A neat and clean bathroom reflects how peaceful we are and ensures our sound health thereby. A bathroom can release some certain bad odors if it remains uncleaned for a while or if there’s any mechanical problem.
Bad odors can cause various health diseases and make us stressed and frustrated.
Bathroom smell like cat pee
There can be various reasons that can cause bathroom smells like cat pee. A toilet that hasn’t been cleaned for a long time or a clogged toilet bowl can produce this awful cat pee smell. Moreover, a clogged drainage system, pipe leakage or mold infestation can also be responsible for the odor.
One of the many causes of cat urine odors in bathrooms could be a pipe leak or a clogged drainage system. When a pipe in a bathroom leaks, water from the toilet may pool under the sink and emit an unpleasant odor resembling cat pee.
In contrast, if the water is blocked and won’t drain entirely, it will continue to emit the cat pee odor when the toilet is flushed, which may be the root of the bathroom odor.
Other factors include having an unclean toilet for several days. If the flushing mechanism isn’t working properly or the toilet hasn’t been cleaned in a while, urine or poop may have gotten stuck in the bowl.
As urea breaks down over time, this can produce gasses that have an unpleasant cat urine-like odor. Men, as well as kids who do not use the toilet properly, may urinate while standing in the toilet bowl.
The urine drips may spread to the bathroom floor and emit a cat-pee odor when they do this, which can happen when they are rushing or doing it for fun.
Some bathrooms offer a toilet setting that requires users to urinate while standing, typically in men’s washrooms or bathrooms in restaurants where there is a higher likelihood of urine being dropped on the floor randomly and producing a cat-pee odor.
If left uncleaned for a prolonged period of time. Additionally, a dirty toilet may develop mold in specific toilet floor locations, which after a few days may release gasses that may smell like cat pee. The majority of the causes are human-related as opposed to mechanical.
Here are some of the reasons briefly discussing:
Clogged or unclean bathrooms:
The uncleanliness of the bathrooms is the main cause of the odor of cat pee. If toilets are not cleaned on a weekly basis, there is a good probability that they will smell like cat urine.
Additionally, a clogged toilet with an inadequate airway route may leave a long-lasting odor of excrement and urine, and if there is no airflow, trapped gas in the toilet will smell like cat pee.
As bathrooms are more likely to be moist or slick from water, there is occasionally a significant likelihood that mold may develop there.
When this happens, the mold starts to release gasses or toxins into the wall, which over time will degrade and eventually produce an odor resembling cat urine.
Blockage in a drainage pipe:
When the drainage system is clogged, it can prevent waste from being flushed properly, causing it to build up or become stuck in the toilet bowl.
If this situation persists for a few days without the drainage system being fixed, the waste will degrade and release a gas that smells like cat pee and will cause a smell to emanate from the bathroom.
Negligence when urinating:
Men who urinate while standing are to blame for the cat pee-like odor in the bathroom. Since human urine contains urea and cat pee smells like bad urea gas, there is a high likelihood that human pee will get spread around while urinating.
If this is not cleaned up, it will release the smell of cat pee urine. This can also happen to children who unintentionally urinate here and there without flushing the toilet; if this continues for a while, the bathroom will begin to smell like cat pee.
Can a gas leak in the bathroom smell like cat urine?
The smell of cat urine can indeed be caused by a gas leak in the bathroom. Typically, a gas pipe is put beneath a toilet that is floor-attached. The primary cause of cat pee smell is sewer gas, which can escape from damaged or leaking gas lines.
When the gas line is sealed, the stench cannot escape. However, when there is a leak, the smell escapes and gives off the distinct cat pee smell.
Methanethiol, which gives off a cat pee-like odor, is present in the gas pouring out of the pipe. Additionally, the sewage gas contains sulfide, which, according to some, causes a terrible urine odor known as “cat pee smell.”
Therefore, check the bathroom for leaks if there is a pee smell. The smell of cat pee is caused by the presence of either the methanethiol compound or the sulfide component of toxic waste gas that comes off from the gas leak.
How do I get rid of cat urine smell in my bathroom?
The cat urine smell is really irritating and frustrating. And if you’re not sure about the source from where the smell is coming from, it’s really a great trouble.
To get rid of the the disgusting smell first you will have to find out the source and then apply these given effective methods to neutralize it:
Use vinegar and water mixture:
The incentive, disgusting smell can be neutralized using white or apple cider vinegar. It’s a germ cleaning solution as it allows deep cleansing and also offset the odor. Vinegar works great to fix the urine smell rather than anything.
You can make a cleaning solution mixing vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio and apply it on the floor, grout and the toilet bowl. Keep the solution for about 7 to 10 minutes and then rinse it off.
Besides, a potent spray you can make by putting ½ White Vinegar, ½ Water with some drops of various essential oils in the spray bottle. Essential oils will help to give a strong aromatic fragrance and reduce the bad odor.
Paste of baking soda:
Baking soda doesn’t carry any fragrance to itself, rather it dissolves in the water and absorbs the odors. Cat’s pee odor is kind of acidic when baking soda; a pH neutralizer works by bringing both acidic and basic odor molecules into a neutral and thus alleviates the odor.
It will be a non-toxic, enzymatic cleaner for deodorizing the cat’s pee odor. Mix water and baking soda well in a 2:1 ratio and you can add detergent in it. Apply it for 15 minutes on the floor and the wall well, then clean and rub the area using a brush.
Try bleach:
It is a cost effective household deodorant that is not only a potential cleaning agent but also removes bad odors efficiently. Mix water and bleach as a cleaning solution in a 1:2 ratio and apply the liquid all over the toilet area using gloves.
Let the floor and drainage soak the liquid overnight. Next day, rinse the whole area with sufficient water and you’ll find a visible change.
What things can smell like cat pee in the house?
In the house, there are certain things that can smell like cat pee as well. If you’re searching for the culprit for a long and not sure about the odor, check these out:
Mold infestation:
Molds are attracted to wet and dark areas where they can meet up their essential needs that are air and moisture. They spread rapidly by releasing spores. They are mostly found near the window or door, kitchen, bathroom, basements or under sinks.
Besides causing health and respiratory problems, molds; specially the black molds produce a distinctive odor that closely resembles cat pee.
Spoiled food:
When food starts to be spoiled, the decomposition process of breaking down the amino acid causes an unpleasant, irritating odor that is similar to cat’s pee odor.
Actually, when fish, blue cheese, yeast extract, cabbage, broccoli, garlic, cucumber, grapefruit, asparagus, lima beans start to decompose when they expire due to bacterial growth, they release ammonia which initially produce the cat’s pee odor.
The odor will become harder and harder till you find an effective solution to neutralize it.
Leakage in air conditioner:
When freon gas; that is really toxic to humans, is released from the air conditioner due to leakage, it’ll eventually spread the smell of cat’s pee. You’ll need professional help to repair it and get rid of the smell.
Final Thoughts
The offensive smell of cat pee can initially be caused due to various factors like gas pipe leakage, clogged drainage system because of water line blockage and even for uncleanliness of the bathroom. Though the smell is hard to get rid of, baking soda or vinegar can be an effective solution.