Cats are usually cute and cuddly, but they have a smelly side to them, too. Not only does their cat litter box get stinky occasionally (especially when we forget to clean it!), but the area around our houses can also start to smell as time goes on due to cat urine or spray. You may not even own any cats, but you have to deal with cat odors around your house due to strays or neighbor cats that are allowed to spend time outdoors.
Regardless of the reason for it, you don’t have to deal with urine smells whenever you go outside your home. There are a few things that you can do to get rid of the unwanted cat urine smell and prevent it from coming back in the future.
The 5 Ways to Remove Cat Pee Smell Outdoors
1. Invest in a Neutralizing Enzyme Cleaner
| Required Items | A commercial neutralizing spray |
| One-Time or Recurring | Either one-time or recurring |
| Project Difficulty | Easy |
You can neutralize cat odors on your driveway and in your garage with the help of an enzymatic cleaner. Commercial enzymatic cleaners help neutralize the proteins in cat urine that create odors so they are no longer detectable.
Every brand of cat enzyme cleaner is different, and it is important to follow the directions on the package before use. You might only need to spray the affected area one time, but chances are that you will have to spray the area two or three times until the odor is completely eliminated. If you have problems with stray cats, you may have to spray the area where they like to urinate once or twice a week to help get rid of that cat pee smell.
1. Get Out Your Hose
| Required Items | A hose connected to a water source |
| One-Time or Recurring | Recurring |
| Project Difficulty | Easy |
One easy and effective way to get rid of cat pee smells outside is to spray down the offending area with a hose. Start by walking around the area to pinpoint the spot that has been urinated or sprayed on. When you think that you know where the smell is coming from, turn your hose on and saturate the area with water until the odor diminishes.
You should also wash down the surrounding areas to get rid of cat spray smell. This will reduce the chance that a male cat will come and spray in the area, as they can smell cat scents better than we can. Spraying your outdoor areas with a hose once a week should help keep cat odors to a minimum.
3. Use Vinegar
| Required Items | White or apple cider vinegar, water, reusable spray bottle |
| One-Time or Recurring | One-time |
| Project Difficulty | Easy |
Vinegar is a natural neutralizing agent, working similarly to commercial enzymatic cleaners. You might have to spray the offending area two or three times for every time that you would spray a commercial enzyme cleaner, but vinegar is much less expensive and more economical for long-term use.
Fill a reusable spray bottle halfway up with white or apple cider vinegar. Next, fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake the bottle well and spray the affected area thoroughly. Let the area dry, then reapply the vinegar as needed until the odor subsides. You can continue spraying the area to help keep the odor from coming back if a cat urinates or sprays there again.
4. Introduce Mulch or Sand
| Required Items | Mulch or sand, a shovel |
| One-Time or Recurring | Recurring |
| Project Difficulty | Easy |
Laying mulch or sand in areas throughout your yard where cats tend to urinate or spray will create a natural litter box that absorbs odors and helps keep surrounding areas free of foul smells. You can clean out the area occasionally and add new mulch or sand to keep the area free of offensive smells.
You can also plant herbs and highly scented flowers around the area to help keep the outdoors smelling fresh and clean, no matter what the cats in your yard do.
5. Keep Cats Out of Your Yard
| Required Items | Sprinklers, motion-activated lights, various herbs |
| One-Time or Recurring | One time |
| Project Difficulty | Easy |
Keeping stray and neighbor cats out of your yard can go a long way when it comes to curbing cat pee smells. Start by setting your sprinklers on a timer for when cats typically meander into the yard. This might be early in the morning before anyone wakes up and during the afternoon after the garbage gets taken out.
You can also install motion-activated lights in your yard to keep cats away. Whenever they try to come into your yard at night, the lights will go on and likely scare them away. Growing various herbs, such as lavender, rosemary, oregano, and thyme, can also help keep cats out of your yard, as they are deterred by the scents that those herbs emit.
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Conclusion
So, now you know how to get rid of cat pee smell. Thankfully, it tends to go away on its own due to elements such as wind and rain. However, there are times when that odor can be detected when you’re spending time outside, especially if your cat goes out there often or strays and neighbor cats are a problem. Hopefully, the tips and tricks outlined here will help you get rid of problem odors and keep them from returning in the future.
See also:
- How to Keep Cats Out of Mulch Effective Tips
- How to Keep Cats Off Furniture Using Vinegar – Expert Tips
Featured Image Credit: terazitu, Shutterstock
The 5 Ways to Remove Cat Pee Smell Outdoors
