You found your favorite piece of wood furniture wet and there was an extremely strong smell of cat urine on it.
Before loosing your calm, assess if the wooden piece is still salvageable and research ways to eliminate the pungent smell. Remember though, that punishing your cat is a big NO-NO and may lead to more unwanted behavior from the cat.
The reason why your cat avoids her litter box and urinates everywhere else might be due to many reasons including behavioral issues, sickness, getting used to a new pet or human or protesting because of her dirty litter box.
Removing the urine should be done as fast as possible because it will only become harder to remove once it dries on the wood.
How to get cat urine out of wood furniture
A cat’s urine leaves an unpleasant and strong odor and when sprayed on wooden furniture, the smell may be difficult to remove once it has been absorbed by the wood surface.
The best way to fight urine is to clean it as soon as possible. After the liquid has been removed, it’s time to treat the stain and remove any lingering odors.
Here are the best ways to get cat urine out of wooden furniture:
1. Absorb liquid using paper towel
Use a paper towel and try to remove as much urine as possible, use a cloth towel or old clothes for larger spots. Do not rub abrasively, as that may damage the surface of the wood furniture or rub more of the urine into the wood.
2. Avoid using products with Ammonia
Do not use detergents with ammonia in them, it may encourage your cat to urinate on the spot again because of the “pee smell” of ammonia.
3. Invest on commercial products
Use commercial products found in pet stores to get rid of the smell. It is best to research what product is best depending on the type of wood and the severity of the damage. Look for products that contain enzymes because they break down the urine and neutralize the odor. Make sure you follow the instructions. You may also need to test the product on a hidden part of the furniture to see how it reacts to the wood and the finish.
4. Use household items
You may also try the following natural methods instead of commercial products:
Use the traditional way of cleaning using soap and water
Simply use water and soap to wash off the stain. Cat urine is visible under a black light, so you may want to buy or borrow one to see where the urine is and how much of it is there.
Equal parts of baking soda and vinegar to make a paste
Make a paste by mixing equal parts of vinegar and baking soda and rub it gently on the affected part of the furniture. This may be effective if the urine is still fresh because the combination of baking soda and vinegar can neutralize the effect of urine, on the other hand it may be less effective for old urine stains.
Wash off with vinegar and water
Another way is using water and vinegar. Try 1 1/2 cups of warm water and a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Pour this mixture over the stain and soak for about 3 to 5 minutes. After the water and vinegar solution is dry, sprinkle the area with a lot of baking soda.
Treat the dark stain with hydrogen peroxide
Soak a washcloth with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let it cover the stained area for a couple of hours or overnight if needed. Due to its discoloration and bleaching properties, it is best to check the area from time to time. Remove the washcloth once the stain has dissipated and let the spot air dry.
5. Seal the wood furniture once again
Reseal the wood using primer or sealer products available on the market. This may be effective for the short run, but it is not necessarily a permanent solution. Eventually the smell may seep through again.
6. Repaint to bring it back to its original form
If you have tried everything and the problem is still there, maybe it is time to say goodbye to that beautiful color of the furniture. If you are open to the idea of repainting, then that should be the quickest and easiest method to save your wood furniture.
Conclusion
Cat urine can be a real headache, but there are ways to get rid of both the stain and the smell.
For information on cat urine on other materials see our articles on how to get cat urine out of carpet and how to get cat urine out of hardwood floor.