How to Effectively Clean Cat Vomit From Carpets, Rugs, and Furniture

April 20, 2022

Anyone that's had the joy of sharing their heart and home with a cat knows that few things get you to your feet faster than the familiar retch and gag of a kitty that's about to cough up a mess on your fresh, clean carpets.

If you have a cat, chances are you've had to clean up after one of these messes more than a time or two. While it can be an unpleasant task, it doesn't have to be a difficult one. With the right products and techniques, you can effectively (and permanently) clean up cat vomit from carpets, rugs, furniture, beds, and upholstery with ease.

Why Do Cats Vomit?

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, before we get into the nitty-gritty of cleaning up cat barf, let's talk about why your kitty might be vomiting in the first place.

There are a number of reasons cats vomit, including eating too fast, eating grass or other plants, hairballs, intestinal parasites, infection, illness, or stress. As you can see, some of these causes are things you can control (like eating too fast), while others are not. If your cat is vomiting frequently or showing other signs of illness, it's always best to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any serious health problems. However, it's not uncommon for even healthy cats to frequently vomit or hack up hairballs around the house.

And, whether it's intentional or not, they always seem to throw up on the carpet, furniture, or your beautiful hardwood floors, don't they?

How NOT to Clean Vomit From Carpet or Upholstery:

While no one likes cleaning up cat puke, it's an unfortunate reality of pet parenthood. And, if you have a cat, it's something you're likely going to have to do at some point. So, how do you effectively clean cat vomit from carpet? It might help to first know what NOT to do.

There are a number of D.I.Y. solutions that are said to remove cat vomit and hairball stains and odors, but most are ineffective at best. A lot of websites will recommend baking soda as a carpet and upholstery cleaner because of its absorbent and naturally antimicrobial properties. But, while baking soda may appear to freshen things up at first, it isn't actually removing the source of the stain and odor, but simply absorbing it. Plus, baking soda is difficult to remove from carpet and upholstery fibers and can clog up your vacuum in the process.

Another common, but ineffective way that many websites recommend cleaning cat yack is with white vinegar. Although vinegar has long been touted as a natural cleaning hack, it has a strong, pungent odor of its own. And, using vinegar on wool, silk, and other natural, delicate fibers can actually permanently damage them.

Using hydrogen peroxide to clean cat vomit can bleach your carpets, rugs, and furniture. And using dish soap will leave behind a residue that becomes sticky and causes your carpet and furniture to become a magnet for more stains and odors.

The Better Way to Clean Cat Vomit From Carpet and Furniture:

Instead of wasting time, money, and effort on ineffective and potentially damaging cleaners, use a bio-enzymatic odor and stain remover like Unique Pet Care's Pet Odor and Stain Eliminator to effectively, completely, and permanently clean cat vomit.

Although a number of enzyme-based cleaners are available, Unique Pet Care's Pet Odor and Stain Eliminator contains a highly-effective blend of probiotics (a.k.a. "good bacteria") and enzymes that go to work instantly, breaking down even the most stubborn vomit stains and odors. The way it works is simple. Bacteria need a food source to survive, and your cat's vomit stains and odors are the perfect food source. Once the healthy probiotics in Pet Odor and Stain Eliminator encounter the odors and stains, they become active and begin to eat. As these good bacteria eat, they produce enzymes. The enzymes help to break down the stain and odor molecules into more easily digestible food for the bacteria.

This amazing, and completely natural, bacterial-enzyme breakdown leaves nothing behind but water and carbon dioxide.

Best of all, it won't damage carpets, fabrics, or other surfaces and it requires no scrubbing or vacuuming.

How to Clean Cat Vomit with Unique's Pet Odor and Stain Eliminator

Another benefit to using a bio-enzymatic cleaner is that bacteria continue to reproduce and create enzymes as long as the environment is right and they have a food source. That means it'll keep working until every trace of the cat vomit stain is erased. Here's how to do it:

1. The first thing you want to do is remove as much of the vomit or hairball pile as possible, lifting it off the carpet or rug to avoid pushing any of the fluids down into the carpet and fabric fibers.
2. Shake the Pet Odor and Stain Eliminator bottle well to activate the live bacteria, then spray the stain liberally. Use a soft brush or the bottom of the bottle to agitate the area, pushing the product down into carpet or upholstery fibers.
3. Using warm, but not hot water, wet and then wring out a white towel or washcloth that's large enough to completely cover the vomit stain.
4. Lay the warm, damp towel over the spot or stain and leave it covered for several hours or overnight.
5. Remove the towel and let the area air dry.

That's it! Once the area has dried, there should be nothing remaining - no vomit, no stain, no odor, no fragrances, and no traces of any kind. However, very old, very large, or very stubborn stains may require a second application.

So there you have it, everything you ever wanted to know about cleaning cat vomit stains and smells out of your carpets and furniture. And as a bonus, we've even thrown in a few tips on how to avoid these messes in the first place. Unique Pet Care has got your back with our bio-enzymatic Pet Odor and Stain Eliminator. This product is specifically designed to take care of all your pet stain and odor woes, including vomit, urine, feces, blood, drool, and all the messes pets make.

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