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How to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots: 4 Methods & Instructions

Written by: Hallie Roddy

Last Updated on February 21, 2024 by kiko87123789

cats sleeping near leather boots

How to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots: 4 Methods & Instructions

Leather is a beautiful and expensive textile that lasts for years. Unfortunately, it is also naturally porous and absorbs odors and stains easily. There are several plausible reasons why your cat might be going to the bathroom outside their litter box, and it’s painful to discover that they did so on your fine leather boots!

The quicker you can remove the urine stain, the more likely you are to save your boots and other leather goods from permanently smelling like ammonia.

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Before You Start

cleaning materials
Image Credit: congerdesign, Pixabay

Before examining the different ways to get cat urine out of leather boots, take a little time to gather all the supplies you’ll need. When you have everything right in front of you, it is easier to move quickly and tend to the pee stain as soon as possible. As we said before, time is of the essence when dealing with leather.

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The 4 Ways to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots

1. Create an All-Natural Cleaner

water spray-pixabay
Credit: Squirrel_photos, Pixabay

Here’s a list of what items you’ll need at your side to clean cat urine out of leather boots using the all-natural cleaning method.

DIY All Natural Cleaner for Cat Urine

Materials

  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • Clean spray bottle
  • Towel or absorbent cloth

Instructions

  • Take a towel or absorbent cloth and soak up as much of the urine as possible, if possible.
  • Mix up a concoction of one part vinegar, one part water.
  • Add a teaspoon of baking soda to remove the odor.
  • Pour the mixture into your spray bottle.
  • Shake the spray bottle vigorously to mix the components.
  • Lightly mist the affected area. Be careful not to over-saturate.
  • Allow the vinegar baking soda to sit for 15 minutes.
  • Gently blot off the mixture.
  • Take a fresh damp cloth and gently remove the mixture fully.
  • Allow the boots to dry.
  • If the boots still smell of urine, repeat.
  • If the boots still smell of urine, repeat.
    *Additional Tip: If you need extra cleaning power, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to your mixture to help take care of both odors and stains.

Notes

Image Credit: Freer, Shutterstock

2. Baking Soda

Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is a safe and natural solution for cleaning cat pee off your leather boots. Baking soda is powerful against cat pee and other strong odors. Place old newspaper or paper towels on a work surface and set your boots on top of them.

Liberally sprinkle the baking soda on your shoes, the inside, and even the bottom soles. Allow the powder to sit on the shoes for a couple of hours or overnight. Vacuum up the loose powder and smell them to ensure that all the odor was absorbed. If they still stink a little, repeat the process or try another cleaning solution.


3. Vinegar

natural destilled white vinegar in spray bottle to remove stains
Image Credit: FotoHelin, Shutterstock

Vinegar is another natural product that helps neutralize bad odors and is something that any pet owner should keep in their house at all times. To clean stained leather boots or shoes, mix one part of white vinegar with two parts of warm, soapy water. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mix.

Once stirred together, rub the solution all over the shoes to help the pores absorb it. Wipe the shoes down with a clean, damp cloth and allow them to dry in a well-ventilated area. You can also leave them outside for a few hours to air them out.


4. Cat Urine Enzyme Cleaners

If you’d prefer to try something more powerful, there are plenty of enzyme cleaners for cat urine on the market. Since water alone isn’t enough to eliminate the nasty smell, enzymatic cleaners are one of the next best options. The cleaners are designed specifically for cat urine, and some are formulated for leather goods.

Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
  • ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...
  • FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...
  • FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical...

The Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is our favorite enzyme cleaner out there. It permanently removes even the very worst kitty stains and smells, leaving your home fresh and clean! Click here to learn more about this amazing product and get yourself a bottle.

At Catster, 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!

Spray your leather boots with the enzymatic cleaner and follow the label’s instructions. The cleaner usually sits for 15 to 20 minutes for the best results. You have to be careful, however, that the cleaner doesn’t change the color of the leather permanently.

  • Enzymatic pet odor cleaner and odor neutralizer of choice
  • Paper towels and cleaning cloths
  • Olive oil
  • Saddle soap
  • Spray bottle (If enzyme cleaner is not already in a bottle)

1. Use the paper towels to blot away any urine on the boots. This will help you avoid issues with the excess running down while you work or settling in on the soles of the boots.

2. Spray your enzyme cleaner on the stain. It is vital to cover the entire area. You need to go slightly over the edges to ensure the cleaner does its job and begins the breakdown of the urine. Once covered, allow it to sit for 5 minutes.

3. Using a damp cloth, wipe the entire area thoroughly. It is best to use a circular motion to work the enzyme cleaner thoroughly and penetrate the stain.

4. After thoroughly cleaning the stain, allow the boots to dry overnight. The area should be dry to the touch before continuing to the next step in the process.

5. Once dry, you need the saddle soap and a damp cloth. Carefully work the saddle soap over the affected area, again going beyond the affected area to thoroughly condition the stain. This will leave the leather looking better and eliminate any stains the cleaning process may have caused.

6. With the saddle soap applied, allow the boots to dry thoroughly again.

7. Apply 2–3 drops of olive oil to a clean cloth. Gently apply the oil to the leather to add moisture and protect against discoloration the cleaning process and urine may have caused.

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Why Did My Cat Pee On My Leather Boots?

Cats don’t usually go to the bathroom outside the litter box unless they have a good reason. What may seem minor to you is usually a big deal to your cat. One of the most common reasons that they urinate outside their litter box is because it’s dirty.

Cats are clean animals and don’t want to stand in their filth. Another reason may be that you don’t have enough litter boxes for the number of cats in the house. Most veterinarians recommend one litter box per cat plus one extra in multi-cat households. If neither of these is an issue, your cat may have a medical or behavioral issue.

Afterthoughts on Potty Issues

While cleaning the cat urine out of your leather boots is important, it is also crucial to understand why your cat is peeing outside their litter box. While it could be a behavioral issue, there could be more to it.

Dirty Litter Box

One of the most common reasons a cat will pee or poop outside of the litter box is untidy conditions. If you aren’t on top of scooping duties, they will find another place to go if they feel the box is too full. Unfortunately, one of the places can be on expensive leather boots.

cat lying on the wooden floor beside litter box
Image Credit: Tanya Plotnikova, Shutterstock

Litter Type

Another issue cat owners face is a cat who doesn’t like the type of litter. This can happen when you change litter frequently. Some brands can bother their paws or smell bad to them. If you find the litter your cat prefers, stick with it, especially if they are older.

Size & Location

Your cat needs a litter box that is easy to reach and big enough for them to use. If you’re a cat owner, you know most cats don’t immediately hop in and go. They turn once or twice and scratch the area. Ensure their litter box is large enough and in an area they can reach without going through many obstacles.

Stress

Cats are not fans of changes in their world. Whether you’ve brought home a new pet, expanded your family, or moved your cat, their stress can cause them to urinate around the house or on your personal items. Your cat may need time to adjust to the new situation.

cats sleeping near leather boots
Image Credit: Piqsels

Medical Problems

When a cat isn’t feeling well, they can act out. It is the best way they have of showing their owners there’s something wrong. When they choose to pee outside the litter box, the problem may be with their kidneys. If you notice the behavior and have addressed all other possible issues, contact your veterinarian. They will help you determine the underlying cause of the problem.

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Final Thoughts

While we love our feline friends, there isn’t much that smells worse than cat urine. Thankfully, there are a few simple, easy, and affordable options for cleaning urine stains and odors off of leather boots. Still, you can’t forget to address the real issue and need to spend time determining why they peed on your shoes in the first place.


Featured Image Credit: Piqsels

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