If you have a cat, you have probably noticed that its urine smells awful. Cat urine smells like ammonia, which is disgusting and lingers for some time. As a pet parent, you may be wondering if the smell is normal, or if there’s cause for concern. Let’s examine the matter. What does cat urine smell like, and should you be concerned? Here are some suggestions:
Baking soda
If you’re wondering why your cat pees in the house, you might want to try using baking soda to fight the odor. While baking soda does not have an odor itself, it is known to neutralize a number of other smells. By using it around the litter box, you won’t put your cat off using it. Just sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the box before you add fresh litter.
Vinegar
If you have ever walked into a home and noticed that it smells like cat pee, you might be wondering how you can eliminate the odor. Vinegar has been known to neutralize the odor. It can be sprayed directly on the offending spot and should eliminate the odor. However, it might not be effective for soaking fibers. Luckily, there are many ways to eliminate the smell, including a few homemade remedies.
Urea
If you notice that urea is a noticeable part of your cat’s pee smell, it is likely that it is causing the problem. Cat urine is made up of concentrated urea. This odor is a sign of dehydration. Cat urine can smell like ammonia. A cat with a urinary tract infection will have a stronger odor than a normal kitty.
Uric acid
While cat pee is mostly water, it also contains varying amounts of proteins, uric acid, salts, and minerals. The ammonia component is what gives cat urine its characteristic smell. Cat urine bacteria break down this organic compound to release thiols, which increase the unpleasant smell. Uric acid is not water-soluble, so it bonds tightly to surfaces. Even if you wash your carpet regularly, odor-causing uric acid will continue to linger.
Ammonia
There are a number of reasons that a cat’s urine may smell ammonia. It can be a sign of a bacterial urinary tract infection or an illness called sepsis. Cats need antibiotics to treat an infection, but sometimes, the ammonia smell can be due to other factors. Stress can also cause ammonia smells in cat pee. To find out what’s causing your cat’s urine to smell, here are some things to look for.