Why does my house smell like cat pee but I can't find it?

Multiple things can cause your house to smell like cat urine, even if you don't have a cat. Investigate if there is mold, leaking Freon, sewer gases, smelly plants, spoiled food, or even stains from previous pet owners.

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Why do I smell cat pee but I can't find it?

You can buy a blacklight flashlight from internet retailers such as Amazon and Ebay. The there is a compound in dried cat pee that will glow a green color under a blacklight. Shine it everywhere, including on walls where cat pee may be sprayed or splattered so thin that you wouldn't have otherwise noticed it.

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How do I find cat urine smell in my house?

If you still can't seem to locate the source of the cat pee smell, wait until dark, turn off all the lights, and shine a blacklight around the room, paying special attention to corners and edges of carpets and flooring.

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Why does my house smell like unknown urine?

Electrical shielding, wires, and other plastic components emit a “fish” or “urine” smell when exposed to high heat. If you smell something fishy, go around your home and look for outlets and other electrical equipment that looks burnt or melting.

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Does cat pee smell ever go away?

Does cat urine odour ever go away? If you've cleaned the area thoroughly using an enzymatic cleaner, you can successfully get rid of the smell of cat urine permanently. However, on a very hot day the smell may resurface.

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You're Doing it Wrong: How to Clean Cat Pee

38 related questions found

What happens if you smell too much cat pee?

Overexposure to Ammonia

Cat pee is full of ammonia, a toxic gas that can cause headaches, trigger asthma attacks, and even result in serious respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. Children, older adults, and people with weak immune systems are at particular risk of illness due to overexposure to ammonia.

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How do you get old cat urine smell out?

Baking Soda and White Vinegar

A solution of one part vinegar to one part water (1:1) is often recommended and should be blotted gently over the area. Though vinegar itself has a strong smell, this should disappear over a few days taking the stench of cat pee with it!

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Can a gas leak smell like cat pee?

Freon is a common chemical refrigerant that's likely found in your air conditioner or other cooling systems. A freon gas leak smells like a combination of sweets, ammonia, paint, or cat urine.

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Why does my house smell weird all of a sudden?

A weird smell in a house can come from numerous sources, including appliances, furniture, carpets, fabrics or issues like mold or mildew. Occasionally, odors may be caused by sewer gas, natural gas leaks or animals that have died between walls, in attics or under decks.

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How do I get rid of an unknown smell in my house?

If you want inexpensive short-term solutions, try these tips:
  1. Use an air purifier in your home.
  2. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpets, leave it overnight to absorb bad smells, and vacuum it the next day.
  3. Place saucers of white vinegar around the house and leave them overnight to neutralize the smell.

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Why does cat urine smell come and go?

In their dry state, urine salts have no odor. But when it gets damp or humid, moisture reactivates the crystals and urine odor comes back – with a vengeance. I've heard from cat owners who wound up replacing their furniture or carpeting.

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What does cat pee smell like after a while?

After a while, bacteria decompose the urea and give off an ammoniacal odour characteristic of stale old urine. The second stage of the decomposition process emits mercaptans, compounds which also give skunk spray its nasty smell.

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What smells should I worry about in my house?

A musty or dusty smell is often a sign of mold or mildew, especially in humid or moisture-prone environments like the basement, laundry room, kitchen, or bathroom. Mold and mildew can create severe respiratory problems and can exacerbate allergies and asthma in sensitive individuals.

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How do I find a weird smell in my house?

If Your Home Smells Funny, Check These 8 Problem Areas
  1. Trash Can.
  2. Pets.
  3. Wet Clothing.
  4. Bedding.
  5. Front Load Washer.
  6. Dishwasher.
  7. Garbage Disposal.
  8. New Furniture.

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What does black mold smell like?

It's often described as musty and earthy, and may even smell like rotting vegetables or plants. You might notice a musty smell, but not be able to see any mold growing. In this case, you should look for areas that might be exposed to water. Mold needs moisture to grow.

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Does mouse pee smell like cat pee?

Am I Smelling Mouse Urine in My Home? Most people know what cat urine smells like: A noxious, everlasting scent that reeks of ammonia no matter how much you clean it. Mouse urine is different — it smells a bit like popcorn and isn't entirely unpleasant — but it's not an odour you want lingering in your home.

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Why does my air conditioner smell like cat pee?

Air Conditioner Smells Like Urine

The distinctive urine-like odor of ammonia is hard to miss. If it smells like urine when your AC is running, the culprit is likely bacteria living in your AC unit. Bacteria break down skin cells that have gotten past your air filter and emit ammonia as a byproduct.

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Why does my house smell like cat pee after it rains?

Why Does Cat Pee Smell? As mentioned above, your home smells of cat pee whether you own a cat or not due to certain reasons. One of the key reasons for this is mold growing inside your house. Many times when it rains my house smells like pee due to the high percentage of moisture and improper ventilation system.

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Can breathing in cat urine make you sick?

Cat urine contains several harmful bacteria and toxins that can cause serious health problems in humans. Inhaling cat urine can lead to respiratory infections, stomach flus, and even meningitis.

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Can you get sick from breathing urine odor?

Odour. Not only is it nasty, it's also bad for your health! The ammonia that causes the stink can irritate the lungs and again, cause problems with the respiratory system. If you can smell it, you can breathe it, which means that bacteria is hurting more than just your nostrils.

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Is dried cat urine toxic?

Cat urine is highly concentrated in ammonia even before it crystalizes. As it solidifies, the concentration becomes higher, and as such, even more harmful.

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Why does my house smell no matter what I do?

Musty smells in homes can be caused by a range of issues, from improperly dried linens to dampness and mold. No matter the cause, a musty smell is often worrisome and should always be investigated. The good news is that most musty smells are not a sign of serious issue, and are often quick to rectify.

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How do you know where a smell is coming from?

If it is outdoors, or if the windows are open, then the smell is stronger near the source. Moving your nose from place to place is a way to determine the gradient of concentration of smelly molecules. Follow the direction of the gradient to locate the source.

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Does everyone's house have a smell?

Everyone's place has a smell. Some homes smell like fancy perfume or Anthropologie candles; others smell like cats.

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What else smells like cat pee?

Some of the most common foods that create a cat pee smell when they start to spoil include garlic, fish, blue cheese, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, cucumber, grapefruit, lima beans, and yeast extract.

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