My cat has pissed all over the carpet. Bissell won’t remove the smell. Any tips?

If you’re a cat owner, you understand that these beloved feline friends can bring an array of joys into our lives. However, dealing with the aftermath of your cat having an accident on your carpet is anything but joyful. The presence of cat urine not only leaves an unsightly stain but can introduce an incredibly strong and stubborn odor that seems to cling to your carpet fibers.
You may have turned to a Bissell or other commercial carpet cleaner in hopes of eliminating the smell, only to find the scent still lingers. Rest assured, all hope is not lost. There are alternative methods and household remedies that may help you eliminate the pungent aroma and reclaim the freshness of your living space.
Understanding Cat Urine Odors
Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand why cat urine is particularly difficult to remove. Cat urine is highly concentrated with ammonia, which is a byproduct of metabolism. Additionally, when left unattended, bacteria decompose the urea and give off an ammonia-like odor characteristic of stale old urine. Over time, the bacteria then release mercaptans—compounds best known for giving skunks their powerful and hard-to-remove spray smell.
To effectively combat cat urine smell, it is not enough to simply clean the surface; you must neutralize the odor at its source. Here are some tips that may help:
1. Identify all affected areas.
The first step is to make sure you’ve located all urine spots, which might not be visible to the naked eye. Use a blacklight in a dark room to find all traces of urine and mark them with a piece of chalk or sticky note.