When Cat Pee Signals Chemical Danger

If you walk into a building and it smells sharply like cat urine or strong ammonia without the presence of cats, treat that odor as a warning and get out. Law enforcement and environmental guidance on clandestine meth labs have long noted that active sites can produce strong chemical odors, including ether, ammonia, or smells people describe as similar to cat urine. Those fumes can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract, and contaminated properties may remain unsafe to enter or occupy until they are properly assessed and decontaminated. Washington State health guidance says no one should enter or occupy a dwelling used as an illegal drug lab until cleanup has been completed.

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