How to Get Cat Pee Out of a Mattress

Are you tired of sniffing your way through the house, looking for the source of the cat pee smell only to discover it’s coming from your mattress and bedding? Explore how to get cat pee out of a mattress and stop it from happening in the first place with these incredible and easy urine removal tips and tricks.

Several other factors also contribute to the easily identifiable nature of cat pee, with the most prominent being diet. Urine is metabolic waste from the body, containing uric acid, creatine, urea, and other organic compounds. When bacteria mix with urea, it makes ammonia, that eye-watering smell that burns your nose.

Cats are what science calls obligate carnivores, which means their diet is primarily protein-based, or in simple terms, cats love meat. Your cat uses protein to build amino acids in its body, and one of those is called felinine. The amino acid felinine allows cat urine to stick even during heavy rain and other environmental factors; no wonder it won’t wash off with soap and water.

Amazing Tips for Getting Cat Pee Out of a Mattress

Cat urine belongs in the litter box, not a puddle on your mattress and bedding. While cat urine cleanup poses unique challenges, it’s easy once you know the tricks and the science behind effective removal.

Discover how to clean cat urine from your mattress, pillowcases, sheets, and more with safe, pet-friendly tutorials and advice. Learn the behavior that sparks litter box avoidance, and get pointers on how to prevent it from happening in the future. Ours is the cat pee cleanup guide you need to restore order in your home.

Blot Fresh Pet Urine Right Away

Getting cat pee out of a mattress or cleaning any pet urine requires specific steps for cleanup to go smoothly. If you notice a fresh puddle of cat urine, reach for a blotter immediately. A good blotting material should be absorbent and disposable; choose some paper towel, newspaper, or pet pee pads to sponge the stain.

The idea is to lift the moisture up and out of the fabric, not push it deeper into the fibers. Start at the perimeter of the urine puddle and gently press your blotting material around the edges, slowly soaking up the pee and working toward the center; don’t spread the stain around by scrubbing.

For an extensive urine cleanup, wear disposable gloves and possibly even a light facemask to stop from inhaling concentrated cat pee smell.

Keep a plastic bag handy to dispose of urine-soaked materials. Deposit it in an outdoor garbage receptacle, never indoors if you can help it, as this could encourage other animals in your home to urinate around your kitchen garbage bin.

Always Use Cold Water on Cat Pee Stains

There are many kinds of stains, which means temperatures and treatments can easily confuse a novice stain fighter. The trick to eliminating pet urine is to remember that it is a protein-based substance, and protein-based stains need cold water.

Our common sense brain tells us that hot water kills bacteria and makes things extra clean. While that is true for stains like dirt and oil, hot water and hot temperatures intensify cat pee odor tenfold and actually bake urine particles into the fibers.

If you need to know how to clean cat pee out of a mattress and do it right the first time, clean it with icy cold water. Fill a bucket or a spray bottle, and soak the fresh or dried urine stain, leaving it to sit for a moment before blotting the pet stains with a few sheets of paper towel or a disposable sponge.

Try Cedarwood Oil and Baking Soda to Absorb Cat Pee

Removing a cat pee stain from the mattress is about absorption; you want to trap as much moisture as possible without allowing the stain to spread to the surrounding area. Learn how to make a baking soda and cedarwood essential oil deodorizer with pet-safe ingredients to conquer cat urine odor in your bedroom.

Cedarwood oil is the most potent antibacterial on the list of pet-safe essential oils. It pairs nicely with odor-absorbing baking soda. Use a fork and a whisking motion to blend the oil and baking soda. Sprinkle a healthy layer over the urine and leave it to absorb for several hours; shut your bedroom door to keep curious kids and pets out.

Be advised that the phenols in some essential oils are toxic for our feline friends. Cats lack the liver enzyme necessary to process or metabolize phenol, which makes exposure often fatal. Always check the label before using any essential oil to treat pet urine stains in your home, and consult your vet with any concerns.

How to Clean Cat Pee Out of a Mattress With Peroxide

Wouldn’t it be great to have a do-it-yourself cleaner made from simple, safe ingredients? Discover how to get cat urine out of a mattress with hydrogen peroxide using this quick and easy tutorial.

Strong cat urine smell is tough to eliminate with household ingredients, but not impossible. Hydrogen peroxide does a great job cleaning the urine stain with oxidation instead of just masking it like many store-bought options.

Mix a batch of this cleaner in an old spray bottle; use a dark bottle because prolonged exposure to sunlight causes hydrogen peroxide to become ineffective. Spray the urine stain and blot it away with a clean cloth or some paper towels.

How to Get Cat Pee Out of a Mattress With Enzymes

Cat urine contains complex chemical bonds from ingredients like urea, uric acid, creatines, pheromones, and several types of bacteria. As the cat pee dries, bacteria break down the urea, creating an odor that only worsens with the release of stinky thiols.

Further, uric acid deposits salt or crystals that aren’t water-soluble – you can’t simply wash them away. Perhaps most unfortunately, the uric acid component of cat urine gives it a six-year half-life, which means the time it takes to reduce the initial smell by half if left untreated.

Traditional chemical and carpet cleaners aren’t equipped to destroy the sophisticated natural tenacity of cat urine. In many cases, a specialized enzymatic cleaner is the only way to break down and remove all the organic components of cat pee and urine odor. While these cleaners are sometimes pricey, the results are worth the money.

Making an Enzymatic Cleaner for Cat Pee

If you want the results of an enzymatic cleaner without the price tag, we have a DIY recipe that can work wonders on your cat pee problem. Learn how to clean cat pee out of a mattress and eliminate the smell by making a simple enzymatic cleaner.

Chop up three parts worth of fresh citrus peels and add them to a half-gallon Mason jar with the other ingredients; the recipe scales up or down as long as you use these ratios. Put your homemade enzymatic cleaner in a dark place. Return every five days to open the lid and release any trapped gasses.

The only drawback to homemade enzyme cleaners is that they take about three months to ferment. However, if you have time and want to make a batch to keep in the cabinet for emergencies, this is a great place to begin your enzyme cleaner journey.

How to Get Cat Spray off Your Bed

It makes much more sense when considering cat urine’s purpose in the wild. Cat urine is like an early warning system for other animals; it says, “You should turn around now because a fierce predator lives here.”

When it comes to cats, urination and spraying aren’t quite the same. Cats usually squat to pee, but if you notice your cat standing, wiggling their tail, and dispersing urine particles up the wall, that’s territorial spraying, which is pungent.

An unneutered male cat has the most potent smell because of the increased testosterone levels. The only way to dissolve and destroy the aggressive odor associated with cat spray is with a quality enzymatic cleaner. Treat the area as directed on the bottle, and see our tips for prevention at the end of this article.

How to Clean Cat Urine From a Memory Foam Mattress

Let’s talk about how to get cat pee out of a mattress made of memory foam. Any memory foam mattress absorbs a fresh pee stain faster than traditional mattress material – quick action is essential for success. Make a simple vinegar spray to neutralize odor and bacteria before it sets.

When treating a mattress stain, address the excess moisture first. Use something absorbent, like a paper towel, to soak up the puddle. Spray the area with the vinegar mixture and let it sit for half an hour. Spray again, and blot the stain away with more paper towels or a clean cloth; repeat this process as required.

As a bonus, most memory foam mattresses come with a removable cover; look for the zipper and remove the cover for washing on the cold water cycle. Choose a laundry detergent that contains enzymes, or add half a cup of white vinegar to boost the washing cycle.

Get Cat Pee Out of Sheets and Pillowcases

There are many casualties in the battle against cat pee; the sheets, pillowcases, and other bed linens probably need a wash, too. Many of us don’t have crisp white hotel linens, so we need color-safe laundry detergent options that still pack a punch; enter oxygenated bleach.

If the toxic chemicals and overpowering smell of chlorine bleach aren’t for you, seek a more natural alternative like oxygen bleach. All oxygenated bleach is made with a plant-derived product called sodium percarbonate; oxygen bleach breaks apart into potent oxygen molecules when exposed to water, lifting pee out of fabrics and fibers easily.

Clean Cat Pee From a Feather Comforter

Cleaning cat pee out of the mattress is one thing, but what about a fussy feather comforter? These kinds of blankets often inspire fear regarding stain removal. Can you wash them, and would it ruin the feathers inside?

Check the manufacturer’s care instructions on the tag; some high-end comforters are labeled dry-clean only. However, if your comforter has machine wash instructions, you’re in luck. Start with a vinegar or hydrogen peroxide spot treatment to loosen the urine particles. Soak up excess cat pee before using the washing machine.

Set your washing machine temperature to cold, and use the gentle cycle option to avoid damage to the comforter. The feathers inside the comforter discolor when wet; don’t worry. Place your comforter in the dryer on a gentle low-heat cycle, and enjoy your cozy, clean comforter fresh out of the wash.

Cleanse Cat Pee With a Portable Carpet Cleaner

There’s nothing wrong with convenience, especially if you have kittens or elderly pets prone to accidents. A portable carpet cleaner designed with pets in mind is a great way to fight cat urine stains on the go while saving money on traditional carpet cleaning.

Many affordable options have endless design features to suit your needs and stain removal budget. Some units are cordless, and some are handheld; they’re all capable of cleaning both vomit and pee smell. Check out sales in your area, and put these super-convenient inventions to use.

Call the Professionals for Extensive Pet Urine Cleanup

Sometimes all the home remedies in the world can’t solve the problem that a single professional could. Contact your local cleaning and restoration professional in cases of extreme or long-term pet urine stains.

Getting set-in pee stains out of materials like wood, grout, and carpet is often too challenging for an amateur to conquer. Assess the damage, and use your best judgment on whether you might benefit from a professional’s opinion and assistance.

Why Does the Cat Pee Outside the Litter Box?

Of course, getting cat pee out of a mattress is only part of the solution. There are generally two main reasons your cat urinates outside the litter box. It could be physical; perhaps some discomfort or negative experience associated with the litter box contributes to litter avoidance.

The second reason could be territorial insecurity or anxiety. Are there other cats in your home or neighborhood contributing to this insecurity? Are other indoor cats competing for resources or bullying while the other animals use the litter box?

The most important idea to remember is that cats aren’t capable of being vindictive. They are, however, prone to urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and behavioral concerns that exacerbate the chances of urinating outside the litter box. If you’ve eliminated territorial anxiety, consult your vet immediately for assistance.

Cat Pee Prevention at Home

Vets and behavioral experts recommend one more litter box than cats in a home; if you have two cats, you should ideally have three litter boxes. Additionally, some cats won’t pee in a covered litter box or prefer a certain kind of litter. Be patient and experiment with your cat until you get it nailed down.

If you believe your cat is spraying because neighborhood toms are hanging out in your yard, think about deterrent methods like a few motion-activated water sprayers for cats.

Invest in a rubber mattress protector to preserve your bed in case of accidents, and be vigilant for changes in your cat’s behavior. Shut your bedroom doors to keep the cat away from your sleeping space.

Cats are territorial animals; from the tip of their noses to the bottom of their cute little toes, cats are compelled to establish and mark territory. Does this mean everyone with a cat suffers from cat pee smell and surprise urine puddles?

Absolutely not; each cat is different, and some cats never pee outside the litter box. However, if you are on the receiving end of unwelcome pet urination at home, learning how to get cat pee out of a mattress and why cats pee there in the first place should help demystify the problem for you.

Treat every urine stain with cold water, and avoid cleaners that mask the urine odor with another scent; you’ll only end up with floral-scented cat pee. Instead, opt for an incredible enzymatic cleaner or oxygenated bleach to wash away the urine particles and preserve your mattress and bedding for another day.

If you enjoyed learning how to get cat pee out of a mattress, share these practical and pet-friendly urine-fighting tips with friends on Pinterest and Facebook.