10 Best Air Purifiers for Cat Urine Odor – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

While we might be nose-blind to the icky smell surrounding our cat’s litter tray, visitors are not. Unfortunately for us, the smell of cat urine — particularly from our grouchy, intact tomcat — lingers. Air purifiers can help remove stubborn odors for last-minute cleanups or make sure your home smells fresh to avoid the occasional whiff of unpleasant pet odor.

Choosing the best air purifier can be a challenge, so we’ve put together these reviews. We hope that they’ll help you come to a final decision.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated 2024)

The 10 Best Air Purifiers for Cat Urine Odor

1. LEVOIT True HEPA Core 300 — Best Overall

 

The LEVOIT True HEPA Core 300 uses a three-stage filtration system to clean the air in a room. It works on germs, pet dander, and bad smells, including the lingering odor from kitty litter. As the best overall air purifier for cat urine odor, this option has an adjustable fan setting with three built-in speeds and a light that you can turn on and off. There’s also a sleep mode setting so you won’t get disturbed by loud whirring in small apartments.

This LEVOIT air purifier includes four replacement filters, and while still on the large side, it can be placed on a table or dresser to keep it out of the way.

Some users have found that this air purifier gives off a strong, unpleasant plastic smell when in use.

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2. Beurer LR210 Air Purifier — Best Value

For households with several rooms, the Beurer LR210 Air Purifier can handle a range of room sizes at a slightly more affordable price than many other options available. The sleep mode includes an extra-quiet setting and dims the display light to prevent it from interfering with your sleep schedule. There’s also a built-in timer and three fan settings to better remove pollutants and alleviate the symptoms of allergies. It’s our choice for the best air purifier for cat urine odor for the money.

Like other air purifiers, it’s recommended to change the filters regularly, but several users have found that the replacement filters are difficult to find.

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3. Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier—Premium Choice

These days, technology and pets go hand in hand. The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier uses modern innovation to protect your home from pet-related odors, smoke from wildfires, viruses, and bacteria. It provides around-the-clock protection with quiet efficiency and low energy requirements.

The sleek design and LED interface give your décor a modern look. You also don’t need to keep checking the filters, as the SmartFilter RFID monitors usage and lets you know when the filters need replacing through the Blueair app.

Some users have had difficulty getting the Blueair app to work properly, and the hefty price makes this option a hard blow to your wallet.

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4. Crane Air Purifier

Bulky air purifiers might do their job well, but for apartment dwellers, they can get in the way. The Crane Air Purifier is lightweight and compact, so you can tuck it out of the way while it works. Unlike most other designs, the Crane uses two methods to clean the air in your home. UV light kills bacteria and other germs to sanitize the atmosphere, and the HEPA filters capture the surviving pollutants.

Alongside the three-speed settings, this option has a built-in timer and automatic shut-off to reduce energy consumption. The particle filter is also washable, so you don’t have to replace it.

Several users have complained about the noisiness of this device, and it might not be suitable for use in a bedroom while you sleep.

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5. Alen BreatheSmart Flex True HEPA Air Purifier

The Alen BreatheSmart Flex True HEPA Air Purifier might be expensive, but it has many features. Designed to be quiet on all four fan speed settings, it captures 99.9% of airborne pollutants and reduces odors in areas up to 700 square feet without using exorbitant amounts of electricity. The lights-out mode also makes it suitable for open-plan apartments without intruding on sleeping hours.

Unlike some other air purifiers, the Alen BreatheSmart can be personalized to match your décor, with five color options.

Several users have complained about this product giving off a chemical smell when first used. It’s also one of the more expensive options on this list.

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6. Blueair Blue Pure 211+

If you have an open-plan household, smells can permeate through the entire building, and it can be difficult to find an air purifier strong enough to handle such a large space. The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ is designed to handle large areas up to 540 square feet, and the built-in carbon filter works to reduce unpleasant odors, including cat urine. Along with the low noise and energy usage, the 211+ uses machine-washable filters to capture 99.9% of germs, bacteria, viruses, and allergens from pollen or your pets.

Several users have expressed concerns about the strong chemical odor emitted when this air purifier is in use. It’s also one of the more expensive options available.

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7. Bissell Air400 Air Purifier

Featuring a library quiet setting so it doesn’t disturb your evening movie marathon, the Bissell Air400 Air Purifier uses a three-stage filtration system to capture 99.7% of air pollutants. The activated carbon filter reduces odors whether they’re pet-related or from the kitchen, and the built-in fans have five-speed settings.

This option also uses modern technology to automate most of the built-in features. The Bissell monitors air quality and adjusts the fan speed for you.

Both the air purifier itself and the filters are expensive. The filters need to be replaced every 6 months at least, and the replacements can get a bit pricey.

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8. Germ Guardian AC4825

If you’re short on space or only need to clear the air in a small room of your apartment, such as where the litter box is, the Germ Guardian AC4825 is a small and lightweight option. Using UV-C light and charcoal filters, the Germ Guardian kills 99.9% of germs, dust, pet dander, and mold spores while reducing odors from wildfires and the litter tray. It has several settings available, including a quiet, low setting for late-night operation.

The filters should be replaced at least once every 6 months for the best results. Some users have had issues with the circuitry melting and giving off an electrical burning odor. For safety reasons, this air purifier shouldn’t be run while unattended.

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9. GermGuardian CDAP5500BCA WiFi Smart Air Purifier

 

Getting up just to change a setting is a thing of the past now that voice controls are becoming more popular. The GermGuardian CDAP5500BCA WiFi Smart Air Purifier uses your Wi-Fi to connect to Alexa or another voice recognition software so you don’t have to move off the couch.

This four-in-one device reduces allergens by automatically monitoring air quality; trapping pollen, pet hair, and other pollutants; and sterilizing the air with UV-C light.

To work properly and to be voice activated, this smart purifier needs a stable Wi-Fi connection. However, the included control app can be temperamental and confusing and doesn’t always recognize the air purifier as a device.

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10. Blueair Pro M Air Purifier

The Blueair Pro M Air Purifier is designed with modern décor in mind. Built for small to medium-sized rooms, the Blueair product’s sleek aesthetic doesn’t make your space look cluttered and is an eye-catching addition to your home. It uses HEPA technology, particle filtration, and electrostatic charge to trap bacteria, germs, pet odors, and other unwanted air pollutants.

Although this device is meant to run quietly, many users have complained about the hum of the motor when it’s in use. The product also gives off an unpleasant smell when first used due to the new filters. It’s also an expensive option compared to alternative brands.

Buyers Guide: What to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier

Whether you want an air purifier to get rid of pet-related odors, like cat urine, or to help alleviate allergies, there are a few things to remember before making a purchase. Considering how expensive most air purifiers are, this guide will help you figure out what features you need and how to manage your budget.

Cost

Whenever you need to buy something new, expensive or not, it’s important to consider your wallet. When it comes to taking care of yourself and your feline, making sure you can afford to keep food on the table is essential.

While it might be nice to buy one of the top-of-the-line air purifiers with voice activation and all the other technological advancements, they tend to be the most expensive options. If you only need it for reducing the odor surrounding your cat’s litter tray, one of the cheaper options can work just as well. It won’t have the same fancy features, but it’ll be much gentler on your wallet.

Filters

Your budget should also consider the cost of the replacement filters. You can purchase air purifiers with washable filters, but more often than not, you’ll need to replace the filters every 6 months or so. After spending a small fortune on the device itself, you’ll want to make sure you can afford the replacement filters along with all your other pet supplies.

Some brands of filters can also be tricky to find. It’ll be easier in the long run if you double-check the type of filters that the air purifier uses before you make a final decision.

Last but not least, the actual filter that the purifier uses is important to consider too. There are three different types, and while they’re often used together, they each have different purposes.

Activated Carbon

Designed to capture organic matter and volatile organic compounds, activated carbon filters are the best for odors, whether they’re caused by pets or not. For cat urine odors, you want to find an air purifier with a carbon filter for the best results.

HEPA

HEPA filters are the best for reducing allergies. They work to trap pollutants as small as 0.3 microns, which includes dust, pollen, and pet dander. While they won’t cure your allergies, they can help alleviate some of the symptoms when you’re at home.

UV-C Light

Similar to HEPA filters, UV-C light filters can help reduce allergies by capturing pollen and pet dander. That’s not the only thing that these filters are good for, though. UV-C light is the best way to kill bacteria and other harmful germs in your home.

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Purpose

Not all air purifiers clear odors and remove particulates in the air — some do one or the other. To tackle lingering odors, you need to make sure the air purifier that you consider uses the right filters. Activated carbon filters are the best at removing odors, and most purifiers that use these often have HEPA or UV-C light filters to capture pet dander and dust too. So, you often get the best of both worlds, with a clean-smelling house and less pet dander.

Space

Something that many people forget to consider is the space that they have available in their homes. Several of the options on this list are heavy and on the large side. If you’re looking for something portable, those aren’t going to suit your needs.

In the same way, if you only have small rooms in a tiny apartment, buying a device that covers the entire floor will probably be over-the-top. You should buy an air purifier that can cover an area slightly bigger than your living area.

Final Thoughts

With four replacement filters and several speed settings, including a quiet sleep mode, the LEVOIT True HEPA Core 300 is the overall best air purifier. If you’re short on funds, though, the Beurer LR210 Air Purifier is a budget-friendly solution that still offers many of the same benefits.

Choosing the right air purifier to clear the odors around your kitty’s litter tray can be daunting. We hope that these reviews have made your task a little easier.

• Related Read: Do Air Purifiers Help With Pet Hair? Effectiveness & Safety Explored

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Featured Image Credit: Mariia Boiko, Shutterstock