By Jennifer Sellers, Petfinder contributor There’s an unwanted guest in your home. It welcomes you each time you enter a room; it even greets your guests. No, it’s not your beloved kitty; it’s the odor of her urine. You’re not stuck with this uninvited presence, though. There a number of ways you can kick it to the curb. 1. Remove as much urine as possible. The less urine there is, the less you’ll have to deep clean. So when you notice that your cat has urinated somewhere outside of her litter box, clean up as much of it as you can as soon as you can. If the puddle was made on carpet or furniture, The Humane Society of the United States recommends blotting the area with an absorbent paper towel. This won’t get up all of the urine, but it will leave less of it behind for you to have to treat later. If your cat has urinated on linens, clothing or drapes, wash them or have them dry-cleaned as soon as possible. The longer urine stays on fabric, the more stubborn its odor becomes.

Detergents with baking soda or enzymatic additives are best for cleaning items that have urine odor. If the urine is on a wall or other hard surface, wipe it down with a wet rag. 2. Break down the stain and smell with an enzymatic cleaner. Many non-protein-based carpet and fabric deodorizers alone won’t be able to handle the strong, pervasive odor of cat urine. Cats have a stronger sense of smell than people, so even if you can’t smell leftover urine, your cat might – making it more likely that she’ll soil the area again. A spray made with enzymes that target pet urine can help break down the urine and make it less likely that your cat will return. There are a number of these products in pet stores and home improvement stores. Just be sure to use it as instructed. (The potency of many enzymatic cleaners can be weakened by contact with other cleaning chemicals.) 3. Clean the area with an extracting wet vac but avoid steam cleaners. Extracting carpet cleaners expel clean water onto carpet or fabric then suck dirty water back into the tank.

This can be a great way to rinse the area, especially if you’re dealing with carpeting. It’s important to follow the directions carefully. The HSUS recommends using cool, clean water in the wet vac. You should also avoid using steam cleaners. how long for air purifier to clean roomIntense heat can actually cause odors to set into the fibers of carpet and upholstery more stubbornly.daisy bb gun cleaning kit 4. Follow-up with a baking soda-based air freshener. how to clean air ducts yourselfSodium bicarbonate, the substance baking soda is comprised of, is great at absorbing odors. One way to put it to use against urine odor is to sprinkle it on the carpet or furniture after you’ve cleaned your cat’s urine and the area has thoroughly dried.

After sprinkling, let it sit for an hour or longer, then vacuum it up. Sprinkle the mixture on your carpet, let it sit for 10-20 minutes, then vacuum. You can store any extra in an airtight container. 5. Find ways to prevent future accidents. The more urine your cat adds to your home, the harder it’s going to keep the odor at bay. So the best way to fight this stench is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. This may include any number of methods: Companionship with a cat can be rewarding — so can keeping a home. Don’t let urine odor ruin either experience.An unneutered cat is likely to spray urine on your favorite couch. Cats mark their territory with urine, something that can become unpleasant quickly if your kitty is marking inside your home. Repeated marking can leave your home smelling stinky, a situation that requires some detective work to locate the source of the odors and cleaning to neutralize them. Finding the Mess Finding the source of the urine smell can be harder than you think, even if you follow your nose.

To help, purchase a black light, usually found in pet supply stores, to locate older urine stains that aren't obvious to the naked eye; corners and spaces behind furniture are prime targets for spraying. Chemicals in urine and other biological fluids glow brightly under the light. Mark these spots with tape or stickers to find them again with the lights on. Solid Surfaces Cats usually spray on vertical surfaces such as walls. Soak up any fresh urine with dry paper or cloth towels. Wipe the surface again with towels dampened with a solution of water and 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Don't use vinegar on fresh urine, which is more acidic than dried urine, according to "The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Cat Care." The peroxide neutralizes and cleans the urine away without further acidifying it, preventing residual odors. For dried urine, make a solution of one part white vinegar and one part water and spritz it on the affected surfaces. Vigorously wipe away set-in stains with a scrub brush or sponge.

For stubborn stains, scrub with a paste of baking soda and water. Repeat until the urine doesn't show up under the black light when the surface is dry. Washable Items Soak soiled items such as blankets, curtains, drapes and slipcovers with water to remove the urine before wringing them out. Douse stains with enzymatic pet cleaning solution and allow the solution to work overnight. These cleaners, which are available at pet supply stores, contain enzymes to break down the chemicals in the urine and bacteria that digest them, removing the scent of the urine and any stinky pheromones it contains. Wash the items in regular laundry detergent and 1 to 2 cups baking soda, depending on the size of the load, or 1 cup of vinegar to neutralize any residual odors. Run your items through two washing cycles and dry them outdoors in the sun to prevent locking in any remaining odors with the heat of the dryer. Upholstery Wet the upholstery with club soda and press down on the surface with paper towels to blot up residual urine.

Douse the stains with an enzymatic pet cleaner and allow the cleaner to dry over a period of 24 to 48 hours. Repeat the procedure up to three times if needed. After treatment, sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it to sit for a few days before vacuuming. The baking soda absorbs any residual odors. Carpeting Carpet smells are the hardest to eliminate because the urine can soak down to the floor padding and sub-floor. Wet the area with water and vacuum up the moisture with a carpet cleaning machine or wet vacuum. Repeat this procedure several times to eliminate as much of the urine as you can. Pour an enzymatic cleaner liberally over the area and let it soak down to the padding. Let the area dry for a few days and then clean the area with a solution of one part vinegar to 10 parts water. Don't use a steam cleaner, which can lock in odors instead of getting rid of them. You might have to pull up the carpet to reach the padding and sub-floor and treat those separately with an enzymatic cleaner.

Kitty Issues The No. 1 reason most cats spray is the urge to mate and mark territory. Spaying and neutering your cat eliminates this behavior in up to 90 percent of cases, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Urine marking also can indicate a medical issue, so it may be time for your furbaby to visit the vet. Anti-anxiety medications can help healthy kitties who urine mark; ask your vet about that option. Don't punish your little guy for urine marking -- it only increases stress and leads to more marking. Instead, keep your furbaby's litter box extra clean by scooping it twice a day. Special pheromone sprays, found in most pet supply stores, contain chemicals that help calm your cat and reduce his desire to mark. Use these around your home. References Veterinary Partner: Feline House SoilingAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Urine Marking in CatsVetstreet: Why Has Our Cat Started Spraying?The Humane Society of the United States: Marking TerritoryPetWave: Why Cats Spray UrineThe Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Cat Care;