7 Best Cat Urine Removers (2024 Reviews)

Cleaning Up Cat Urine

There is nothing quite like the smell of cat pee, and I don’t mean that in a good way. For those of you who have owned cats for a long time, you know what I’m talking about.

It’s acrid, it’s sharp, it screams “I’m one of those cat owners who doesn’t keep their house clean.” In this buying guide, we’ll give you our picks for the best cat urine remover.

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We’ve also got some guides on how to make your own homemade cat urine cleaner, and other tips for how to get rid of cat pee smell. 

7 Best Cat Urine Removers

1. Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator for Dog and Cat Urine

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  • Get Rid Of The Toughest Pet Odors: Angry Orange is a commercial grade citrus pet odor remover
  • Safe: Angry Orange pet urine odor remover is derived from the oil found in orange peels.
  • Makes (4) 32 Ounce Spray Bottles: 1 gallon of pet odor remover and carpet cleaner solution from our 8 ounce bottle
  • Multiple Uses: Angry Orange odor eliminator for home can be used on carpets and tile; combats cat odor in litter boxes; removes pet odor in the yard and kennel surfaces; ammonia and methane odors; and anywhere else pet odor waste is a problem
  • Safe: Angry Orange pet urine odor remover is derived from the oil found in orange peels.

Angry Orange promises that it “smells like Heaven, works like Hell.” It is a proprietary blend of orange oil and enzymatic cleaner designed to both attack and mask cat urine odors.

If you haven’t heard the term “enzymatic cleaner,” you’re about to hear it a ton in this guide. Cat urine is made up of several different chemical components. The main offender for odor is one called uric acid.

Enzymatic cleaner contains enzymes, which are proteins that “eat” and eliminate the odor-causing uric acid.

The enzymes knock out the odor-causing chemicals in cat urine, while the orange oil cleaner masks and replaces odors with a powerful orange scent. (For reference, Goo-Gone, citrus paint solvents, and orange essential oils have a similar odor.

While Angry Orange also sells this ready-to-use in a spray bottle, this particular product is an 8 oz. bottle that makes up a gallon of cat urine remover. So, you’ll want a spray bottle or other appropriate container ready.

The product is also specifically not recommended for carpet cleaners; instead, extract problem areas with a carpet cleaner first and follow up with an application of Angry Orange.

Customers absolutely rave about the powerful orange smell that this product provides. I suspect that many users err with a more concentrated mixture, and that the orange oils are somewhat activated by the chemicals in cat urine stains.

While the product is in general indoor/outdoor and pet-safe, some customers have had issues with animals other than cats and dogs. As always, consult the manufacturers instructions and your veterinarian, especially with other animals and older cats.

Manufacturers Specs

  • Sizes Available: 8 oz
  • Features: Enzymatic, orange oils

What We Like

  • Familiar orange peel smell
  • Concentrate
  • Great branding (not strictly important, but…)

What We Don’t Like

  • Concentrate means care is required

Summary

Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator combines the enzyme cleaner you need with a powerful orange fragrance, makes a ton of it, and looks great doing it.

2. Resolve Ultra Pet Stain & Odor Remover Spray

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  • Eliminates pet odors with Odor Stop Technology
  • Freshens with a light, clean scent
  • Discourages pet resoiling
  • Removes tough pet stains like urine, vomit, and feces from rugs and carpets also works great on everyday stains like red wine, grape juice, and greasy food

Resolve is a well-known carpet stain removal and spot-treatment brand bringing their product line to the unfortunate world of cleaning up cat urine stains.

Resolve Ultra Pet Stain & Odor Remover Spray claims to discourage pet resoiling, remove a variety of pet stains (not just cat urine), as well as working on standard household stains.

While it does not specifically mention enzymatic cleaning, the claims to clean up tough organic stains like urine, vomit, and feces, as well as discouraging resoiling, are usually true of enzyme cleaners.

This particular product also includes strong stain removing capabilities. Especially if the offending area is in a high traffic or otherwise obvious area, you’ll want to look good as well as smell good.

Resolve’s cat urine remover prefers a light odor. While you may very well want a strong, masking scent, this will allow you to tell if the enzymes did their job.

Customers found that the product worked as advertizes, removing cat urine stains and odors, and there were customers who used Resolve Ultra Pet Stain & Odor Remover as a multipurpose stain remover.

A common complaint is that the product foams significantly, creating a longer clean-up process.

Manufacturers Specs

  • Sizes Available: 32 oz spray bottle
  • Features: [likely] Enzymatic, light scent

What We Like

  • Ready-to-use
  • Light scent for judging if odors have been eliminated
  • Useful as general purpose carpet cleaner

What We Don’t Like

  • Foaming may create more mess

Summary

Resolve Ultra Pet Stain & Odor Remover is a great ready-to-use option that is versatile as a cat urine remover and general stain spot-treatment solution.

3. Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer for Cats

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Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer for cats is tough on strong cat urine and the yellow, sticky residue that comes along with it. The bacteria-based formulas produce enzymes when they come into contact with a food source — pet urine, feces, vomit and other bio-based messes. The enzymatic cleaner will continue working as long as the food source is present, leaving behind a light, fresh scent.

For more than 35 years, Nature’s Miracle has been the brand for the specific task of eliminating cat urine odor. They have a wide range of products (including crazy stuff like disposable litter boxes), but this is their powerful enzymatic cleaner.

Again, Nature’s Miracle specifies the enzyme’s main use of eating up bad cat odors. However, enzymes also take care of feces, vomit, and “other bio-based messes”.Nature’s Miracle points out that the cat formulation is stronger than their other products, including their dog version of the same product. If you are a multi-pet household, the cat version of Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer will work for both cats and dogs.

Nature’s Miracle also includes detailed instructions for stain removal, odor elimination, and what to do with stubborn stains or odors. Again customers rated this product highly and said that it did the job removing strong cat urine odors from a multitude of different places–carpeting, mattresses, and clothing.

This product seems to have a new formulation which has a stronger fragrance. While most did not comment on it, some customers preferred the lighter fragrance of the old formula.

Manufacturers Specs

  • Sizes Available: 1 gal. pour, 32 oz. pour, 32 oz. squeeze
  • Features: Enzymatic, strong scent

What We Like

  • Well-known for cat urine clean-up
  • Strongest formulation of enzymatic cleaner

What We Don’t Like

  • Fragrance may be a bit strong for you

Summary

Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer is heavy-duty stuff from a brand known for dealing with cat urine messes. A great option for any cat mess in any location.

4. Mister Max Anti Icky Poo Odor Remover

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  • Anti Icky Poo is “GREEN AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, SAFE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND SAFE TO HUMANS AND PETS.” AND SAFE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
  • Absolutely removes (not hides) odor from Dog, Cat, Skunk, Rodents, Human, almost all urine and vomit
  • Anti-Icky-Poo uses live bacteria to eliminate any organic bacteria
  • Anti-Icky-Poo’s friendly microbes eat away the source of the odor and eliminate the problem from returning
  • You may need to use P-Bath first if you have used other cleaning products

Anti Icky Poo is another enzymatic urine remover, and often recommended by vets for stubborn urine spots. Unlike some of the other products, Anti Icky Poo is an odor eliminator only.

Mister Max carries a separate stain remover, which they recommend using after Anti Icky Poo has removed any odors. Anti Icky Poo touts its bacteria/enzyme agents, which eat up the odor-causing chemical components of cat urine. It also boasts a wide range of usage–any surface that is water-safe, and almost any bodily stain. (The full list from the back of the bottle is good for a laugh, between a long list of said bodily stains, and well as the clutch word choice of “malodorous”.)

I found the instructions for this particular cat urine remover to be especially good. They are extremely detailed, covering various uses, giving several application methods, and even giving an idea of how much solution you’ll need to take care of a typical “cat corner”.

Customers had good success with this product, some having been recommended to it by their vet. They couldn’t quite decide on the smell–citrus, tea tree oil, peppermint–but agreed that it had somewhat of a strong odor. 

Manufacturers Specs

  • Sizes Available: 1 gal
  • Features: Enzymatic, environmentally friendly

What We Like

  • Vet recommended
  • Clear and detailed instructions
  • use of 17th-century language in product description

What We Don’t Like

  • Different fragrances between customers could indicate a change in the formula

Summary

Anti Icky Poo comes well recommended, and with a whole gallon of it, you’ll be ready to do battle all around the house (though we hope you don’t have to).

5. Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator for Pets

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  • Quickly removes odors left behind by urine, stool, vomit, and other organic matter
  • Safe for use on grass, artificial turf, gravel, concrete, brick, and more
  • Uses powerful, natural enzymes to eliminate odors at the source rather than cover them up
  • Orally non-toxic formula is safer for use around pets
  • Ideal for patios, decks, dog runs and yards

When I think of stubborn cat urine odor, my mind immediately jumps to the carpet. That pungent stench, that sticky yellow-brown stain, the way your cat seems to be able to find it again and again no matter what you do? But what about outside?

Do you have neighborhood cats who like to do their business on your patio, lawn, or artificial turf? (Or maybe they’re your misbehaving cats!) That’s where Simple Green comes in.

Simple Green is an enzymatic formula combined with a hose resevoir applicator. Attach the 32 oz. bottle to your hose nozzle, and spray down the offending area. (This particular product includes a gallon refill as well.)

This, like many of the other products, is kid and pet friendly, and works on several outdoor surfaces like patios, lawns, and gravel.

Customers swear by this product for outdoor areas that are affected by frequent pet accidents. One challenge of the product is that it really should be kept consistently wet to maximize the amount of time the enzymes are working.

Those in hot climates complained that Simple Green had a somewhat limited effective time.

Manufacturers Specs

  • Sizes Available: 32 oz hose resevoir & gallon refill
  • Features: Enzymatic, designed for outdoor use

What We Like

  • Hose applicator gives added power
  • Very effective in outdoor use

What We Don’t Like

  • You might need to babysit it by keeping it wet

Summary

If your great outdoors has transformed into the stinky outdoors, Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator is what you need.

6. Clorox Pet Urine Remover for Stains and Odors

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Clorox Urine Remover for Stains and Odors can be used on a wide range of hard and soft surfaces. The multi-surface formula is safe for carpets, mattresses, upholstery, restrooms, tile and grout. It even works with outdoor surfaces like concrete, walls and flooring for pet stains and alike.

Just spray on thoroughly and watch as it easily dissolves messes of all kinds on contact; afterward, simply blot with a damp cloth. Clorox Urine Remover for Stains and Odors is powerful and efficient.

With Clorox being the name that comes to mind when you’ve decided you need the nuclear option, it’s no surprise that they’ve brought a urine remover to the table.

This particular product is a odor eliminator and stain remover, so it should be a one-stop shop for cleaning up the pee spots.

More customers have had issues with the bottle itself than with the cleaning solution. Most have said that it did that job and got the cat smell right out of their carpets, furniture, and clothing. A few did need multiple applications.

Manufacturers Specs

  • Sizes Available: 32 oz spray bottle
  • Features: Enzymatic, stain and odor remover

What We Like

  • High expectations of a Clorox product
  • Spray bottle for more targeted application

What We Don’t Like

  • Spray bottle means lots of spraying for a thorough soak application

Summary

Bring the trusted bathroom cleaner into the battle against cat urine with Clorox Pet Urine Remover for Stains and Odors.

7. Rocco & Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator

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  • ELIMINATES STAINS, ODORS AND RESIDUE If it’s gross, it’s gone. Not just the stain, but the stink. From stinky yellow pet urine and feces to vomit and other organic spills, our professional strength formula tackles them all.
  • ENZYME ACTIVATED The key is getting to the problem deep-down. This spray contains natural enzymatic bacteria that are activated on contact with odors and stains, feeding on ammonia crystals and organic matter until they are completely eliminated.
  • CERTIFIED GENTLE AND SAFE Chlorine free and color safe. Safe to use around pets and children. No hazardous propellants, no residue left behind. So gentle it’s been Certified Safe for all carpets, earning the Seal of Approval by the trusted Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).

Rocco & Roxie is yet another of the enzymatic cat urine remover offerings. Like many of the urine removers, it is kid and pet safe, and has a wide range of uses beyond carpet.

However, Rocco & Roxie did go out of their way to get a Seal of Approval from the Carpet and Rug Institute. As such, the product is especially sensitive to colorfastness and being safe for pets and people.

For many, Rocco & Roxie is the stuff that works when the others don’t. Like Anti Icky Poo, Rocco & Roxie give very detailed instructions, including one of the guiding rules of using enzymatic urine removers.

To work, there must be as much solution as there was cat urine, and it must get down to the deepest levels that that urine did.

Customers say that Rocco & Roxie did the job (even some reviews on other products mentioned that they solved their cat urine problems after switching to Rocco & Roxie).

Even those customers who didn’t find it to meet their expectations, were extremely happy with Rocco & Roxie’s customer service and money-back guarantee.

Manufacturers Specs

  • Sizes Available: 32 oz spray bottle, gallon jug
  • Features: Enzymatic, CRI Seal of Approval

What We Like

  • Came up frequently in other reviews
  • Great customer service

What We Don’t Like

  • At $20 a bottle, a little pricey

Summary

If you want a family-owned, thoroughly-vetted, American-made product, you’ve got it in Rocco & Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator.

Guide: How to Make Homemade Cat Urine Cleaner

So, what if you can’t run out and pick up one of these enzyme cat urine removers when your cat picks an inappropriate bathroom spot?

Or, you may have noticed that these cat urine removers are a bit of an investment. How do you make your own homemade cat urine cleaner?

Well, one word of warning: Even if you opt to make a homemade cat urine cleaner, I would still recommend choosing an enzymatic cat urine remover.

That being said, pairing your homemade cleaner with an enzyme cleaner may be the best way to eliminate cat pee stains and odors.

Both Hill’s and Animal Planet agree that the household tools of the trade are vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. All of these play important roles that can help eliminate cat urine smells and stains.

Vinegar, acetic acid, is an excellent bacteria killer. Baking soda absorbs odors. Hydrogen peroxide serves the role of oxidizing (and thus eliminating) toxic substances in some organisms.

Dish soap is an all-purpose surfacent, capturing contaminants and making them more easily removed by water.

The order of these cleaning agents matters! Follow these steps carefully:

1.) If you’ve caught the stain while it’s fresh, blot up as much as possible with disposable paper towels.

2.) Spray down the area with vinegar, wait 20-30 seconds, and blot up with more towels. (I like to use paper for a lot of this, because why would I transfer the cat urine into another fabric I’m going to keep in my house?)

Be sure the vinegar is thoroughly removed, because we’ll be using hydrogen peroxide next. (Consider using water to dilute and blot up if you’re unsure.)

3.) Make a mixture of a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to a few drops of dish soap, and test it on an inconspicuous area of your carpet to check for colorfastness. If you’re all clear, scrub this mixture into the stain.

Let it sit for a few seconds, but blot it up quickly so the hydrogen peroxide doesn’t get a chance to bleach your carpet. Again, be sure to get this mixture out of your carpet thoroughly, because any remaining soap can trap contaminants in your carpet and make it appear dirty.

4.) Extract your carpet with an extractor if you have one, or blot it thoroughly and consider setting a fan to dry the area out. Once the area is somewhat dry, you can spread baking soda to absorb additional odor. Vacuum up the baking soda once the area is completely dry.

5.) Hill’s warns that any remaining uric acid in cat urine will recrystallize. This is the component of cat urine that creates its signature odor. If the odor returns after 24-48 hours, you should consider using an enzymatic cat urine remover, which will break down the uric acid and other organic material trapped in the carpet or other material.

Guide: How to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell

But how do I get rid of that cat pee smell? Love cats or hate ’em, pretty much everyone knows what you’re talking about. It’s sharp, it’s putrid, it somehow encourages cats to pee on it even more…pretty much the worst.

So, how do you get rid of it? Well, you should have a good idea if you’ve been reading this whole article. To recap:

Cat urine is made of several components. One of them is uric acid. As it breaks down, it attracts bacteria and releases ammonia. This combination is what’s responsible for the signature stink of cat urine. The fact that uric acid crystallizes is part of why it is so difficult to remove from materials.

Fast is best. Many organic stains have proteins in them. If the liquid content changes (evaporation), or if extreme temperature change occurs (scalding hot water), it can cause proteins or crystals to become stubbornly set in the fibers of carpet, furniture, or clothing. The sooner you catch the stain, the better chance you have of preventing it from setting.

Remove, don’t massage. You always want to be pressing and blotting urine out of soiled areas. Pressing will draw the urine out of the carpet and pad, limiting the amount left for you to deal with. It also limits the amount that could make it to the wooden subfloor and become trapped.

Urine smell is difficult or impossible to remove if it sets into the subfloor. Scrubbing, on the other hand, is not absorbing much urine from the soiled area, and may actually be encouraging it to set. You may consider using a carpet extractor if you have one.  

Use traditional cleaners to dilute the uric acid. Using your favorite carpet spot cleaner, or some of the household cleaning mentioned above, along with lots of blotting, can get rid of some of the stains.

You can also stand on towels, using your weight to blot the last of the liquid out and leave a weight on top of towels overnight to remove more liquid.

You should use an enzymatic cleaner and lots of it. If you’ve owned a cat for any amount of time and dealt with cleaning up pee spots, you know how stubborn they can be when not dealt with. Do yourself a favor after your thorough cleaning and follow up the next day with an enzymatic cleaner.

These cleaners are made to eat the uric acid and other organic components in cat urine. First, use as much or more cleaner as there is urine. Second, let it stay wet and active long enough to break down the organic components. Follow up with our favorite blotting, and you should be well on your way to a pee-free area.

Treat the root issue. Leo’s Pet Care has a great article on cat urine, and he urges cat owners to consult with their vet to work through the causes of inappropriate urination. Medical issues, such as urinary tract infections, can be the cause, and your vet can rule these out with routine tests.

Cats are also prone to stress and anxiety if their environment is out of whack, and this will often be accompanied by inappropriate urination. The article has great tips for understanding cats’ desires in their environment, and what changes you can make to hopefully put a stop to them peeing in the corner.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with cat urine is a real pain. It stinks and it’s persistent. However, it’s not insurmountable. You can once again live in a stink-free home. You can win the battle. We’ve provided you with a ton of great cat urine removers.