Cat urine on your mattress is one of those stubborn, unpleasant odors that just sticks around. If you don’t treat it right away, the smell can hang out for weeks or even months, making your bedroom feel less inviting and messing with your sleep.
You can actually get rid of cat pee smell from your mattress with basic stuff like baking soda, white vinegar, and dish soap—if you go about it the right way. The trick is to act quickly and use cleaning methods that break down those uric acid crystals responsible for the lingering odor.
This guide covers everything from emergency cleanups to deeper cleaning tricks. I’ll walk you through what to grab, how to treat fresh and old stains, and, honestly, when it’s time to just call in a pro.
Immediate Steps to Treat Fresh Cat Pee on Mattresses
You really want to move fast when your cat pees on the mattress. Those first few minutes? They make all the difference between a quick fix and a long-term stink.
Blotting and Absorbing Urine Quickly
Pull off all bedding right away. Toss sheets, pillowcases, and mattress protectors into the wash as soon as possible.
Blot the wet spot with paper towels. Press down hard to soak up as much liquid as you can. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing—it spreads the mess.
Keep swapping in fresh towels until they’re coming away mostly dry.
Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the damp spot. Baking soda draws moisture out from deep inside the mattress.
Let it sit for about 30 minutes, then vacuum it up with your vacuum’s hose attachment.
Preventing the Stain from Spreading
Work from the outside in. This helps you avoid pushing pee into clean parts of the mattress.
Skip dumping water or cleaner straight onto the stain. That just drives urine deeper into the foam—not what you want.
Use a spray bottle for any liquid cleaner. Lightly mist—don’t soak—the area so you’re in control of how much moisture you add.
Set towels around the wet spot. They’ll catch any stray liquid and keep things contained.
Essential Supplies for Eliminating Cat Urine Odor
You’ll need specific supplies to break down cat urine crystals and actually kill the smell. White vinegar and baking soda are classics, but enzyme cleaners are the real heavy-hitters for pet odors.
Household Products That Neutralize Odor
White vinegar should be your go-to for cat urine odor. Mix it 50/50 with water in a spray bottle—the acid helps neutralize those alkaline urine salts.
Baking soda does a solid job absorbing both moisture and bad smells. After cleaning, sprinkle it on thick and let it chill for a few hours before vacuuming.
Hydrogen peroxide (the 3% stuff) can break down urine, too. But always test it somewhere hidden first since it might bleach your mattress.
Grab these basics:
- Clean towels or paper towels
- Spray bottles
- Plastic gloves (trust me)
- Vacuum cleaner
Dish soap mixed with water (about a tablespoon per cup) is gentle but effective, helping to lift out stubborn residue.
Natural Versus Chemical Cleaners
Natural cleaners (like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils) are generally safer for kids and pets. You might need to use them more than once for really strong smells, though.
Chemical enzyme cleaners are specifically designed to break down pet urine crystals. They go after the source, not just the surface.
Enzyme cleaners work quicker than natural options and are made for pet messes. Nature’s Miracle and Anti Icky Poo are popular picks.
Some chemical cleaners have harsher ingredients, so always check the label. Make sure the room’s well-ventilated when you use them.
Natural cleaners are cheap and easy to find, but enzyme cleaners, while pricier, usually work faster and more thoroughly.
Step-by-Step Home Hacks to Remove Cat Pee Smell
Three main methods seem to work best: baking soda, vinegar solutions, and enzyme cleaners. Each one tackles a different part of the problem.
Applying Baking Soda for Odor Absorption
Baking soda is great for soaking up moisture and neutralizing odors, so it’s perfect for fresh pee stains.
Blot up as much liquid as you can with towels or a cloth—press, don’t rub.
Dump a thick layer of baking soda over the whole stain. Use at least a quarter cup, or more for bigger messes.
Let it sit for a few hours (overnight if things are really bad). The baking soda will pull out both the moisture and the odor.
Vacuum up every bit of baking soda when you’re done. Make sure you get it all out of the fabric.
If the smell’s still there, repeat as needed. Sometimes old or deep stains take a couple of rounds.
Using Vinegar Solutions Effectively
White vinegar is awesome for breaking down those uric acid crystals that make cat pee so persistent. Mix it 1:1 with water in a spray bottle.
Spray the mix right onto the stained area. Don’t soak it, but make sure you hit the spot.
Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. The vinegar will work on the smelly stuff while you wait.
Blot again with clean towels to pull out extra moisture.
Sprinkle baking soda on the damp spot for a little extra cleaning power.
Wait 30 minutes, then vacuum. Open up some windows or use a fan to help the mattress dry out.
Enzyme Cleaners and Their Benefits
Enzyme cleaners are kind of magical—they actually eat the bacteria causing the smell.
Pick up an enzyme cleaner meant for pet urine. Look for words like “enzymatic” or “bio-enzymatic.”
Saturate the stain with the cleaner. Follow the instructions on the bottle for how much to use.
Give it 24-48 hours to work. Cover the spot with plastic wrap to keep things damp so the enzymes can do their thing.
Take off the plastic and let the mattress air dry all the way.
Give it a sniff test once it’s dry. Usually, enzyme cleaners get rid of the smell on the first try, but you might need a second round for stubborn spots.
Deep Cleaning Methods for Persistent Odors
Sometimes, cat pee smells just won’t quit. You’ll need more serious cleaning to break down all those uric acid crystals. Steam cleaning can really get down into the mattress, way deeper than regular cleaning.
DIY Mattress Spray Recipes
Mix up 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup warm water in a spray bottle. Throw in 2 tablespoons baking soda and shake it up. This combo helps neutralize ammonia from cat urine.
For really tough smells, use 3% hydrogen peroxide with a dash of dish soap—1 cup peroxide to 1 teaspoon soap. Always test in a hidden spot first.
DIY enzyme spray:
- 2 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 tablespoon liquid laundry detergent
Spray any of these on the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes before blotting. Never soak the mattress all the way through.
Steam Cleaning Techniques
Rent a steam cleaner or grab a handheld steamer for deep cleaning. Just use plain water—skip the soap since it can leave a residue.
Work the steamer slowly over the area, overlapping your passes. The heat helps kill bacteria and break down odor molecules.
After steaming, set up fans and open windows to dry things out quickly. Aim a fan right at the wet area; you want the mattress dry in 24 hours to avoid mold.
If you use an enzyme cleaner first, steam cleaning works even better.
Mattress Care After Cleaning
Getting your mattress dry is key to avoiding mold. You’ll also want to protect it from future accidents—trust me, it’s worth it.
Drying and Airing Out Your Mattress
Take off all bedding and leave the mattress bare. Open windows and doors to get the air moving.
Aim a fan at the wet spot. That’ll help it dry in a couple of hours instead of all day.
Flip the mattress if moisture got to the other side. This helps everything dry out evenly.
For small wet spots, use a hair dryer on cool (not hot). Keep it about six inches away and move it around.
If you can, let the mattress sit in the sun. Sunlight naturally kills bacteria and helps with odors.
Wait at least 24 hours before making the bed again. The mattress should feel totally dry—press a towel into the spot to check for hidden dampness.
Protecting Your Mattress from Future Accidents
Put on a waterproof mattress protector before anything else happens. Look for one with TPU backing (it blocks liquids but still breathes).
Go for protectors that are machine washable. Vinyl covers are sweaty and uncomfortable, so skip those if you can.
Spray an enzyme cleaner on your mattress every month or so. It’ll break down odors before they become a problem.
Keep your cat’s litter box clean and in a good spot, away from your bed.
Stash a cleaning kit with enzyme cleaner, vinegar, and baking soda somewhere handy. Quick action is your best friend when accidents happen.
If you want total peace of mind, try a mattress encasement that zips around the whole thing. It keeps all liquids out and protects the foam inside.
When to Seek Professional Help
Sometimes, home remedies just can’t beat that stubborn cat pee smell lingering in your mattress. It’s frustrating, isn’t it? That’s when you might want to start thinking about calling in the pros.
If the smell keeps creeping back after you’ve already tried a few cleaning tricks, that’s a big red flag. Chances are, the urine has soaked deep into those mattress layers.
When the stain spreads across a large chunk of your mattress, cleaning it all by yourself gets tricky. Honestly, big stains can feel impossible to tackle with just DIY methods.
You might want to call a professional if:
- Your mattress is pricey or pretty new
- You’ve already gone through at least three home cleaning attempts
- The odor is still super strong, no matter what you’ve tried
- Health concerns about bacteria are starting to worry you
Some mattresses—like memory foam or latex—don’t really play well with a lot of water or harsh cleaners. It’s easy to mess them up if you aren’t careful.
Professional cleaners use tools you probably don’t have, like enzyme injectors and heavy-duty vacuums. They can dig down to the layers you can’t reach.
If your cat keeps peeing on the mattress, those layers of dried urine build up over time. Breaking down all those layers at home? That’s a tall order.
Professional cleaning usually runs between $100 and $300. Sure, that’s not pocket change, but it’s still way less than buying a brand-new mattress.
Don’t let the problem sit for ages. The longer you wait, the harder it gets to get rid of that smell for good.
