How To Get Cat Pee Smell Out Of Leather Couch (3 Effective Steps)

Housecats can be warm partners, greeting us with unshaken kisses, sharing long naps on sofas, and adding life, grace, and nature to our homes.

However, inappropriate cat urination is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to any cat guardian especially when it happens to your newest, most expensive piece of furniture.

If you’re wondering how to get cat pee smell out of leather couch, don’t panic. With a few practical techniques, you can get the smell out, and get back to loving both your cat and your couch.

How To Get Cat Pee Smell Out Of Leather Couch: 3 Effective Steps

You Will Need:

Enzymatic Cleaner
Gloves
Clean cloth or paper towel
Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
Baking soda
Liquid soap
Small non-metal container
Spray bottle
Vinegar
Leather conditioner

Step 1: Spot and Press, Don’t Scrub

Firstly, check the fabric label for specific instructions. Avoid rubbing a urine spot in other to absorb the moisture. This will only spread the stink further.

Instead, use a clean cloth or paper towel, then apply enough pressure to press down to get absorb any soaked-in urine. After doing this, get another cloth or paper towel and leave it on the spot to soak more urine.

Step 2: Use an Enzymatic Cleaner

Uric acid, which is responsible for the odor, is not water-soluble and will usually not respond to any water-based clean-up solutions. Any enzymatic cleaner such as (Biokleen Bac-Out Stain) can break down uric acid and remove odor.

Soak the affected area with the enzymatic cleaner. You should add enough cleaner as there was urine so that it can soak in equally as deep. Let the cleaner sit for about 10-20 minutes.

Additionally, there are other kinds of enzymatic cleaners one can use as well such as Nature’s Miracle, but most of them stated on the label that they should not be used on genuine leather furniture because they cause stains.

This is because the type of bacteria used in them that eat up the urine might also affect the couch by eating the leather since it is an organic material.

However, a lot of online users have had a successful result with Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover on their leather furniture without any issue, including on genuine leather.

Always run a test with the cleaner in a small, less visible spot to check whether it damages the leather before using it.

Step 3: Cover the Affected Area and Allow It Dry

Cover the affected area where you treated it with enzymatic cleaner using a towel or any item that helps cats and babies avoid the spot. If the pee stain and the cleaner went deep into the cushions during treatment, it could several days for it to dry. Alternatively, you can leave the cushions outside in the sun to help dry them and remove the smell.

Alternative Cleaning Methods

If you don’t have an enzymatic cleaner at home, here are some alternative (but somewhat less effective) methods to explore.

Alternative 1: Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Fresh Coffee

If the smell refuses to go, try deodorizing the whole area by filling a bowl or plate with baking soda, white vinegar, or fresh coffee grounds. Soak up as much urine as possible from the couch using a towel or cloth.

Sprinkle enough baking soda on the stain, and allow it to sit for 5 minutes to help deodorize the stain. Using a spray bottle or other container, make a mixture of equal parts of water and distilled white vinegar.

Then with your spray bottle, spray the mixture onto the baking soda-covered stain, and allow sit for another 5 minutes. Then blot the stain areas using a clean cloth or paper towel to dry them. If you’re using coffee, keep in mind that although the pee smell will be gone, a coffee odor will set in.

Alternative 2: Peroxide, Dish Detergent, and Baking Soda

Hydrogen peroxide can help break down some of the chemical compounds in urine through a chemical process called oxidation.

Begin by soaking up as much urine as you can. Then sprinkle baking soda on the affected areas and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.

Apply 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of grease-cutting dish detergent (Oxiclean stain remover) in a clean bowl.

Pour the solution onto a clean towel, and blot it on the stain. The dish detergent will eliminate the odor-creating fatty acids, and the peroxide’s bubble will lift out crystals that leave stains.

If you tried any of these methods on leather couch or furniture, remember to apply leather conditioner once the cushion is dry and free of any odor, this is because these methods can dry out your leather.

Additional Cleaning Tips and Advice

The protein contents in cat urine are similar to those in skunk spray. Cleaning items used to eliminate skunk smell can also be used to eliminate cat pee odors.
Make sure you examine the area around and under the couch as well. If the smell refuses to go, it might likely be coming from under the furniture or somewhere else nearby.
A lot of online users have suggested using essential oils to remove the pee smell and deter their cat from the area. While doing this, you have to be extremely cautious, as most if not all essential oils are toxic to cats. We advise you to put the essential oil on a paper towel under the furniture or tucked into a cushion rather than onto the actual leather as the oil could get onto their paws or fur if they come in contact with it.
There are several cat deterrent sprays available in the market or online you can get to keep a cat away from the area. First, run a test with them on a hidden area to ensure they are safe for your leather.
If your cat is urinating repeatedly somewhere other than their litter box, take them to a vet clinic to ensure they do not have a medical issue.
If you observed that your cat’s urinating issue is due to stress, there are plug-ins and sprays available online or major pet supply stores with calming fragrances for cats. Providing your cat an environment (such as a tall cat tower) where they can feel safe can also help.
To transition your cat get back to using a litter box, you can try different kinds of litter to figure out what they like and also try various kinds of boxes, like the ones with lids, low sides, top entry, or a deeper litter. Also, there are planters and end tables that have litter boxes inside that you could put close to the area where they seem to like urinating always.

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Conclusion

I hope this article “How to get cat pee smell out of leather couch” was helpful to you? As usual, wherever there’s a pet, there must be some big mess such as poop, spit-ups, or pee. All these can leave some serious unpleasant smell in your home which can make one uncomfortable.

Hopefully, by practicing the above-mentioned tips regularly you should be able to get that nasty pee smell out of your nice leather furniture without damaging it, hence keeping your home smelling nice and fresh as always.