Is It Possible To Get Ammonia Poisoning From Cat Urine
One of the biggest downsides is the cat litter box. All cat owners know the nasty smell of dirty litter. The primary culprit is the ammonia found in cat urine. Unfortunately, that ammonia does more than just smell bad, it can pose a few health risks as well. In the sections below, well discuss the symptoms of ammonia poisoning from cat urine.
How To Eliminate Cat Urine Odor From Your Home
Cleaning up cat urine by wiping off isnt enough to eliminate odor and stain.
Look for commercial enzymatic cleaners that contain friendly microbes that can kill odor-causing bacteria in the urine.
You can also use some everyday household items to do the trick.
1. VinegarPour the pure vinegar in an empty spray bottle, do not dilute it water. Spray on the soiled area and let it dry naturally.
2. Hydrogen PeroxideDon’t apply the hydrogen peroxide directly on the affected surface. Dilute the antiseptic with water following the ratio of 70% water and 30% hydrogen peroxide.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, or you can dip a cloth in it and blot the surface. Rinse the area with fresh water and repeat the process if necessary.
3. Baking sodaSome people dont like the idea of applying vinegar on their carpets and clothing, and you dont have to.
Use baking soda to absorb the smell without having to spray any liquid cleaner.
Brush the area with a sponge or scrub to distribute the baking soda, allowing it to seep deeper and absorb the odor. Leave it for 24 hours.
Vacuum the area and clean off every last trace of the baking soda. Repeat the process until the odor is gone.
Regardless of the type of animal, you have for a pet you need to understand that all urines can pose certain health risks.
Again, pet urine odor becomes potentially hazardous when you leave it untreated for long periods of time.
Why Cats Pee Outside The Box
Litter box issues can be frustrating, especially when they result in a stinky cat pee smell. Most often, when your cat pees outside of their box its a sign that somethings amiss. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the most common reasons a cat stops using the litter box include:
- Environmental factors such as a dirty litter box, upsetting noises, or a perceived threat from another cat in the household. A cat may be objecting to a new type of litter or having their litter box moved to a different location. Some cats hate change, and peeing is how they let you know.
- Cats spray on vertical surfaces to leave their scent, especially if they havent been spayed or neutered. Some fixed cats will also mark. Marking is more common if your cat is having territory issues with a new cat or person in the house.
- Medical issues. Inappropriate elimination could be signs that your cat has a urinary tract infection, blockage, kidney problems, or diabetes. It could also mean that the cat has arthritis, and a formerly easy-to-use litter box is now uncomfortable.
- Stress/anxiety. If your cat feels anxious, they may pee outside the box to let you know.
If you suddenly find cat pee outside of the litter box, start by calling the vet. Urinary tract problems wont clear up on their own. Even if you suspect your cat is stressed out or marking, and its a behavioral issue, its important to rule out medical causes.
You May Like: How Often Do Cats Lose Whiskers
What Does It Smell Like When A Cat Pees
All those who have cats, and clean up the litter box, can very well identify, when the cat urine smells like ammonia. The smell is quite unpleasant and disgusting. However, one tends to worry when he/she finds very strong ammonia smelling urine in cats.
Arthritis Can Make Litter Boxes Hard To Use
Another possible reason that an older cat may forego the litter box is arthritis. As cats age, they can get arthritis, which makes it harder for them to get into the box, Dr. Kornreich said. Perhaps the sides are too tall, or the box is located in a place that requires the cat to do some kind of arduous physical activity to get to, such as up or down a flight of stairs.
Don’t Miss: Blue Buffalo Sensitive Cat Food
Lets Get Down To The Basics Of Cat Pee Why Does It Smell So Bad
There are a number of factors that cause cat pee to smell worse than dog pee.
- Cats bodies are able to effectively squeeze every little bit of water out of their food so that they dont have to drink as much. This fact makes cat pee more concentrated and thus more odoriferous.
- Intact male cat pee contains pheromones and the hormone, testosterone, which signals nearby male cats to stay clear of the area while signaling to female cats that he is available.
- Intact male cat pee also contains a sulfur containing amino acid called felinine. Sulfur is extremely odoriferous and is the main component responsible for that horrible cat pee odor.
The production of this special sulfur containing amino acid, felinine, is dependent on two dietary amino acids: methionine and cysteine. Cysteine is also an important nutrient needed for hair growth. This fact lead Dutch researches to conduct a study of 83 intact male cats of varying hair length. They were able to determine that cat breeds with short hair had stronger smelling cat pee than cat breeds with longer hair, with the exception of the Persian. It all makes sense, because the amount of cysteine available in the cats body must be used to make hair or to make felinine. Longer haired cats use it to make hair and thus have less of it in their pee. Thats something to think about next time youre looking to inquire a new cat.
Stay tuned next week:
If Your Cat Peed On Unsealed Floors:
Well, thatâs a little more complicated. If your floors are not sealed, after you clean up the cat pee with cold water, scrub the stain with straight vinegar and rinse with more cold water. Blot stain with a towel until you can no longer detect moisture. Enzymatic cleaners could potentially damage your unsealed floors, so test some in a subtle location before liberally using on the stain.
If the cat pee stain and odor donât go away, you may have to bust out the sander because the urine couldâve soaked into the wood. We recommend sealing your floors, but thatâs a project for a whole ânother day.
You May Like: How Old Do Cats Have To Be To Have Catnip
Health Issues Can Cause Inappropriate Urination
The first thing you need to do is rule out a medical problem, says Dr. Bruce Kornreich, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, and associate director of the Cornell Feline Health Center.
Medical issues related to inappropriate urination can include urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and feline lower urinary tract disease. These can cause a cat to urinate outside the litter box, particularly if they associate the litter box with pain.
If you believe your cat is suffering from any of these conditions, or is exhibiting additional symptoms, bring them to your veterinarian immediately. Untreated conditions such as urinary tract infections can become serious.
What Causes Ammonia Smell In Urine Of Cats
As we have seen above, urine gets decomposed into its basic components, and begins to smell of ammonia. But the question is, what causes very strong ammonia smell in the cats urine. When your cat expels urine from her body, it contains urea in a concentrated form. As it is urea based, it tends to smell of ammonia. The smell becomes stronger, when your cat does not drink enough water. Cats tend to avoid drinking water. Strong ammonia smell in urine also indicates dehydration in cats. You need to make sure that your cat drinks fresh and clean water. One way to make a cat drink water is by allowing it to drink from running tap water. They tend to love the feel of running water on their tongue and thus, enjoy drinking more water. If the cat drinks less water, their urine gets more and more concentrated with urea. This causes the smell of ammonia to get stronger.
Cat diet may also be responsible for very strong ammonia smell in the urine. Most of us tend to feed our cats with foods, that contain chicken based proteins. These proteins lead to production of urea, and this gets concentrated in the urine. Thus, when your cat urinates, the urine tends to smell strongly of ammonia. The solution for this problem is to feed your cat with salmon based cat foods once in a while. Different proteins from time to time will help reduce the stench of ammonia in the urine. And, a change in taste will keep your kitty happy and healthy.
Read Also: Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Cat Food
How To Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell: A Guide
Or, if weâre being polite, eliminating that âinappropriate eliminationâ odor.
Itâs all fun and games until the cat pees in your house. Kitty tinkle is one of the most unique and pungent smells on the planet, perhaps rivaled only by the notorious durian fruit.
Cleaning cat pee isnât very intuitive either â itâs actually sort of like a science experiment. Whereas youâd instinctively use warm or hot water to clean basically anything else, using hot water on cat pee is only going to set and amplify the stench. So if youâre having a cat pee-mergency, follow our guidelines below to neutralize that stinky urine.
What Is The Outlook For A Person With Urine That Smells Like Ammonia
Most cases of urine that smells like ammonia can be treated with fluids or antibiotic medications.
Ideally, your urine should be pale yellow to straw-colored. If it remains darker than usual for longer than 24 hours, see a doctor. You should also always seek treatment if you believe you may have an underlying infection or other medical concern.
Recommended Reading: Can Cats Eat Mayonnaise With Tuna
How To Get Rid Of Cat Urine Smell Outside
Whether you own an outdoor cat or your yard is a stray sanctuary, you’ve likely got cat pee odors that have built up over time. This stench can linger long after the liquid has been absorbed unless you treat it appropriately.
Urine is usually around 95% water, with the other 5% a varying chemical cocktail including proteins, uric acid, salts, minerals, ammonia, and more.
When cat urine dries, the organic compound called urea in it is broken down by bacteria, which makes it smell like ammonia. As the urine continues to decompose, it releases thiols that make the foul odor stronger. Uric acid is an additional component that is not water-soluble and bonds tightly to whatever surface it touches.
To eliminate cat urine smell outside, you need to remove the urine odor, not just cover it up.
Although baking soda, white vinegar, soap, and hydrogen peroxide may neutralize odors temporarily, a humid day can cause uric acid to recrystallize and release foul odor in your outdoor area again. Other household remedies such as lime can be dangerous to your family and your cat’s health.
Both orange peels and cayenne pepper are commonly used to deter cats from venturing into yards but do nothing to eliminate cat odors. Plus, cayenne pepper can be harmfully irritating to cats.
Why Cat Urine Smells So Bad
Cats evolved to live in the dry environment of the African Savannah. Because streams and lakes are relatively rare there, cats needed to get most of their water from their food and their bodies become highly efficient at drawing out every last drop of moisture from that food.
For this reason, cat urine is particularly low in water. That means its a more concentrated solution of odor-causing compounds and therefore smellier and darker than most animal urine.
If youve spent much time around ferrets, youve probably noticed their pee is pretty rank, too. Thats because ferrets, like cats, are obligate carnivores who evolved to extract the water they require from their food.
You May Like: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food
General Cat Pee Removal Guidelines:
- Eek! Whereâs the pee?! First, track down the source of the smell. And do it quickly. The longer the cat pee sits on your mattress or couch, the worse itâs going to smell.
- Blot with COLD water. Once youâve located the cat pee spot, youâll want to use cold water and paper towels or an old rag to blot the spot, absorbing as much as the cat pee as possible. If youâve got an extracting wet vac on hand, feel free to use that on the cold setting. Do not scrub, that will just make the cat pee angrier and more resilient, rubbing it further into the couch, floor, or garment.
- Neutralize it! Then youâre going to want to douse the spot with an enzymatic cleaner or simply make your own cleaning solution by combining vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Because the vinegar is acidic, it will neutralize the bacteria in the cat pee, offsetting its odor. Let the solution sit for 3-5 minutes or carefully follow the instructions on the cleaning productâs label.
- Rinse + Repeat. Using a fresh paper towel or wet rag, do one more quick once over the stained spot. If youâre using a wet rag, remember to use cold water.
- Freshen up! For additional freshness, try using once itâs completely dry. You can also use around the litter box area to dull that lingering cat pee odor.
When To See A Doctor
A bad smell in the urine often goes away on its own, especially when dehydration or something in the diet causes it.
A person does not need to see a doctor if they can identify a harmless cause of their smelly urine, such as asparagus.
Other causes need medical treatment. While a UTI is relatively harmless, it can progress and cause serious health issues, including kidney infections. With early treatment, a person should feel better in a few days.
Because some people with UTIs have no symptoms, see a doctor if the bad smell lasts longer than a few days. This is especially important for people who are pregnant.
Other health issues that can cause this odor require ongoing treatment. For example, a person with diabetes may need to switch medications or make certain lifestyle changes.
If a person who has any chronic condition finds that the smell of their urine changes significantly, it may be a good idea to flag it with a doctor.
Recommended Reading: How Old Is A 12 Year Old Cat
Does The Urine Smell Relate To Cat Behavior
For the pet parent who has a young, well-groomed, slim cat with no sign of a urinary tract infection, what does it mean when the smell still lingers in the cat’s coat? Spraying is a term for a behavior in which a cat sprays urine. Spraying is particularly common in intact cats. Intact or unaltered means a cat who is neither neutered nor spayed. Spaying or neutering a cat often stops spraying entirely, but for parents with an intact cat, this may be the source of a lingering urine smell.
Getting Rid Of Cat Urine Odor From Non
If your cat is peeing on non-carpeted surfaces such as ceramic tile, grout, vinyl plank, or linoleum, heres how to get a deep clean that removes the urine odor.
For a DIY solution:
Cleaning non-carpet surfaces requires a non-ammonia and non-vinegar based solution, whether its homemade or commercial. Note: Make sure any product you use to get rid of cat urine does not contain chlorine bleach. Cat urine contains ammonia and when it mixes with bleach, dangerous gases are created. OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover uses the power of oxygen to remove stains and help neutralize odors. Most people think of OxiClean VSR as a laundry booster, but it can also be used to clean many types of flooring, including ceramic tile, grout, vinyl plank, and linoleum. Its chlorine-bleach-free and can be used to clean up cat urine. Follow these steps to clean up cat pee and eliminate odor on solid flooring.
- Fill a gallon bucket with hot water. Using the provided scoop, pour one scoop filled to Line 1 of OxiClean into the bucket. Stir the solution with a long-handled spoon until the OxiClean dissolves.
- Apply solution to the floor and allow it to stand 1-5 minutes. Use a mop or sponge to clean the affected spot go ahead and clean your whole floor while youre at it if you want! You dont want any lingering cat pee smell in the air or on your floor.
- Dump the solution and fill the bucket half-full with cold water. Remop the floor with water to rinse.
Don’t Miss: How To Make A Shirt For A Cat
Diagnosing The Cause Of Smelly Urine
The doctor will ask about certain lifestyle factors, recent health changes, and when the bad smell began. They may do a urine culture to check for bacteria and other signs of infection.
When the diet is responsible for the smell, the doctor may be able to diagnose the problem based on symptoms alone.
In some cases, the doctor may order imaging scans of the urinary tract or kidneys. A person may also need blood work to check for other health conditions.
Does Your Cat Smell Like Urine
Cat urine has an incredibly potent smell. Most pet parents have had the experience of getting a whiff of cat urine while cleaning the litter box, or even when caring for a new kitten. As far as pets go, cats are pretty clean creatures, and their parents can feel secure knowing that their cat is cleaning themselves regularly and dealing with any dust or dirt that might get into their fur. In addition to keeping themselves clean, cats instinctually keep their litter box clean as well. They do this by covering their urine and feces with loose litter. Therefore, when the smell is coming from the cat herself, this can be cause for concern. The reasons and solutions of a foul urine smell vary from cat to cat.
You May Like: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food