The Best Cat Urine Remover To Stop The Smell in Its Tracks
Most cats instinctively know that the cat litter box is where they should do their business. Unfortunately, for some reason or another, some felines do their bathroom thing elsewhere but the litter box — on the carpet, sofa, bed linens, or your clothes.
As every cat owner knows, the smell of cat urine is one of the most difficult to remove. And if you don’t eliminate the smell completely, chances are, your cat will return to that spot and do the deed again.
To neutralize the strong ammonia odor, many cat parents turn to cat urine smell remover products. A good cat urine remover should thoroughly remove all hint of the scent to keep the cat from going back to the same spot over and over again.
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at a glance: our top 5 picks for cat urine remover
You love what you see? Purrfect! Rest assured that I put these products on the list specifically due to their genuine quality and not for other reasons. I would just like to be transparent with you and inform you that FelineLiving may obtain a share of sales or other monetary compensation from the links on this page. I hope your furry friends will love these reviewed products and that it will spark joy in each pair of feline eyes!
While DIY homemade concoctions are good in their own way, oftentimes commercial products work best. There are many available in the market that will get rid of not only odor but stains as well.
1. Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator
It was a close call for the best cat urine remover. We quite liked several of the products listed below, some of which either had excellent ratings, great price points, outstanding and good overall value or all of those characteristics together.
However, we had to choose one that had most of those traits in spades. This is our choice for the best cat urine scent remover. Here’s why:
Rocco & Roxie’s product is a tough but gentle enzyme-activated cleaner for all surfaces.
Features:
Eliminates stains, odors, and residue from urine and feces
Chlorine free
Cat and people safe
Has the Seal of Approval by the Carpet and Rug Institute
Works on carpets, upholstery, hardwood, tile, concrete, and more
A tough but gentle enzyme-activated cleaner for all kinds of surfaces. Stain and odor gone. Not just on cat pee, but anything nasty such as vomit, feces and more.
It works on all kinds of surfaces! And we mean all. Stain and odor gone. You can use this on everything from your upholstery and carpets to your concrete, tile, or hardwood floors. It even works on clothing. There shouldn’t be any worry about bleaching because it’s certified color-safe and approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute. Although, you still have to do a patch test to make sure.
It absolutely removes any odor. It’s not just cat pee, but anything gross, including vomit, feces, and more. Just follow the instructions thoroughly (let the product dry thoroughly before removing, best if left overnight) and be prepared to face a clean-smelling home. It absolutely works like a charm.
The product does not contain any chlorine, and it’s super safe for both animals and people. The best thing about this product is the money-back guarantee offered by the Rocco & Roxie brand. They guarantee a full refund if your cat stain or odor is not gone after use, so there’s no risk involved.
Just a little of this product goes a long way. It provides really good value for money, particularly if you have more than one pet who occasionally does an “accidental elimination” outside his cat box.
What needs improvement:
There’s only one downside to this product. While we love the clean scent it leaves after the problem surface has been cleaned off, it can smell too overpowering straight out of the container. Take extra care when using it in a small room, and keep the area well ventilated.
2. Life Miracle All Natural Enzymatic Stain & Odor Eliminator Concentrate
This is what we consider the best eco-friendly cat urine remover. Eco-friendly doesn’t mean it works any less effective than non-chemical based formulas.
In some cases, they’re even better. We decided to find out the best eco-friendly alternative to the Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator, and this is it.
A deep-cleaning eco-friendly all-purpose concentrate that will remove marks and odors from anything in your home.
Features:
Cleans up all kinds of odor and stain from the home
It's the best eco-friendly cat urine remover, for us. It’s completely safe and natural, which has made it one of the select products to be part of The U.S. EPA Safer Choice Program.
A little goes a long way, and this 16oz bottle can make 2 gallons of product that you can use for months. This cat urine odor and stain remover will break down all odor causing bacteria, so areas in and around your home can be effectively deodorized. It’s made from a proprietary enzyme blend that is sourced, developed, and manufactured right here in the U.S.
It’s completely natural and safe, which has made it one of the few products to be part of The U.S. EPA Safer Choice Program. And since it’s non-toxic, it’s safe for greywater and septic systems, for colored clothing, cloth diapers, and even your delicates.
And because Life Miracle’s urine stain and odor remover is versatile, you can also use it on marks left by other than urine and poo, such as red wine, makeup, blood, tomato sauce, berries, and more.
What needs improvement:
It can be expensive. Although one 16 oz bottle concentrate can make 2 gallons of product, if you’re not in need of so much product, then the cost will be too much. It might be better to have a smaller bottle of this concentrate for pet owners whose cats don’t really cause too many accidents.
Cat Urine Removers: The Runner Ups
We reviewed the most popular ones in the market and came up with this list based on a number of factors that include price, product reviews, features, and overall value. They’re remarkably good, and gave our two best products a bit of a run for their money.
Here are the runner ups and strong contenders for the top spot:
3. Simple Solution Oxy Charged Stain and Odor Remover
Neutralizes and eliminates dog and cat stains of all kinds.
Features:
Removes both dog and cat stain and odor from urine and other waste
Uses Triple-Oxy formula
Cat and people safe
Works on fabrics, carpet, bedding, clothing, and other water-safe surfaces
It really does remove stains and odor. And it doesn’t even have to be cat-related. It has worked with man-made marks like food sauces, spilled wine, and more. It doesn’t just mask odors, it completely eliminates it. Just like its name suggests, it’s a simple solution to a big cat pee problem.
Just spray it on the affected area, leave it on to dry, and wash off. Everything comes off with no color damage to the fabric.
What needs improvement:
While it works excellently, it can take up a lot of product to soak and clean a spot. Also, some customers have reported about the non-agreeable scent of the product.
4. Angry Orange Odor Eliminator Concentrate
A commercial-grade pet odor remover that’s biodegradable and non-toxic.
Features:
Combats odors using safe citrus oil from orange peels
Biodegradable and safe to use, non-toxic formula
A natural disinfectant that’s Zabba Approved
Works on carpets, tile, driveways, car interiors, beddings, and more
Available in an 8 fl oz container
One 8oz bottle concentrate can make 1 gallon of cat odor remover
A commercial-grade pet odor remover that’s biodegradable, fragrant and safe. One 8 oz bottle concentrate can make a gallon of cat odor remover, making it extremely budget-friendly.
It’s extremely economical! One 8 oz bottle concentrate can make a gallon of cat odor remover. If you need to use only a small amount, just mix 2 tablespoons of concentrate with 32 oz water and put in a sprayer bottle. It works on a whole lot of surfaces too, from beddings and carpets to garbage cans and driveways.
The orange scent is potent. It doesn’t seem much when you’ve just sprayed it on, but if you wait for several more minutes, the smell of oranges will be everywhere. It’s a pleasant smell, but cats seem to dislike the citrus scent so most won’t return to the same area to pee again.
A customer satisfaction guarantee comes with every purchase. If any product seems to have an issue, the brand will send a replacement with no questions asked.
What needs improvement:
It’s not color safe. Make sure to test a small area first before you spray a lot on. Some Angry Orange product reviews also mention that the scent can be too overwhelming. It might not smell too much during application, but it will permeate the entire area after several minutes.
5. Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Formula Stain & Odor Remover
Nature’s Miracle is an enzyme cleaner that will get rid of organic odors and stains.
Features:
Bacteria based enzymatic cleaner that targets stain and odor
Has a light citrus scent
Breaks down even old odors and stains
Works on floors, carpets, furniture, clothing, and more
An enzyme cleaner that will get rid of organic stains and odors. It breaks down bacteria quickly to remove odors and stains while leaving behind a gentle, citrusy scent.
Nature’s Miracle is an effective stain and odor remover that works on both old and new problem spots. The enzyme cleaner breaks down bacteria quickly to remove stains and odors while leaving a nice, citrusy scent. It can be used on different surfaces such as hard floors (except wood), cages, clothing, carpets, and much more.
It’s also pretty cheap, which is really a good deal if you’re looking for something that works but you’re on a tight budget.
What needs improvement:
While Nature’s Miracle is excellent at removing stains, some cats still find their way to the same spot to do their business again, unless you use a lot of the product on the problem spot.
6. Simple Solution Pet Stain & Odor Remover
Another product from Simple Solution the Remover with Pro-Bacteria and Enzyme formula. It is a tough but gentle enzymatic cleaner with safe to use ingredients.
Features:
Eliminates tough urine stains and odors
Uses a triple-concentrated enzymatic bacterial formula
Cat and family safe
Works on carpets, clothing, tiles, brick, and all water-safe surfaces
Made using bacteria and enzymes that neutralize, break down and eliminate stains and odors from pet urine, feces and vomit. Another plus is that it is safe for use around children and pets.
This is a very interesting product: uses both enzymes & bacteria. This unique pet stain and odor remover is formulated with bacteria and enzymes that break down, neutralize and eliminate stains and odors from pet urine, feces and vomit. It’s designed to be used on carpets, upholstery, bedding, fabric toys, clothing and other water-safe surfaces.
What needs improvement:
While Simple Solution Pet Stain & Odor Remover sounds so amazing, there is one thing that it can't do though: remove old stains. Which could be a bummer if you are hoping to restore some fabric to its former glory.
7. OUT! PetCare Advanced Stain & Odor Remover
Unlike other formulas which simply mask stink and stains, this formula works to neutralize odors and even helps get rid of pheromones that cause your furry friends to re-soil areas in your home. Best of all, it’s safe to use around pets and children when used as directed!
Features:
3X Pro-Bacteria and Enzyme formula
Enzymes help destroy odor-causing bacteria
Remove stubborn stains and unpleasant odors
3-in-1 sprayer feature
May also be used to clean everyday spills around your house
Great for cleaning carpets, bedding and most water-safe surfaces
This comes in two and it packs a punch with its 3X-concentrated formula, which helps eliminate odors and stains caused by feces, vomit, blood, urine and grass.
Perfect for cat accidents or intentional wees, it works on all types of water-safe surfaces. OUT! PetCare Advanced Stain & Odor Remover with 3x Pro-Bacteria and Enzyme Formula gets all the smell out and takes the stains with it. You can use a black light to check for leftover urine, but if you’ve saturated the area well, there shouldn’t be any left.
It’s a great deal of product for a very inexpensive price. It has a nice light lemony smell that dissipates once it’s dry, so there shouldn’t be a problem if you’re sensitive to scents.
What needs improvement:
Has to be used with caution on floors. The stuff can strip floors even when used exactly as directed.
8. Thornell Cat Odor-Off
Thornell offers fast and permanent relief from cat odors.
Features:
Eliminates odors from urine, spray, and feces
Cat safe
Non enzyme cleaner
Works on all surfaces like rugs and carpets to hardwood floors
Available in 16 oz concentrate and 16 oz soaker variants
Offers fast and permanent solution from cat odors. It can even save precious carpets from going to the trash. It has a subtle smell that won’t overpower your senses.
It works on many surfaces! Thornell doesn’t just remove the urine smell from carpets or floors, it can even take on pearls that have been soaking in pee for a long time. (Don’t ask us how.) If you’ve got cats, then you know that they can get anywhere and, if they have a problem, can eliminate in the unlikeliest of places.
This product can save precious carpets from going to the bin. It has a nice smell that won’t overpower you. What comes out is just a light scent of clean. It doesn’t use enzymes to treat spots, but it works just as fast, and in some cases, even faster. Incidents of cats going back to the same area is drastically reduced, sometimes to zero.
What needs improvement:
While it’s performance on several types of surfaces is excellent, Thornell Cat Odor Off doesn’t work as well on concrete floors. It can take a whole lot of scrubbing and many applications to take the cat pee scent off.
9. Bubba’s Rowdy Friends Pet Stain & Odor Terminator
A professional-grade enzyme cleaner that destroys odors and stains.
Features:
Cat urine and stain remover
Uses natural dormant bacteria to destroy urine smell and enzymes to break down stains
Kid and cat safe
Certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute
Works on clothing, fabric, and all areas of the home
Available in 32 oz sprayer bottle and 1 gallon bottle
A professional-grade cleaner that destroys odors and stains. This doesn't only work on urine and poop, they also do well against vomit, blood and sweat.
Bubba’s Rowdy Friends’ cat urine stain and odor terminator products are hugely effective. These don’t only work on urine and poop, they also do their job against blood, vomit, and sweat. These can be used on beddings, furniture, turf, concrete, in your car, and even on wood flooring.
It flat out works. Markings and stains are completely removed along with the smell. The price point is also another big consideration since it’s very competitive when you consider the amount of content and how good it does the job.
What needs improvement:
The scent can be a little too strong and can be overpowering while it’s doing its thing. It’s best to make sure you get the room where you’re doing your cleaning to be as well-ventilated as possible.
10. Simple Green Cat Pet Stain & Odor Remover
Powerful, natural enzymes eliminate odor at the source.
Features:
Eliminates organic stains and odor
Cat safe and non-toxic
Works on curtains, clothing, finished wood, tiles, and more
Available in 32 oz, 1 gallon, and 1 gallon + 32 oz packaging
Simple Green’s urine remover is tough on cat pee smell. Just as its name implies, it’s a simple cleaning tool that does a bang up job. Even the stinkiest room will smell freshly clean when you use this on your cat messes. It eliminates pretty much all odor such as dirt, urine, blood, vomit, scent markings, and more.
It’s completely natural and safe for pets, people, and surfaces. You can spray it on the affected areas where accidents have happened or around the litter box to keep the unwanted smells down. It’s also pretty cheap for the amount of product you can get, so definitely a good deal if you have multiple cats in your household.
What needs improvement:
The sprayer that comes with the smaller container (32 oz) can only get about halfway or so through the content.
What Should You Look for When Purchasing a Cat Urine Odor Remover?
In order to get the best possible product for you, these are the things to check when purchasing a cat urine odor eliminator:
1. Ingredients
While professional strength stain and odor removers have the capability to thoroughly remove any untoward scents, some may not be the safest to use around kids and pets. If you’re worried about using tons of chemicals, there are enzymatic cleaners that utilize non-toxic ingredients. Some are also completely organic.
2. Target surface
Some formulas are all-purpose, while others are designed to specifically target odor and stains in fabric (linens, carpets, etc.) or solid surfaces (hardwood floors, tiles). It’s good to choose one that is directed towards the particular surface you want to treat for the best results.
3. Method of application
Cat urine odor remover products come in different packagings. Some are in ready-to-spray bottles for easy cleaning of small spots. For large or multiple targeted areas, you might need to go for concentrated solutions that you can mix up and use as needed.
What is The Best Way to Neutralize Cat Urine?
There are many ways you can neutralize odors from cat urine. There are homemade pantry staples you can use such as vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar is often mixed with water and sprayed on floors and walls. The acid in the vinegar neutralizes the alkaline in the urine, and although smelly itself, it will take the cat urine smell with it when its scent disappears in the course of a few days.
Baking soda works by absorbing moisture and smell when sprinkled on the affected surface. It’s a great odor remover, which is why you often see it as an additional ingredient in many kinds of cat litter.
Different products use different ways to target odor and stain. One of the most popular types is the enzymatic cleaner. The enzymes in the products, which speed up chemical reactions, work by breaking down stains and odors. Cleaners with enzymes work fast, and if it’s a particularly good product, it should remove all traces of urine smell without you needing to redo the process again.
Aside from enzyme cleaners, there are cat urine removers that are completely organic, while others use a proprietary formula to eliminate unwanted odor and stain. If you’re unsure how to pick the best stain and odor remover for your cat problem, below is a guide on how to choose. We’ve also rated and reviewed several cat urine remover products to find out which is the best one in the market.
Bonus Section: Why Do Cats Pee Outside the Litter Box?
Contrary to some people’s opinion, cats do not pee outside their litter box to get even with their owners. The reason can be something as simple as the litter box not being changed. Cats are very sensitive to smell, and if you do not take out the waste and change the litter box regularly, your cats will eliminate elsewhere. Who wants to keep going to a bathroom with an unflushable toilet?
It could also be because you have multiple cats in your household. Some cats do not like sharing their litter box with another. As a rule, keep as many litter boxes around your home as the number of your cats.
Some cats spray to mark their territory or let other felines know that they are ready to mate. This is a completely hormonal issue and may be fixed by having your pets neutered or spayed. Others do so because of a feud with other cats in the household or because they are stressed or anxious.
The last reason could be a medical issue. Older cats who have arthritis have a difficult time getting inside their litter box, particularly if its side is too tall or if the litter box is located somewhere difficult to go to (somewhere that requires going up a flight of stairs, for example). Eliminating outside could also be a sign of urinary tract infection, diabetes, and more. To make sure that this is not the case, get your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
What chemical neutralizes cat urine?
Many find that vinegar, while a bit smelly itself, works to remove the lasting odor of sprayed cat urine because vinegar is an acid that neutralizes the alkaline salts that form in dried urine stains. A solution of one part water and one part vinegar can be used to clean walls and floors.
Does cat pee smell ever go away?
Cat urine contains uric acid, which can last in carpets, fabrics and wood for years! Although baking soda, vinegar, soap, and hydrogen peroxide may neutralize the odors temporarily, a humid day can cause the uric acid to recrystallize, and the infamous cat odor will return.
Will bleach get rid of cat urine smell?
You might think of using bleach to clean the concrete floors after removing the urine-stained carpeting, but bleach won't kill the odor. It simply disinfects. Also, the smell of cat pee can stick around longer because it is more concentrated than a dog's urine.
How long does urine smell last in carpet?
Left untreated, urine takes up to five years to off-gas on it's own. The oxidizers do this work within hours, not years, an expert said. Most technicians leave the solution on the carpet to work for 24 hours, after which time the urine, bacteria and any odor will be gone.
A huge animal lover, born and raised around dogs, cats, chickens...
Self-educated pet care nerd. Currently parent of three adopted cats and one small mutt. Animal adoption advocate. Loves a good book (about animals) and playing the piano.
