couch during the cleaning process. Ensure there are no remnants of baking soda left on the couch after you are finished.
3. Enzyme-Based Cleaners
These are among the most commonly used to eliminate odors and pet stains from mattresses, carpets, linens, and couches. Enzyme-based cleaners are effective in breaking down the acid in the urine which helps get rid of the foul smell.
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Cleaning Products to Avoid
Not every household cleaner is ideal for cleaning up cat pee. There are a couple of products you should avoid at all costs.
Ammonia
Ammonia is what causes the stinky smell from your cat’s urine. And it’s because of this reason you should avoid cleaning products that have ammonia in them. Your cat might mistake the ammonia cleaning solution for its pee and think it’s their designated spot to urinate.
Bleach
Although bleach is a common cleaning product, it might not be the best one to use for this situation. Bleach is a very strong solution that can ruin the color of your couch. Not only that, inhaling the smell of bleach can be dangerous for you and your cat.
Why Cats Pee on Your Couch
Instead of just cleaning up the urine, it’s important to tackle the root of the problem and understand the reason why your cat is not using its litter box.
Normally, if a cat is urinating in places they’re not supposed to, there’s a genuine underlying cause. They are not just being mean or sassy. Here are some of the primary offending issues:
What Happens If You Leave Cat Pee on Your Couch?
While leaving cat pee on your couch doesn’t sound like a great idea, sometimes the situation may be out of your control. For instance, if you had to leave your cat at home for an extended period, you may arrive home to a sofa full of pee.
But are there any real issues with it staying on your couch other than smell?
Cat urine is filled with nasty bacteria. As the bacteria decomposes, it releases a stench that is very similar to ammonia. When your cat pees on your couch, the bacteria will attach itself to the fabric. This not only makes it more stinky, but it also makes it harder to clean. Plus, this can lead to future illnesses from festering bacteria.
Once the cat pee dries, it might not leave any stains, making it difficult to know which spot to clean. And when your cat smells its pee on your couch, it may perceive that location as its pee spot. It will keep peeing on your couch until you get rid of the smell completely.
This is why it’s so important to clean the cat pee out of the couch as quickly as possible. This, coupled with ensuring that your cat’s intended bathroom area is clean and usable, will hopefully make an accident on the couch a very rare occurrence.
Featured Image Credit: cunaplus, Shutterstock
