cat urine amonia

Question
I have just been informed, by the city health department, that the tenants in a house we own have 35 cats!  We went to the home and confirmed.
The smell, from the front porch, was horrible.  The liter boxes were all full.
My questions is regarding the effects (on humans) of breathing the amonia caused from cat urine. Also, do you know if the air-born amonia will permeate through the walls?
(this woman has a 17 year old son, in the home, on a ventilator.
Thanks for your information.
Kathy

Answer
Hi Kathy!

First off, hopefully the cats were taken from the home.

But yes, cat urine is a PAIN to get rid of the smell. You may have to replace parts of the walls and floors if they were soaked in urine.

The best thing to do is, open all the windows, let it air out while you work on it. Strip out all carpeting, and wash the floor with a good disinfectant. Make sure it DOES NOT have bleach in it since bleach reacts with ammonia.  then use an enzymatic cleaner to help with the residual smells. Of course ammonia from urine can be irritating to the lungs since it can be rather strong. I do not know of the long term effects. Are you concerned for yourself or the tenants? Sounds like they don't care what they are doing to themselves.  35 cats is an act of cruelty especially if they are cared for.

Its going to take a LONG time if these tenants destroyed your house with all those cats.