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Cat Smell Help Please

5 years ago

We purchased a home and basically gutted it due to damage from cat urine. We've resolved the issue of the smell by painting the subfloor with kilz, however, we can still smell the scent of whatever deodorizer the previous owner used to mask the smell of the urine. In a few corners of the house we have used three coats of kilz restoration on the floors as well as part way up the walls. Any other suggestions for how to remedy this smell? We also sanded the basement concrete floors to remedy the cat urine issue and painted with two coats of concrete sealer and I'm worried that the smell is starting to seep through that. I'm highly sensitive to smells so really need to have this issue resolved, especially before we lay our new flooring. Any input would be helpful.

Comments (9)

  • 5 years ago

    You can try Natures Miracle cleaner but you may beyond any attempt at masking.

  • 5 years ago

    I hate to say this, but we decided against putting in an offer on the perfect house because the concrete subfloor in the basement was soaked with cat urine (the HVAC was down there so the smell would have been all through the house any time the HVAC was running). From what I’ve read some people have had success (and I hope this is your case!), but in other cases the smell will basically survive anything you throw at it and a full total teardown is the only option. That being said I would also give Odoban a try.

  • 5 years ago

    If the cat was a male, it may have sprayed up a couple of feet on the walls. Just painting primer wont help that much. The best remedy would be to remove the bottom couple of feet of sheetrock, and then primer the underneath, and install new insulation in that area, and then new sheetrock.

  • 5 years ago

    The total teardown seems extreme, but in my experience that is the only method that works. When urine has been present over time and allowed to soak in, whether drywall, wood or concrete (concrete is porous), you can not completely encapsulate it. The Kilz and enzyme cleaners gets a majority of it, but every once in a while you will still get a whiff.

  • 5 years ago

    I'm reading that you smell previously used deodorants (cleaning chemicals) -- not cat urine. You don't say how long you've been there, or what your weather/conditions are like, but have you tried running a dehumidifier and ionizing air filter? I had a similar problem in the house I bought and got the odors under control by running both and it worked wonders for my situation.

  • 5 years ago

    Yes! party_music50, that’s right- it’s primarily the scent she used to cover up the cat scent. I will try those things.

  • 5 years ago

    Its also a possibility that the cat smell is gone, after all the work you have done, but, sometimes, in our heads, we can still smell something, even though no one else can. You might get someone in the house that hasnt been in it before, and dont tell them, what you want them to smell, just ask them to walk around and see if they are picking up any odors. Good luck, and hopefully, you will soon enjoy your new house.

  • 5 years ago

    Try the ionizer for sure!!! And the dehumidifier if you know you have fairly high humidity.

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    We have had a marvelous success combating pet odors with an ozone generator. You don't have to buy one. Usually they can be rented.

    Ozone combats bacteria, fungus (including mold and mildew), and pet odors by simply oxidizing the microscopic particles emitting the odor.

    High concentrations of ozone are not good for people and pets, so use the generator only in unoccupied rooms. And be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for safe use.

    Kilz does not eliminate odors, it simply blocks them. Ozone is a better choice.

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