Glossary
Ammonia — Glossary
The sharp, pungent compound released as urine breaks down — the dominant note in litter-box and urine odor.
Ammonia is the sharp, acrid smell you recognize instantly in a neglected litter box. It’s released as urea in urine breaks down — the longer urine sits, the more ammonia it produces.
Ammonia is also why concentrated urine odor can irritate airways. It’s one of the compounds enzymatic approaches target at the residue level.