Best Cat Urine Cleaners and Odor Removers: 2021 Buyer’s Guide

Inappropriate elimination or marking is something every cat owner has experienced at some point. Cat urine has a very strong odor and can be almost impossible to clean. It’s an odor that lingers and one that is tough to remove, especially if you have thick carpet. But the best cat urine cleaners and odor removers are specifically designed to eliminate stains and get rid of pet odor, instead of temporarily masking the scent. However, if you’ve purchased a cat urine cleaner odor remover before, then you know that not all of them work as well as the manufacturer claims they do. You can easily spend hundreds of dollars each year, trying out new types of maximum strength stain odor eliminator products in the hope that one will finally work and restore your carpet, hardwood floors, or furniture.

But many of these cat urine odor removers simply aren’t tough enough, so you’ll end up with a carpet that smells like both cat urine and flowers.

If you’re tired of wasting money on odor removers that just don’t work, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve tested out dozens of cat urine removers, narrowing it to six that will not only get rid of odor, but they’ll devour the bacteria in the urine, eliminate ammonia, and leave your carpet looking, feeling, and smelling clean again. I’ve also put together this buyer’s guide, which discusses the different types of cat urine odor removers available and how to use them correctly.

Below, I’ve put together a comparison chart that includes each odor remover product, its rating, and other important information that will help you make the right choice.

Cat Urine Cleaners and Odor Removers Comparison Chart

Product	Active Ingredient	Scent	Size	Rating
Rocco & Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator Shop On Amazon!	Enzyme Cleaner	Cinnamon/Mint	32 OZ
Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator for Cat Urine Shop On Amazon!	Enzyme Cleaner	Orange	8 OZ
Nature’s Miracle Odor Eliminator Shop On Amazon!	Enzyme Cleaner	Fresh	128 FL OZ
NonScents Stain & Odor Eliminator Shop On Amazon!	Chlorine	None	32 OZ
Emmy's Best Powerful Pet Odor Remover Shop On Amazon!	Enzyme Cleaner	Lavendar	32 OZ
Pet Stain & Odor Miracle Shop On Amazon!	Enzyme Cleaner	Mint	32 OZ

Best Cat Urine Remover-Rocco Roxie Professional Strength Stain and Odor Eliminator

Our Rating: (5/5)

This Rocco Roxie professional strength enzyme cleaning spray is designed to not only remove tough pet stains, but it will also eliminate odors, leaving behind a clean fresh carpet. The spray is enzyme activated and designed to reach deep-down into thick carpets to attack bacteria. This product is color safe and chlorine free, so you won’t have to worry about it bleaching your carpet or fabrics. This product can also be used on every type of surface ranging from litter boxes and clothing, to furniture, floors, and carpets.

Conclusion

Considered one of the top cat urine odor removers on the market, the Roxie professional strength stain remover gets rid of odors by reaching the source and eliminating odor causing bacteria. It’s all-natural formula makes it safe to use around children and pets and it works well to remove both new and old stains.

Best Choice for Thick Carpets-Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator for Dog and Cat Urine

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

If you’re looking for the best cat urine odor eliminator, you may have just found it. Angry Orange is a great product. This is a powerful professional strength stain odor remover that will leave your home smelling like oranges. It’s simple to use, fast and effective. You can purchase it premixed in a spray bottle, or you can buy the concentrated version for a little more cash and end up with a gallons’ worth of professional strength stain odor remover. Obviously, you’ll get more bang for your buck if you purchase the spray concentrated, you’ll just need to buy a spray bottle or two. Now, while the product does work great, what you won’t find out until you’ve used it is just how potent the smell is. While having your home smell like oranges is definitely better than cat urine, you’ll need to open your windows and doors to let the scent dissipate. The scent is so strong and the natural ingredients so powerful, it can cause you to start coughing and can feel overwhelming to the senses. But, as most cat owners know, it takes a powerful product to remove cat urine.

Conclusion

If you have thick carpet, your biggest problem thus far has been finding the best cat urine odor remover, one that’s tough enough to penetrate deep down into the carpet’s fibers. Angry Orange is the answer. If you can get past the strong scent, you’ll find yourself relying on this spray for all types of stains around the home, including vomit, diarrhea, feces, and urine.

Professional Strength Stain Odor Remover-Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odor Eliminator

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This stain and odor remover by Nature’s Miracle features a powerful enzymatic activated formula that’s designed to eliminate old and new stains. The fresh scent is very light and not overwhelming, which will be a huge plus for cat owners with a sensitive nose. This product is safe for use around children and pets and can be used on a wide range of surface types including hard floors, clothing, furniture, and carpet.

Conclusion

Nature’s Miracle Advanced cat urine eliminating spray has a nice fresh scent that’s not overwhelming. It’s also a very versatile spray that you can use on a wide variety of surfaces including wood, tile, vinyl, furniture, carpet, and clothing. Since this product is gentle, it won’t discolor clothing or other types of fabric, however, you should still do a test spot to ensure it won’t harm certain fabrics, or carpets, before you apply the solution liberally.

Best Cat Urine Cleaner for Hard Surfaces-NonScents Stain & Odor Eliminator – Pet Odor & Stain Remover

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

If you’re tired of pet stain and odor removers  that have a strong lemon scent, or an artificial chemical odor, then you’ll appreciate this non toxic stain remover that’s scent-free. This product’s active ingredient is chlorine, offering a stronger odor fighting power compared to products that utilized enzyme activation. This odor remover comes in a handy spray bottle and can be used on a variety of surfaces including trash cans, cat carriers, fabrics, furniture, and carpets. This spray works for any type of organic stain including pet messes, vomit, or feces. It works to instantly eliminate pet odor, and reaches deep down into carpets to attack the source of the odor.

Conclusion

This odor remover and stain fighter instantly eliminates cat urine odors and can be used on a wide variety of surfaces for any type of organic stain. If you’re looking for an odor remover that doesn’t have an overpowering scent and one that’s gentle on fabrics, then this multi-purpose cleaner is a great choice and one that won’t hit your wallet too hard.

Best Cat Urine Odor Remover for Old Stains-Emmy’s Best Powerful Pet Odor Remover Color Saver and Urine Eliminator

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This odor remover and enzyme cleaner comes in a handy spray bottle that has multiple settings. This product is designed to get rid of pet messes thanks to the strong enzyme formula that’s designed to penetrate deep into carpets to reach the source of the smell. This odor remover spray is safe to use around kids and pets.

The manufacturer is so confident that pet owners will love their product that they offer a 100% money back guarantee.

This is one of the best cat urine odor fighters on the market, featuring a triple action formula that has a light lavender scent that isn’t overpowering. Keep in mind, like most types of enzyme cleaners, you may need to reapply this product in order to totally remove old urine stains.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a stain and odor remover that’s gentle on fabrics, and one that can handle a variety of hard surfaces, then Emmy’s spray is a great buy and one you’ll find yourself using for several different types of organic stains. It’s the best cat urine odor remover for both new and old stains, working to eliminate that strong odors, replacing it with the light scent of lavender. Unlike competing products, this cat urine cleaner will not simply mask the smell, it will devour the bacteria that causes the odor, leaving your home smelling clean and fresh.

Best Urine Cleaner for Cats and Dogs-Pet Stain & Odor Miracle

Our Rating: (4/5)

This cat urine odor remover by Pet Stain Odor Miracle is designed to remove dog and cat urine odor easily, whether you’re dealing with an old or fresh stain. This stain and odor remover can be used on car upholstery, carpets, tile floors, wood, furniture, turf, fabrics, laundry, and litter boxes. This cleaner is non toxic, offering natural cleaning power that’s safe to use around children and your pet. This formula is biodegradable, bio-enzymatic, and scented with essential oils.

Conclusion

There have been some reports that this cat urine odor remover was not effective on older stains. This can be a common problem with enzymatic cleaners. If you run into this issue, you may need to reapply the cat urine odor remover to achieve ideal results. Fortunately, the manufacturer offers a money back guarantee if pet owners are not 100% satisfied with how this spray handles pet stains. If you’re looking for a reliable, tough cleaner, a versatile spray that can be used on a variety of surfaces, or a product that offers a light scent that’s not overpowering, then you’ll be impressed with how this cat odor eliminating spray tackles stains around the home.

Best Cat Urine Cleaners and Odor Removers Buyer’s Guide

Most cats will have an accident outside of the litter box from time to time, whether it’s because it was dirty, they have an underlying health condition, or they refuse to use the same litter box that another cat in the house does. For pet owners, this can be incredibly stressful. Because cat urine has such a strong scent, it seems like it’s almost impossible to get the smell out. Many pet owners will hit their local pet store in search of a cat urine odor remover that can treat new and old stains and one that can actually lift the stain instead of just masking the smell. Unfortunately, not all cat urine odor removers are created equal and you’re more likely to end up with a product that’s basically powerless against stains. If you’re tired of throwing money away on expensive cleaning products, then this buyer’s guide will show you exactly what you need to look for in a cleaner that can tackle old and new urine stains.

Cleaning Surface Type

Always read the label to learn what types of surfaces you can use cat urine odor removers on. Some may only work for hard surfaces such as tile, laminate flooring, hardwood floors, and vinyl. Others are more versatile and can be used on furniture, clothing, carpet, and some hard surfaces. Be very careful when you use one of these products on your carpet and furniture and always do a test spot. This can be the underside of a cushion or a small piece of carpet that’s out of sight. Some products can discolor fabrics, so it’s very important that you test out different surfaces before you apply the product liberally in a high traffic area.

Non-Toxic Formula

Since you’ll be using cat urine odor removers around animals, make sure it’s free from harsh chemicals such as ammonia or bleach. All-natural formulas tend to be very effective and are safe to use around children and pets.

Enzyme-Based Cleaners

When you’re dealing with a urine stain, you never want to use a traditional cleaning solution or stain spray. These products can make the urine scent even stronger. Instead, you need an enzyme-based cleaner. These cat urine removers will neutralize the smell by breaking down the protein and bacteria in the urine, basically consuming it. Chemical products designed to treat stains and odors can negatively react with the high ammonia content in cat urine, which is why using those types of products tends to make the stain much worse.

Concentration

Buying a concentrated pet stain can give you more bang for your buck. Bottles of traditional sprays can cost you more, especially if you have a cat in the home who has accidents often. Concentrated sprays can be diluted with water, so one small bottle of the product can go a long way. You can load up a spray bottle or two to keep on hand to quickly handle pet messes as they happen.

Why Cats Inappropriately Eliminate in the Home

A cat can stop using their litter box for many reasons, including:

• It hasn’t been scooped out recently
• Another cat in the home is using it
• You don’t have enough litter boxes in your multi-cat household
• Your cat has a kidney infection or UTI
• Your cat is stressed

If your cat has begun to inappropriately eliminate in the home, the first step is making an appointment with their vet. A vet can run some tests to rule out an underlying health condition, such as a urinary tract infection, kidney infection, cancer, or a chronic health condition. Cats commonly eliminate outside of the litter box when they’re sick or in pain.

After your vet has ruled out any health issues, then you need to consider other possible causes.

UTIs

One of the most common reasons a cat will stop using their litter boxes is due to urinary tract infections or kidney stones. A cat often associates the pain and discomfort they feel due to the infection, with the litter box itself. Their thinking is that if they don’t use the litter box to go to the bathroom, they won’t experience that same type of pain or discomfort. Additionally, a severe kidney infection or UTI can make it difficult for a cat to hold their urine, so they may have accidents if they don’t get to their box in time.

Rivalry in a Multi-Cat Household

Some cats will simply refuse to use the same cat box that another cat in the home does. This is usually a matter of not having enough litter boxes in the home, so one of the cats is walking into a cat box that’s soiled with another cat’s urine or feces. Adding one cat box per cat, plus one can solve this problem.

A Dirty Litter Box

If you’ve been slacking lately when it comes to cleaning out the cat box, changing out the litter, and promptly scooping out the poop, then your cat may look for a clean spot to do their business. Felines are very particular about the cleanliness of their cat box and most do not want to step on old urine and feces. Creating a cleaning schedule and sticking to it can help to eliminate accidents in the home in the future.

How Enzymatic Cleaners Work

An enzymatic cleaner is a cleaning product that utilizes good bacteria to digest urine. The bacteria accomplish this by producing enzymes that are specifically designed to break down certain molecules into small pieces. These small pieces will become food for the bacteria. The bacteria eat the proteins in cat urine and breaks it down into a couple of compounds: water and carbon dioxide. The bacteria multiply and continue to consume the urine until their food supply is gone, then the bacteria population will decrease and can be washed away or left to continue working.

Keep in mind, these cleaners are not living things and are not able to reproduce or grow on their own like a microorganism can. Essentially, they’re tools that are created by bacteria and designed to help break down molecules. These stain removers contain a variety of enzymes to break down all types of soil to get rid of cat spray and other types of organic stains.

Many products consist of protease enzymes, which focus on breaking down protein-based molecules such as urine, food, and blood.

 Benefits of Using Enzymatic Cleaners on Cat Urine Stains

There are many different benefits that come with using this type of cleaning product to treat stains, such as:

• These products are much safer for the environment, unlike chemical cleaners, and can be used around children and pets.
• The bacteria can penetrate into very small crevices and cracks, eliminating urine stains that a traditional chemical cleaner cannot.
• The enzymes and bacteria are left as residuals and can continue to work for a period of up to eighty hours after you have applied the product. This will ensure the stain is fully removed.
• This good bacteria can work to displace pathogenic bacteria, which can cause diseases.
• These cleaners can be used to treat most types of surfaces, such as grout, tile, hardwood, carpet, vinyl, laminate, and more.

Dealing with a Repeat Offender

The biggest issue cat owners report having is using a product that works well to treat stains and odors, only to find that their cat has returned to the scene of the crime to urinate once more. But why? Cats will do this if they can still smell urine from the old stain you just cleaned up. This is a common problem for pet owners who don’t use an enzyme cleaner. Enzyme cleaners will consume the stain, so there’s no scent left. This can prevent your cat from continuing to urinate in the same spots in the home.

Why Cat Urine Smells So Bad

The biggest reason that cat urine seems to smell so much worse compared to dog urine is the high ammonia content. The smell of ammonia alone is pretty terrible, but since cat urine contains ammonia as well, the scent is unbearable for most people. Cat urine itself doesn’t smell that bad initially. However, the urine is quickly broken down by bacteria into ammonia. The longer the urine sits around, the higher the level of ammonia it contains. Since felines will typically urinate in a secluded spot, their urine can go unnoticed until it’s had time to break down for several hours or even days.

If your feline has returned to the same spot to urinate over and over, the stain can be a big challenge to remove. Since this type of urine doesn’t smell as terrible right away, I recommend buying a black light to check your carpet and flooring for urine stains.

Without using the right product, the scent of cat urine can linger for months or years. Depending on the environment, the smell may disappear when the temperature drops, only to pop up again when the weather turns hot. Over time, the cat urine smell will only get worse, which is why you need to clean up the urine as soon as it’s discovered using a good carpet cleaner and cat odor remover.

How to Use a Cat Urine Odor Remover on Furniture

Before you use your new cat urine odor remover, make sure you soak up as much of the urine as possible, blotting the spot with a towel or cloth. Next, you’ll apply the cleaner as directed on the bottle. Once you’re finished, you may want to rinse out the area, although, for some enzymatic cleaners, you won’t have to follow this step. In many cases, you’ll be required to spray the product liberally over the stain and allow it to soak for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. The next step may involve blotting the surface again or using a wet sponge to rinse out the product.

Treating Wood Floors

Getting urine out of wood floors can be a challenge since you’ll want to be extra careful not to damage the floor’s finish. However, if the stain has been sitting there for several hours, then you’ll need a product that will penetrate deep down to remove odors. If you were lucky enough to catch the accident early, then cleaning it will be much easier. Usually if a cat urine odor remover is safe to use on wood floors it will list this information clearly on the product’s label. Some products are specifically designed for wood floor use only and cannot be used on carpet or fabrics.

These hardwood floor enzymatic cleaners will usually come with a specially designed nozzle that you can adjust based on the size of the stain. For a fresh stain, you can simply mist the area, while an older stain, one that has had time to set in may require a higher spray setting.

Keep in mind, most types of hardwood floor cleaners are designed for sealed floors. If your hardwood floors are not sealed, then you can risk damaging/staining the floor.

Urine on Tile

Getting the smell of urine out of tile is more difficult than scrubbing out an old stain in carpet. Why? Because the urine tends to sink into the grout, where it’s very difficult to remove. Even if your grout was sealed at some point, over time most grout needs to be resealed. If it’s been years since you’ve resealed your grout, then prepare to repeatedly clean the spot your feline has urinated on since the smell of urine is very difficult to remove. Whatever you do, avoid using any type of chemical product. Instead, stick to an enzymatic cleaner. Bleach and other chemicals can make the urine odor even stronger.

Scrubbing Urine Out of Carpet

If your feline urinates on carpets in the home, the first step in the cleaning process is to soak up as much of the stain as possible before you apply the cleaning product. Use paper towels or a clean cloth to blot at the stain and absorb the urine. Be sure you apply a lot of pressure during this task, so you can lift as much urine as possible. If you have thick rugs, then you’ll need to ensure the product reaches deep down into the carpet. You should also leave the cleaning product on for as long as possible, at least half an hour, before blotting the surface again and rinsing out the spot using a warm wet cloth. This ensures the product removes the stains and odors left behind, so you won’t need to reapply the product.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kills the Odor of Cat Urine?

If you don’t have sealed floors, make sure you place white vinegar on the area and allow it to sit for fifteen minutes. Blot the area with a dry cloth or paper towels, then spray more vinegar over the area and gently scrub the surface with a sponge. If that doesn’t work, then you’ll need to buy the best cat urine remover.

Why Does My Whole House Smell like Cat Pee?

Cat urine odors can be tough to get rid of. You may be dealing with an old cat urine stain that you can’t locate, or you may have a mold problem. Certain types of dangerous molds can smell just like urine, such as black mold. For pet accidents in the home, you’ll need to use a pet stain and odor eliminator to get the cat urine smell out. If you’re not certain you have a mold problem, contact a professional.

How Do I Know if My House Smells like Cat Pee?

Look around the home for stains. Be sure to check along the bottoms of walls, look under furniture and behind furniture. Stains and odors can be easier to locate on hard surfaces but can be difficult to locate in carpeted rooms. If you’re having trouble locating the stain, purchase a UV black light, which will cause the urine stain to glow, making it incredibly easy to find.

How Do You Get the Smell of Cat Pee Out of the Bathroom?

If the urine has spread to the grout, you’ll have a tough time removing the stains and odors if the grout isn’t sealed. There are many things you can try, such as making a mixture of baking soda and vinegar and leaving it on the stained area, but honestly, an enzyme cleaner is the only product that’s going to work. Other types of cleaners, such as bleach or standard grout cleaners, will only make the smell worse.

Is Vinegar an Enzyme Cleaner?

An enzyme cleaner contains enzymes. While vinegar does offer impressive cleaning power, it’s not an enzyme cleaner. Vinegar can break down a stain, but not like an enzymatic cleaner, which basically consumes the soils and proteins in urine.

How do I Get Rid of Cat Litter Smell in My House?

There are some tricks you can try that can help to minimize the smell.

• Scoop the litter box one to two times daily
• Wash the cat box out once a week
• Use a good carpet shampoo. Carpet shampoo can reach deep down and remove old dirt and stains.
• Sprinkle baking soda in the litter to help neutralize odor
• Scoop out urine and feces as soon as possible

Final Thoughts

The best cat urine cleaners and odor removers will penetrate deep down into the surface to annihilate the stain. This type of carpet cleaner is all-natural, tough, and won’t simply mask the scent of urine. Unlike chemical cleaners, these enzymatic cleaners will completely eliminate the source of the odor, so your cat will not return to the same spot. The products I’ve included here actually work and are designed to handle both new and old stains, making removing urine stains from furniture, carpets, tile, hardwood, and other types of surfaces a cinch.