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10 Best Carpet Cleaners for Cat Urine in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

spraying carpet cleaner on the carpet

spraying carpet cleaner on the carpet

Whether it’s winning our affection or destroying the house, everything seems to come naturally to our cats. It only takes a few quick swipes of their claws to wreck your favorite leather chair, and even the tiniest accident on the carpet is enough to fill your house with an unrelenting urine stink.

It can take a lot of patience on some days but living with cats gets so much easier when you know how to clean up after them. Removing cat urine is one job that causes major headaches for pet owners, as most DIY methods that work on other stains don’t stand a chance on a pee spot. If you’re done struggling with old stains and funky odors that just won’t quit, check out our reviews and top picks for the best carpet cleaner for cat urine to try today.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
  • Bio-enzyme formula without harsh chemicals
  • Can be used on almost any surface
  • Cleans all types of stains and smells
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Simple Solution Pet Urine Destroyer Simple Solution Pet Urine Destroyer
  • Works fast
  • Leaves a pleasant, mild aroma
  • Safe to use on a variety of materials
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Urine Off Cat & Kitten Formula Urine Off Cat & Kitten Formula
  • Eco-friendly
  • Safe for a variety of surfaces
  • Effective odor-remover and stain-lifter
  • Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Urine & Odor Destroyer Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Urine & Odor Destroyer
  • Bio-based, eco-friendly formula
  • Safe to use around people and pets
  • Not compromised by extreme heat or cold
  • Hoover Paws & Claws Pet Stain Remover Hoover Paws & Claws Pet Stain Remover
  • Effective on a variety of stains
  • Continues working after cleaning
  • Usable on carpet, area rugs, car interiors, and upholstery
  • The 10 Best Carpet Cleaners for Cat Urine

    1. Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray – Best Overall

    Hepper-Advanced-Bio-Enzyme-Pet-Stain-Odor-Eliminator-Spray

    If you have pets, you know they can occasionally be pretty messy, leaving our homes smelling and looking bad. You probably deal with occasional urinating on the carpet if you are a pet parent. When that happens, you need a rapid solution to remove the stain and smell.

    Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is the best carpet cleaner for cat urine this year according to our research. As the name implies, this product has bio-enzymes that penetrate deeply and dissolve smells and stains quickly. Also, the formula is non-scented and it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals.

    Besides your carpets, this product is suitable for other surfaces too and can help you clean urine from almost any spot in your home. Unlike most other formulas, this eliminator doesn’t require mixing with water so you can simply shake it and spray it on the stained area. Also, this product permanently removes odors and stains, leaving your home clean and fresh.

    Another advantage is that you can use this product for other stains such as vomit, feces, and drool, and the bottle is large—32-oz—so you will get a lot of usage from just one bottle.

    At House Grail, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs that look great in every home!

    Pros
    • 100% refund if you’re not completely satisfied
    • Can be used on almost any surface
    • Cleans all types of stains and smells
    • Bio-enzyme formula without harsh chemicals
    Cons
    • Currently no shipping outside of the USA
    • A bit pricey compared to other similar products

    2. Simple Solution Pet Urine Destroyer – Best Value

    Simple Solution Pet Urine Destroyer

    The aptly-named Simple Solution offers a no-frills but ultra-effective and all-natural approach to clean cat urine from carpet in its Pet Urine Destroyer spray. The “2x Pro Bacteria” formula works like Nature’s Miracle’s bio-enzyme spray, with bacteria and enzymes dissolving urea and other waste products. Spray the cleaner and blot up after 10 minutes. The solution will leave a fragrant scent for a few hours as it evaporates and takes the urine odor with it.

    Thanks to its basic formula, the Pet Urine Destroyer is handy on an array of water-safe materials around the home, from hard surfaces to bedding and children’s toys. It’s an excellent value and powerful multi-purpose solution for cats and dogs that have frequent accidents, and is the best carpet cleaner for cat urine for the money.

    Pros
    • Leaves a pleasant, mild aroma
    • Works fast
    • Safe to use on a variety of materials
    • Great for cat and dog urine
    Cons
    • May take multiple cleanings to remove old stains

    3. Urine Off Cat & Kitten Formula – Premium Choice

    Urine Off Cat & Kitten Formula

    If you’re dealing with not only irritating cat odor but also an unsightly stain that won’t come out, you may need to upgrade your efforts to Urine Off Cat & Kitten Formula. The liquid cleaner combines the odor-eliminating power of bacteria and enzymes with a dirt-lifting surfactant, a strong 1-2 punch that gets rid of any evidence of a past accident.

    Urine Off is a USDA-certified bio-based product and is 100% safe for use around people and pets. It can pick up and destroy fresh pee in a matter of minutes, but old set-in stains may need more time to soak. Give the cleaner a few hours to sit, and it will eliminate even the most challenging stains.

    Pros
    • Effective odor-remover and stain-lifter
    • Eco-friendly
    • Safe for a variety of surfaces
    Cons
    • Pricier than other options
    • Can leave a waxy residue

    4. Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Urine & Odor Destroyer

    Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Urine & Odor Destroyer

    For pet owners who prefer environmentally friendly, sustainable solutions around the home, Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Urine & Odor Destroyer is the product to have on hand for tough cat stains. Instead of using enzymes, Skout’s Honor integrates alternative bio-based solutions to eliminate pet smells and lift stains.

    The Professional Strength Urine & Odor Destroyer uses BioKore technology, a plant-derived surfactant, to remove dirt and destroy odor-causing molecules. That means that it’s safe to use around your family and pets, and it’s effective on more than just cat urine. Whether it is pee, feces, hairballs, or vomit, Skout’s Honor’s innovative formula can tackle anything your kitty can dole out. Use it for your carpet, floor, bedding, car, laundry, or any water-safe material where an unfortunate accident occurred.

    Pros
    • Effective on a variety of pet stains
    • Usable on numerous water-safe materials
    • Bio-based, eco-friendly formula
    • Safe to use around people and pets
    • Not compromised by extreme heat or cold
    • Removes feline pheromones, odor molecules, and stains
    Cons
    • Product smell may linger long after use
    • May not be effective on old urine stains

    5. Hoover Paws & Claws Pet Stain Remover

    Hoover Paws & Claws Pet Stain Remover

    Hoover makes its Paws & Claws Pet Stain Remover for use with the rest of their carpet-care solutions, but it works perfectly fine on its own. The enzymatic formula is an all-purpose solution for random pet stains whether they came from your cat, dog, or any other four-legged housemate.

    Paws & Claws uses an array of enzymes that dig deep into carpeting, removing odors and remaining active to continue fighting smells long after you finish cleaning. Use it to effectively remove urine stains as well as any other organic waste your furry friends leave behind. It’s excellent as a standalone option, or you can pretreat your carpet before shampooing for an enzyme-cleaning boost.

    Pros
    • Effective on a variety of stains
    • Continues working after cleaning
    • Usable on carpet, area rugs, car interiors, and upholstery
    Cons
    • Not a multi-surface option
    • May be ineffective on deep set-in stains

    6. Nature’s Miracle Cat Enzymatic Urine Destroyer Plus

    Nature’s Miracle Cat Enzymatic Urine Destroyer Plus

    Nature’s Miracle is a leader in all things related to managing pet behaviors, and its Urine Destroyer Plus may be the crowning achievement. There are some more versatile and user-friendly products out there, but when you only need to remove hard-to-clean cat urine odor and lingering residue, this is the best overall carpet cleaner to accomplish just that.

    Urine Destroyer Plus is a bio-enzymatic spray, a targeted cleaner that works great for organic pet stains. Helpful bacteria in the solution produce enzymes that break down the odor-causing proteins and uric acid in cat pee, turning them into water and harmless gasses that dissipate into the air.

    As with most enzyme cleaners, you spray the stain with Urine Destroyer Plus, wait 15 minutes, and blot the liquid up. After blotting up the damp spot, bio-agents from the cleaner remain in your carpet and continue to consume any urine they meet for ongoing performance. It removes any trace of cat pee to prevent future marks, while essential oils in the formula impart a crisp, pine scent to help refresh the room.

    Pros
    • Uses targeted cat urine bio-enzymes
    • Continues working after cleaning
    • Effective on carpet, furniture, fabric, and hard surfaces
    Cons
    • Strong fragrance can be irritating

    7. Urine Gone Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator

    Urine Gone Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator

    Urine Gone Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator is a savvy cocktail of odor fighters including enzymes and baking soda, making it a non-toxic and multi-functional cat urine cleaner for mindful pet parents. It’s an incredibly versatile formula, useful on the widest range of pet stains and soiled surfaces you could imagine.

    For carpet cleaning, spray Urine Gone to saturate the stain and let it sit until it dries completely, giving the enzymes time to reach deep into the fibers and extract any odor. Then, blot the area with a damp towel to remove traces of cleaner. Feel free to use Urine Gone on nearly any material, including wood, porcelain, vinyl, and bedding, or use it as a laundry pre-treatment to get rid of urine in your clothes.

    Pros
    • Effective on a wide variety of surfaces
    • Useful for many different pet stains
    • Non-toxic, safe around humans and pets
    Cons
    • Long overall cleaning time
    • Not the most effective on old urine stains

    8. Nature’s Miracle Pet Stain and Odor Remover Foam Aerosol Spray

    Nature’s Miracle Pet Stain and Odor Remover Foam Aerosol Spray

    There’s something satisfying about watching a foaming carpet cleaner go to work, and without a doubt, Nature’s Miracle Pet Stain and Odor Remover Foam works. When you’ve tried everything on a stinky cat urine stain, try this simple-to-use cleaner to get the smell out for good. The foam penetrates carpet fibers, carrying active enzymes deep down to release the toughest marks and prevent re-soiling.

    Like spray solution, Nature’s Miracle foam solutions work in a simple 3-step process—spray, wait 15 minutes, and blot up the cleaner. The formula is convenient to use, safe around the family, quick-drying, and workable on several different hard and soft surfaces.

    Pros
    • Powerful enzymatic formula for an array of stains
    • Safe for multiple surfaces
    • Easy to use
    Cons
    • Scent can be overpowering
    • Not as effective on old cat urine as bio-enzymatic formulas

    9. Resolve Urine Destroyer

    Resolve Urine Destroyer

    Resolve is the odor-elimination brand, and you can always count on it to take a unique approach to cleaning pet messes. Its Urine Destroyer spray is another addition to a long lineup of powerful carpet cleaning products. The solution works for cat urine and other pet stains, including vomit and dirt marks.

    If your cat just had an accident on the carpet, reach for Urine Destroyer to eliminate the odor on contact. The bio-based polymer solution lifts stains and immediately neutralizes smells, taking no time to clean fresh pee. Use it anywhere your pets have accidents, from carpet to car interiors and beyond.

    Pros
    • Eliminates odor fast
    • Suitable for several different surfaces
    • Effective on human and pet urine
    Cons
    • Can be ineffective on dried cat pee

    10. Arm & Hammer Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator

    Arm & Hammer Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator

    You know what you’re going to get with any Arm & Hammer product, and its baking soda-based pet stain remover and deodorizer is an appropriate representative for the brand. Rather than use enzymes, the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator mixes odor-killing baking soda with stain-lifting OxiClean to safely and effectively remove cat urine from carpeting.

    It may be a different blend, but you use Arm & Hammer’s cleaner just like an enzyme cleaner. Liberally spray a urine stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before blotting it up. It’s a worry-free way to remove fresh urine from carpets and more, but it may struggle with old stains.

    Pros
    • Safe to use around people and pets
    • Fast-acting formula kills odors
    • Useful on a variety of pet stains
    Cons
    • Not ideal for dried urine stains
    • Can be hard to clean suds from carpet

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    Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Carpet Cleaner for Cat Urine

    What Works Best on Cat Urine?

    Bio-enzymatic cleaners are the best solutions for removing cat urine, especially when you have to clean old dry pee stains.

    The cat urine smell is so persistent because uric acid crystals form a strong hold on carpet fibers, a bond that normal detergents and cleaners can’t break. You can mask the smell with perfumes temporarily, and you may think you got rid of it after your initial cleaning attempts. But uric acid reactivates when it gets moist, so you may find the odor returning on a humid day or even after you steam clean your carpet!

    Instead of masking the smell, bio-enzymatic cleaners remove the root cause of it. These solutions work by using targeted enzymes to break down specific organic waste (cat urine, in this case) so that helpful bacteria can consume it and remove it as harmless byproducts. The smell won’t return and you’ll stand a better chance of avoiding repeat accidents in the same spots.

    cat pee at the carpet
    Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

    Enzymatic and Oxygen-Based Cleaners

    Choosing a cat urine cleaner is often a tradeoff of power and versatility. Bio-enzymatic cleaners are powerful, but they’re usually limited to a specific type of stain.

    Broader enzyme cleaners can break down a variety of organic waste materials, so you can often use them not only on urine but also vomit, blood, saliva, and feces. Oxygen-based cleaners, like Arm & Hammer’s pet stain remover, go a step further by working on pet waste as well as a variety of other everyday stains, such as dirt and wine spills.

    While general enzyme and oxygen-based cleaners are versatile, they’re mainly effective on cat urine if it’s fresh. Once the stain is dry, you will be better off trying a bio-enzyme cleaner the first time.

    Related Read: 10 Best Carpet Cleaner for Dog Urine: Reviews & Top Picks

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    Final Thoughts

    Our cats can be a comfort, but they can quickly turn into a pain when they decide to stray from the litter box. Fortunately, with the right approach, you won’t have to hold the occasional bathroom break on the rug against them for too long.

    The best step to take is to blot up cat urine as soon as possible, and you may even be able to use DIY household solutions for minor spots if you get to them fast. But when you need an extra boost to get rid of those tough stains, follow our reviews for the best carpet cleaners for cat urine. Our top choice overall is the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray, followed by Simple Solution for the best value for money.

    With our recommendations, you’ll be sure to get the odor out in no time and keep your pet from having repeat accidents.


    Featured Image Credit: Syda Productions, Shutterstock

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