Foot Odor: Why Do My Shoes Smell Like Cat Pee? (And What Can I Do About It?)

Have you ever wondered why your shoes smell like cat pee? Foot odor is caused by bacteria on the skin that break down sweat and oils into different chemical compounds. 

These compounds create the distinct smell of foot odor; most people find it unpleasant. The following are some common causes of foot odor and ways of controlling them.

Possible Causes Your Shoes Will Smell Like Cat Pee

There would be a lot of possible reasons why your shoes would smell like urine cats, and that’s what we will talk about in just a few moments, so read on.

Bacteria

Bacteria are a massive problem for your feet. They can cause problems from athlete’s foot to infections. The bacteria that live on our feet produce an odor often described as “fishy” or “cat pee.”

What causes this smell? Bacteria, a significant source of foot odor, cause it. These bacteria feed off sweat and dead skin cells, which leads to a buildup of waste products in between them. These wastes then produce their smell as they decompose into ammonium sulfate (a compound found naturally in urine).

Excessive Sweating

The cat pee smell is not something that you want to experience. It’s unpleasant, and it can be hard to get rid of.

Your shoes smell like cat pee because excessive sweating makes them smell like cat pee. It happens when you wear tight shoes or socks that hold in moisture, which causes your feet to sweat more than usual. This excess moisture causes cat urine odor to develop on your shoes and socks.

It Is a Real Cat Urine

If your shoes smell like cat pee, it’s not just in your head. It’s a natural cat urine smell.

Cat urine is the most common cause of foot odor because cats tend to mark their territory by urinating on objects they find in their environment. It can include anything from furniture to walls to your shoes.

Old Shoes

If you’re experiencing a smell in your shoes, it could be because they’re getting old.

If you’re like most people, your shoes are probably covered in stains and smell from walking around all day. But if the smell is particularly strong or persistent, it may be because something else is happening there.

Here are some possible causes of this kind of problem:

• The lining of your shoe could be coming apart from the sole. It happens when the glue holding them together dries or breaks down over time.
• The rubber sole on your shoe is losing flexibility and becoming more rigid over time. It will cause moisture to collect between the layers of materials inside–and that moisture will smell.
• When wearing these boots or shoes, your feet sweat a lot–and sweat can sometimes leave behind a “fishy” scent and other unpleasant odors (like cat urine).

How to Get Rid of the Cat Urine Smell in Your Shoes and Footwear in General?

You’re not alone if you’ve got a cat urine smell in your shoes. It’s a common problem, and there are ways to eliminate it.

Disinfect Your Footwear

In this article, boots expert and podiatrist talk about how not regularly cleaning your work boots can lead to bacteria and fungi developing inside your footwear, especially in your work footwear. 

So it’s crucial to periodically clean the inside of your shoes or disinfect them, trying to get rid of bacteria and fungi which lead to this cat urine smell. Watch this video on how to disinfect your footwear effectively.

The boots expert even recommends having more than one pair of boots or shoes. Yes, even for work. It will significantly help reduce the chances of your shoes getting stinky. 

And having more than one pair of shoes or boots will allow you to disinfect them often without any convenience. You can wear one pair while disinfecting the other and leaving it to dry.

You can choose from any of the following solutions to disinfect your footwear regularly:

• Isopropyl alcohol
• Lysol
• Bleach

Wear Clean Socks

If you want to avoid the cat urine smell in your shoes and clothing, you might wonder if wearing clean socks can help. The answer is yes!

Wearing clean socks can help keep your feet fresh and odor-free. The reason is that socks trap moisture and prevent it from evaporating out of your feet, meaning they’ll stay smelling fresh longer than if you wore just regular shoes without socks.

Make Sure Your Cats Have Available Cat Litter at Home

The first thing you should do is ensure your cats have access to cat litter at home. Cats are naturally clean animals, so they will usually not leave behind any urine or feces if they have access to a litter box.

If you have multiple cats, then it may be necessary for them to share one litter box. It will help reduce the time they take to use the box and keep it clean.

Another way to help keep your shoes and footwear smelling fresh is using a Cat Urine Odor Remover found online or at most pet stores. This product removes odor from shoes and other items exposed to cat urine.

Replace Your Old Shoes

If you’re having trouble removing the cat urine smell in your shoes and footwear, consider replacing them.

It is because once a shoe gets too old, it loses its ability to retain its shape and fit well. It can also become more susceptible to odor-causing bacteria, which will cause it to stink even more after a few months.

If this happens, consider replacing your shoes with a new pair to keep their shape and fit longer than their first pair.

Final Thoughts

In the end, you have to find what works for you. The above solutions may work perfectly for some people, but for others, it might be a different combination of products and remedies that work best. But whatever you do, don’t let the smell prevent you from wearing your favorite shoes or sneakers. Just follow the steps above, and you should be good to go.