How To Get Rid Of A Cat Urine Smell Outside

The smell of cat urine is especially pungent — a good sniff of your yard on a warm day will let you know if the neighborhood cats have paid a visit. Besides it smelling unpleasant, cat urine can also be a health hazard. Removing the smell of cat urine from your yard helps prevent recurrences, especially since cats are likely to return to places they've previously marked. With enzyme cleaners and certain deterrents, you can keep neighborhood cats at bay and your outside air smelling fresh.

According to the ASPCA, cats tend to spray vertically, often by backing up against your foundation, deck or favorite lawn furniture. To make things worse, cats will normally return to where they've sprayed for a repeat performance.

To remove the smell of cat urine from your outdoor furniture, apply an enzymatic cleaner designed for pet odors. Enzyme cleaners can break down the bacteria in cat urine and help remove the smell. Scrub the items well with soapy water, then rinse well.

It's fairly easy to spot a cat urine stain on your foundation wall. If you suspect a cat has paid a visit but you don't see the stain, try using a black light after dark. Because concrete is porous, it can soak up the urine and trap it. When this happens, every time moisture seeps into the concrete, it will release the cat urine smell into your yard again.

For concrete surfaces like your home's foundation, it's best to apply the enzymatic cleaner, but allow it to soak into the concrete so that it can neutralize the cat urine that has been trapped inside it.

Cats love shrubbery, and some of them love to urinate on it. The smell of urine will cling to your shrubs and bushes, especially if they get wet, or grow warm from direct sunlight. Many enzyme-based cleaners are also plant-based and therefore safe for use on grasses, trees and shrubbery. Check with your local nursery or home improvement store for additional suggestions about products that are safe for your greenery.

Once you've cleaned and neutralized the areas that smell like cat urine, you can take steps to make sure cats don't return to mark the areas again.

• Purchase deterrents such as motion-activated sprinklers and scat mats and place them strategically around your yard
• Scattering fresh citrus peels, used coffee grounds, sprinkling dried cayenne pepper, or occasionally spraying your yard with vinegar are some cheaper preventative options
• Surround your plants and bushes with pine cones or stones and pebbles, as these tend to be uncomfortable to feline paws
• Remove bird houses and feeders, as cats are attracted to birds.