Skip to Content

9 Tips to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of a Couch

Please share!

*This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclaimer for additional details..

When your cat uses your couch as its litter box, removing the smell and stain can be challenging.

Once you get a whiff of the unpleasant odor, you must act quickly to neutralize the smell. Doing this ensures your cat does not repeat the unhygienic habit.

Due to the strong odor of cat urine, you will need more than just soap and water to get the smell out of your couch. Eliminating a cat pee odor requires a special kind of treatment.

In this article, we discuss tips on how to get the cat pee smell out of your couch. Thankfully, there are several safe cleaning solutions you can use to eliminate foul odors from your upholstery.

9 Tips to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of a Couch

Blot Up the Urine and Avoid Scrubbing

Once you find the spot with the cat pee, blot up as much urine as possible using an old rag or paper towels. That will ensure the pee does not seep deeper into the fabric.

Place the rag or paper towel on the spot and dab until you can no longer get any moisture.

cute cat sitting on the couch near her pee

Avoid scrubbing or rubbing when blotting the urine from your couch. Doing so can make the cat pee stain seep deeper into the couch fabric. And if this happens, the odor will get worse.

So when you blot, remember not to press too hard.

Cover the Spot and Let It Dry

After blotting the spot on the couch with the urine, you must keep it covered. Doing this will help keep your cat away from that area.

Keeping the spot covered with a fabric will continue absorbing the stain and ensure your couch dries quicker. You can also deodorize the area to prevent your cat from revisiting that spot.

Use an Upholstery Cleaning Machine

Woman cleaning sofa with yellow vacuum cleaner -

An upholstery cleaning machine is one of the most effective ways to eliminate cat pee odors from your couch. These high-powered cleaners come with scrubbing attachments that are ideal for removing stubborn odors from your couch.

Use the carpet cleaner attachment of the machine to soak the stain with a cleaning solution.

Then vacuum your couch to clean away the cat pee and cleaner that soaked the couch cushions.

With this machine, you do not have to worry about drenching the area with a cleaning solution since you can suck it all up when you finish.

However, it is crucial to note that it may take several rounds of soaking and vacuuming before the odor leaves your couch. Also, ensure you use a cleaning solution designed specifically to eliminate pet odors.

Use an Enzymatic Cleaner

woman spraying odor remover on the couch

An enzymatic cleaner is another effective method for removing the cat pee smell from your couch. Enzyme-based cleaners contain ingredients that neutralize the uric acid responsible for the foul odor in cat pee.

You can purchase an enzyme-based cleaner from any pet store.

An enzyme-based cleaner helps you eliminate cat pee odors with ease and is powerful enough to prevent your cat from becoming a repeat offender.

But if you are on a budget, you have the option of making a homemade enzyme-based cleaner. If you decide to make it yourself, note that the mixture requires at least a month to ferment.

Use the enzymatic cleaner to soak the spot with the pee stain thoroughly and let it sit overnight.

Depending on the cleaner, you may not have to rinse it off. You can leave until it dries out. You can also follow the instructions on the product label.

If the cat pee seeped through the couch cushions, you’ll have to remove their covers and work on them separately.

If the odor persists, you may have to re-treat the affected areas until you get rid of the smell and stain.

Vinegar Solution

Cleaning concept with vinegrar  cloth baking soda and lemons on white background

Vinegar is an effective all-purpose cleaner with odor-killing properties and is safe around your pets. Vinegar helps to break down and kill the bacteria in the cat pee producing the foul odors on your couch.

To make a vinegar solution, mix one-part white vinegar and three-parts warm water.

Pour this mixture over the area with the pee stain and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then, blot it with paper towels or an old rag until it dries. Repeat this process as many times as needed to eliminate the smell.

Note: certain fabrics may get stained from vinegar, so test a small spot before using it to clean the urine stain.

If you own a microfiber couch, apply undiluted vinegar and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes before blotting it with paper towels.

Baking Soda

baking soda box on black background

Baking soda is a versatile product known for its deodorizing and odor-combating properties. It can absorb and neutralize the foul smell from cat pee and treat any discoloration on your couch.

Baking soda is also ideal for those who cannot get their couch upholstery wet.

Baking soda is easy to use: All you do is sprinkle it generously over the areas with the unpleasant odor. Let the powder sit overnight and vacuum it up the next day.

However, if the baking soda alone cannot do the job, you can mix it with hydrogen peroxide or vinegar. Create a paste and apply it to the affected area. Let it sit until the paste dries, and vacuum the baking soda left behind.

While cleaning your couch, ensure your cat is far away from it. Also, thoroughly clean up the area sprinkled with baking soda once you finish. Note that baking soda can be dangerous if your cat inhales it.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is another product that effectively combats cat pee stains and odors. Since hydrogen peroxide is antibacterial, it is ideal for eliminating the cat pee smell from your couch.

You can apply hydrogen peroxide directly or mix it with dish soap.

Saturate the area with the pee stain with hydrogen peroxide and wipe off any residue. Let it sit for a while, then rinse the couch with cold water and blot it dry.

Before using hydrogen peroxide, test it on an inconspicuous spot to ensure it won’t bleach your couch fabric.

Contact a Professional Cleaning Service

Two skilled uniformed workers steam-cleaning couch cushion

If the cat pee odor persists after trying the above tips, you may have to contact a professional cleaning service. Professional cleaning services have experts with experience in removing cat pee odor and stains from your couch.

What Not to Do When Cleaning Cat Pee on Your Couch

Avoid Products That Contain Ammonia

Ammonia causes that unpleasant odor coming from the cat urine on your couch. As a result, you must avoid cleaning products that have ammonia.

If you use cleaning products that contain ammonia, your cat may mistake the odor for its urine. If this happens, your cat will continue to pee there.

Do Not Use Bleach

Bleach is a cleaning product used to clean, remove stains, and disinfect. However, using bleach to eliminate the cat pee odor from your couch is not ideal.

Bleach is a powerful solution that can discolor the fabric of your couch. Also, inhaling bleach can be hazardous to both you and your cat.

Resources: