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Homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover sewer backups because it’s typically an avoidable problem with proper maintenance. The only exception would be if the backup is occurring because of local flooding and only if your city uses a combined drainage system for stormwater and sewage. If that’s the case, your policy should cover any resulting damage.

In the majority of cases, homeowners insurance will not cover a main sewer line root clog. The reason is that most insurance companies consider tree root damage to sewer lines as common wear and tear, which is also preventable. However, you may be able to buy optional add-on coverage, such as "service line coverage" or "sewer line endorsements," that would protect against root damage to your sewer line.

Cat pee has a strong ammonia-like smell, so if you smell cat pee but don’t have a cat or don’t suspect your cat has any accidents, there could be other issues at hand. Aside from pet urine, your house may smell like cat pee from leaking freon from an old fridge, mold, spilled cleaning supplies, or even outside odors from nearby farms.

It is generally safe to stay in a house that smells like sewage for a short time, but you should get the problem fixed as soon as possible. While the level of sewer gas is usually low enough to only cause minor symptoms, prolonged inhalation can lead to headaches, nausea, or respiratory irritation. High levels of gas exposure can be more dangerous, and high concentrations of methane—a component of sewer gas—can pose an explosion risk in enclosed spaces. If you smell sewer gas in your home, ventilate the area and call a professional to locate, assess, and fix the problem, as it will not go away on its own.