Why do my shoes smell like cat pee?
Olivia House
Updated on February 18, 2026
He explained that it's a known problem with a polyurethane component in the sole breaking down and/or rotting due to exposure to water. The smell is due to the release of ammonia.
How do you get the smell of cat pee out of shoes?
Place your shoes in a pillowcase or washable laundry bag for washing. Use a gentle, cold-water cycle and wash with regular, color-safe detergent. Add either ¼ cup of vinegar or baking soda to help remove urine odors. Air dry your shoes rather than put them in the dryer.Why do my feet and shoes smell like cat pee?
The reality: It's no surprise that feet stink—they're home to about 250,000 sweat glands. "Your feet are doomed to smell because apocrine glands, like the ones in your underarms, produce perspiration on the soles of your feet," says Leslie Campbell, a podiatrist and member of the American Podiatric Medical Association.Why does my foot sweat smell like cat pee?
Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound that has a pungent odor. Trimethylamine has been described as smelling like rotting fish, rotting eggs, garbage, or urine.How do I get the ammonia smell out of my shoes?
Put baking soda in the offending shoes. If the freezer trick does not work, put in a healthy dose of baking soda and let the powder absorb the odor overnight.My Nike Mercurials Smell Like Cat Pee!
Why does my foot odor smell like ammonia?
Dehydration can also make the sweat smell like ammonia. This is because the body needs water to get rid of ammonia through sweat. If there is not enough water to dilute the ammonia as it is released by the body, the smell of ammonia may be stronger.Why do my shoes smell of ammonia?
It attributes to Bervibactarium SPP; because when bacteria feed on amino acids methionine sulfur on your skin, they secrete methanethiol causing ammonia stench. The intensity of stench is directly proportional to the amount of sweat your feet produce. The more you sweat, the ghastly your feet are going to smell.What does diabetic sweat smell like?
If you have diabetes, a change in body odor could be a sign of diabetes-related ketoacidosis. High ketone levels cause your blood to become acidic and your body odor to be fruity. In the case of liver or kidney disease, your odor may give off a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup in your body.How do I get rid of Trimethylaminuria?
There's currently no cure for trimethylaminuria, but some things might help with the smell.
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It can help to avoid certain foods that make the smell worse, such as:
- cows' milk.
- seafood and shellfish – freshwater fish is fine.
- eggs.
- beans.
- peanuts.
- liver and kidney.
- supplements containing lecithin.