Cat pee smell leaves a mattress when you blot, soak the spot with an enzyme cleaner long enough, then dry it all the way through.
You get a whiff and your brain instantly knows what happened. Cat urine on a mattress is tricky because it doesn’t stay on the surface. It can sink past the top fabric, into foam, and even down to base layers. If you only wipe the top, the odor can creep back as the bed warms up.
This walkthrough gives you a repeatable cleanup that targets what causes the stink, not just the mark you can see. You’ll also get options for older spots and a quick way to tell if the mattress core is still damp.
What You Need Before You Start
Grab supplies first so you’re not rummaging through cabinets with wet sheets in your hands.
- Gloves and a couple of old towels
- Paper towels or clean, absorbent cloths
- Enzyme-based pet urine cleaner (look for “enzymatic” on the label)
- Spray bottle (if your cleaner doesn’t come in one)
- Baking soda
- A vacuum with an upholstery attachment
- Fan, dehumidifier, or hair dryer on cool/low
- Waterproof mattress protector (for after the cleanup)
- Optional: a small UV/blacklight to spot dried urine
If you only add one new product to your cabinet for this, make it the enzyme cleaner. It’s built for urine. Standard soap-and-water can leave behind the compounds that keep that “litter box” smell hanging around.
Cat Urine On Mattress Cleanup Map
This table is your fast checklist. Match your situation, then follow the step list right after.
If you can’t see a stain, dim the lights and scan with a blacklight. Mark the edges with painter’s tape so you treat the full spread.
| Situation | What To Do | Watch Outs |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh wet spot | Blot hard, then saturate with enzyme cleaner | Rubbing spreads urine deeper |
| Smell, no visible stain | Find the area with a blacklight, then treat that zone | Don’t soak the whole mattress “just in case” |
| Dried stain from last night | Re-wet with enzyme cleaner and give it dwell time | Too little liquid won’t reach the urine |
| Old, set-in odor | Two enzyme rounds, baking soda between, slow drying | Heat can lock odor into foam |
| Urine reached the underside | Treat top, then stand mattress up and treat the back | Protect floors while it dries |
| Memory foam mattress | Use less water, more blotting, longer dry time | Soaking can stress foam |
| Pillow-top or thick quilting | Work wider and press cleaner into layers | Top layers trap moisture |
| Cat keeps returning to the spot | Clean fully, then add a protector and block access | Trace scent can draw them back |
How to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of a Mattress Step By Step
Strip the bed right away. Wash sheets and blankets on the warmest setting the care tags allow. Skip fabric softener if you can; it can trap odor in some fabrics.
Blot, Don’t Rub
Press towels into the wet area and lean your weight into it. Swap to a dry section and repeat until you’re no longer pulling much moisture. If the spot is already dry, do a quick blot with a slightly damp cloth first to lift surface residue.
Saturate The Exact Area With Enzyme Cleaner
Enzyme products need contact to work. Spray or pour enough cleaner to wet the same depth the urine reached. Treat at least the size of the stain, plus a couple of inches all around.
Then wait. Check the label for dwell time. Many enzyme formulas want 10–15 minutes. Some want longer. Keep the area damp during that window so the enzymes can keep working.
Press It In, Then Blot Again
Use the flat of your hand (gloved) or the bottom of a clean cup to press the cleaner down into the mattress. You’re not scrubbing; you’re pushing the solution into the layers that hold odor.
After the dwell time, blot again with clean towels to pull out as much liquid as possible.
Cover With Baking Soda And Let It Sit
Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the damp zone. It helps absorb leftover moisture and can take the edge off lingering smells while the enzyme treatment dries.
Leave it in place until the area feels dry to the touch. That can be a few hours, or overnight for thick quilting.
Vacuum Slowly
Vacuum the baking soda with an upholstery attachment. Go over the area from a few angles so you don’t leave gritty residue behind.
Getting Cat Pee Smell Out Of A Mattress After It Dried
When urine dries, it can leave crystals behind. Those can reactivate with moisture and bring the smell back. The fix is re-wetting the spot with the right cleaner and giving it time.
Do one full enzyme round, let it dry, then smell-test the mattress the next day with your nose close to the fabric. If the odor is still there, run a second enzyme round on the same zone. A lot of “hopeless” stains just needed enough dwell time and a second pass.
Drying The Mattress So The Smell Doesn’t Return
Drying is where many cleanups fail. A mattress can feel dry on top while the core is still damp, and damp foam can keep odor locked in.
- Stand the mattress on its side if you can. More air hits more surface.
- Run a fan across the treated area for several hours.
- If your room is humid, a dehumidifier helps.
- A hair dryer can help, but keep it on cool or low.
Quick check: press a dry paper towel into the treated spot with firm pressure for 10 seconds. If it comes up cool and damp, keep drying.
Chemical Safety While Cleaning Cat Urine
Cat urine contains ammonia compounds, and many homes also have cleaners that include ammonia or bleach. Mixing products is where people can get hurt.
Use one cleaner at a time, rinse any bottles between products, and keep windows open. The CDC’s Ammonia chemical fact sheet warns against mixing household cleaners, and the CDC’s Chlorine chemical fact sheet explains that bleach can release dangerous gas when it’s mixed with other products. Don’t combine cleaners, even if each one smells mild on its own.
If you feel lightheaded, start coughing, or your eyes burn, stop and get fresh air right away.
When A DIY Cleanup Isn’t Enough
Most fresh accidents are fixable at home. Some cases are a tougher call:
- The urine soaked through to the underside and sat for days
- The mattress core still smells after two enzyme rounds and full drying
- Sour odors show up after drying
- Foam feels damaged or crumbly near the spot
At that point, replacement can be the cleaner answer. A mattress that keeps holding odor can also keep drawing your cat back to the same place.
Quick Troubleshooting By Symptom
If you cleaned once and the smell is still hanging around, match what you notice to a fix.
| What You Notice | Likely Reason | Next Move |
|---|---|---|
| Smell returns after the bed warms up | Moisture left in the core | Keep drying with airflow, then retest with paper towel press |
| Odor is strongest at the edges of the stain | Cleaner didn’t reach the full spread | Treat a wider ring around the spot with enzyme cleaner |
| You used vinegar and it got sharper | Urine salts reactivated | Switch to enzyme cleaner and keep it damp for label time |
| Powdery grit keeps showing up | Baking soda left in quilting | Vacuum slowly, tap the fabric, then vacuum again |
| Stain is gone, smell remains | Odor is inside foam, not on fabric | Press cleaner in, blot, then dry longer |
| Cat sniffs and paws at the same area | Trace scent still there | Second enzyme round, then cover with a zippered protector |
| New spot appears near the old one | Cat is remarking | Block access, clean litter box, and treat both spots |
Keeping The Mattress Fresh After You Remove The Odor
Once the mattress is dry and clean, lock in your work. A waterproof, breathable protector is worth it. Use one that covers the top and sides, or a zippered cover if your cat likes to aim at seams.
Then wash bedding again if any hint of odor remains. Cats have sharp noses. If they can detect the spot, they may treat it like a marked area.
Stopping Repeat Accidents On The Bed
I’m keeping this section practical. Medical questions belong with a veterinarian. Still, a few home tweaks often cut repeats fast.
- Scoop the litter box daily and change litter on a steady schedule.
- If you have space, keep one extra box in a second spot.
- Try a larger box if your cat is big or older.
- Block the bedroom until the mattress is fully clean and dry.
- Pick up soft items on the floor that could turn into the next target.
If your cat is peeing outside the box often, don’t wait it out. Sudden changes can be a sign that something’s off.
Five Minute Recap
- Strip the bed and blot hard.
- Soak the zone with enzyme cleaner and wait the label time.
- Press it in, then blot again.
- Cover with baking soda, let it dry, then vacuum.
- Dry with airflow until the core is dry, not just the top.
- If odor remains tomorrow, repeat the enzyme round once more.
If you found this page by searching “how to get cat pee smell out of a mattress,” you now have a method that works for fresh accidents and the stubborn dried spots that keep coming back. If you ever need to check the steps again, search “how to get cat pee smell out of a mattress” and jump straight to the cleanup map near the top.