Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Home > Cats > How to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell Outside – 5 Possible Ways

How to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell Outside – 5 Possible Ways

Cat Pee Spray

The smell of cat pee is an extremely unpleasant smell, even if it’s not inside your house. Oftentimes, male cats will mark, leaving behind pungent-smelling urine on surfaces. Stray cats will urinate wherever they feel is suitable, which may be in your flower bed or garden.

If you have cats peeing outside your house, whether it’s your cat or someone else’s, it’s important to know how to get rid of the smell. Otherwise, you may end up feeling like a prisoner to the cat pee smell in your own yard.

divider-cat

The Top 5 Ways to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell Outside

1.  Enzymatic Cleaners

Cleaning spray
Image Credit: polina_tankilevitch, Pexels
Efficacy 4.5/5
Ideal for Outdoor furniture, concrete, siding, brick, wood
Ease of use 4.5/5

Enzymatic cleaners are the top way to eliminate cat urine odors. These cleaners are formulated with enzymes that essentially consume the bacteria that cause lingering odors, eliminating them forever. They can be used on everything from furniture to hard surfaces, and some can even be used on shrubs and grass.

These cleaners are easy to use and widely available. For large spaces, commercial enzymatic cleaners may get expensive quickly. It may be necessary to determine the heaviest bad odor areas, and use the enzymatic cleaner in those areas. Use some of the more affordable DIY options for other areas.

Pros
  • Effective
  • Can be used on multiple surfaces
  • Permanently eliminates odors
Cons
  • May be expensive for large spaces

Our favorite enzyme cleaner is the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray because it permanently removes even the very worst pet stains and smells you can imagine (and makes clean-up a breeze). They even offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle and freshen up your home today.

Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
  • ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...
  • FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...
  • FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical...

At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!


2. DIY Cleaning Solutions

Baking Soda Lemon
Image Credit: otoHelin, Shutterstock
Efficacy 4/5
Ideal for Outdoor furniture, concrete, siding, brick, wood, plants
Ease of use 4.5/5

Although slightly less effective than commercial enzymatic cleaners, DIY cleaning solutions can be highly effective against cat urine odors. Typically, these solutions are made with a base of baking soda, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. Like enzymatic cleaners, they neutralize and eliminate odors at their source, making the unpleasant odor go away forever.

DIY cleaning solutions are a very affordable option, even for large areas. They are easy to make and use, and they are safe for most surfaces. Some DIY solutions may take the color out of fabrics, so make sure to test for colorfastness before using it all over an item. Most DIY cleaning solutions are safe enough to be used on and around most plants as well.

Pros
  • Easy to make and use
  • Permanently eliminates odors
  • Safe for most surfaces
Cons
  • May take the color out of some fabrics

3. Strategic Planting

maine coon cat in the garden
Image Credit: Mirt Alexander, Shutterstock
Efficacy 3.5/5
Ideal for Gardens, flowerbeds, planters
Ease of use 3/5

The strategic use of plants to combat cat pee smells outdoors is a great natural way to cover odors and deter more urination. Strategic planting combines pleasant-smelling plants and plants that may work to deter cats. Some plants are naturally deterrent to many cats and produce pleasant-smelling blooms, like lavender. Others produce a pleasant smell all on their own, like lemon thyme and rosemary.

Obviously, this solution isn’t the top pick for everyone because it does require the planting and care of plants. One benefit is that many of the plants used for strategic planting are herbs that can have many uses for things like cooking and teas. Others can be cut for bouquets and to bring pleasant smells inside your home as well.

Pros
  • Produces pleasant smells
  • Many plants have multiple uses and benefits
  • Improves the appearance of your property
Cons
  • Requires the planning of planting and care of plants

4. Commercial Deterrents

spraying a cat repellant in the house
Image Credit: Squirrel_photos, Pixabay
Efficacy 3/5
Ideal for Anywhere
Ease of use 4.5/5

While commercial deterrents won’t do anything for the urine odors you’re already dealing with, they can help keep cats from coming back to certain areas to continue peeing. They are not always effective, though, so they’re best used in conjunction with other options.

Using commercial deterrents can help protect your property, and they come in various forms, including ultrasonic deterrents and sprays. Because of the variety that commercial deterrents are available in, they can be used just about anywhere you need to use them, and they can suit most budgets.

Pros
  • Keeps cats from coming back
  • Available in a variety of forms
  • Can be used almost anywhere
Cons
  • Works best when used in conjunction with other products

5. DIY Deterrents

Vinegar and Baking Soda
Image Credit: _JPC-PROD, Shutterstock
Efficacy 3/5
Ideal for Anywhere
Ease of use 4/5

DIY deterrent solutions are an inexpensive way to help keep cats from coming back to pee on your property. These solutions can be made quickly and easily with a variety of products most people already have around the house, like vinegar, dish soap, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper powder.

This is a good option if you have a large property or a cat (or multiple cats) urinating diffusely across the property. DIY deterrents are affordable and tend to be very safe for plants, furniture, and anywhere else you may need to use them. They can also help deter other animals from your property, like rabbits.

Pros
  • Inexpensive
  • Can be made quickly and easily
  • Good option or large properties
Cons
  • Not effective against existing smells

divider-cat

Additional Steps to Eliminate Cat Pee Odors

When working to eliminate cat pee odors on your outdoor surfaces, it’s a good idea to use the enzymatic cleaner and make sure to press or scrub it into the surfaces. Going back over the cleaned area with soapy water helps ensure that any physical waste or debris on the surface is fully removed, allowing the enzymatic cleaner to do a better job. If needed, you can go over the surface with the enzymatic cleaner a second time.

cat peeing on concrete ground
Image Credit: nanniezwawa, Shutterstock

divider-cat

Conclusion

Cat pee odors can be very strong and unpleasant, as well as quite difficult to remove. It may take multiple products and steps to fully eliminate cat pee odors. Unfortunately, if you don’t find a way to keep the cat from coming back to pee in the same place again, the odor will never go away. You will always be fighting against the stinky smell, so make sure you combine your cleaning efforts with some form of deterrent.


Featured Image Credit: Helen Liam, Shutterstock

Our vets

Want to talk to a vet online?

Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers!

Our vets