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.
The 5 Best Ways to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell Outside 1. Enzymatic Cleaners Image Credit By: 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. 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.
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! Pros
Effective
Can be used on multiple surfaces
Permanently eliminates odors
Cons
May be expensive for large spaces
- DIY Cleaning Solutions Image Credit By: 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
- Strategic Planting 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
- Commercial Deterrents 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
- DIY Deterrents 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
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. Image Credit: nanniezwawa, Shutterstock
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. See also:
How to Find Cat Urine Without a Blacklight? What You Need To Know! How To Keep Ants Out of Your Cat’s Food (10 Proven Methods) 10 Best Cat Urine, Odor & Stain Removers in the UK in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Helen Liam, Shutterstock
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.
The 5 Best Ways to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell Outside
1. Enzymatic Cleaners
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.
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.
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!
Pros
Effective
Can be used on multiple surfaces
Permanently eliminates odors
Cons
May be expensive for large spaces
2. DIY Cleaning Solutions
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.
Effective
Can be used on multiple surfaces
Permanently eliminates odors
- Effective
- Can be used on multiple surfaces
- Permanently eliminates odors
May be expensive for large spaces
- May be expensive for large spaces
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
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.
Easy to make and use
Permanently eliminates odors
Safe for most surfaces
- Easy to make and use
- Permanently eliminates odors
- Safe for most surfaces
May take the color out of some fabrics
- May take the color out of some fabrics
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
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.
Produces pleasant smells
Many plants have multiple uses and benefits
Improves the appearance of your property
- Produces pleasant smells
- Many plants have multiple uses and benefits
- Improves the appearance of your property
Requires the planning of planting and care of plants
- Requires the planning of planting and care of plants
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
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.
Keeps cats from coming back
Available in a variety of forms
Can be used almost anywhere
- Keeps cats from coming back
- Available in a variety of forms
- Can be used almost anywhere
Works best when used in conjunction with other products
- Works best when used in conjunction with other products
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
Inexpensive
Can be made quickly and easily
Good option or large properties
- Inexpensive
- Can be made quickly and easily
- Good option or large properties
Not effective against existing smells
- Not effective against existing smells
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.
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.
See also:
- How to Find Cat Urine Without a Blacklight? What You Need To Know!
- How To Keep Ants Out of Your Cat’s Food (10 Proven Methods)
- 10 Best Cat Urine, Odor & Stain Removers in the UK in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Helen Liam, Shutterstock
