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

There’s nothing like a smelly urine stain to make you wonder if you’re really cut out for pet ownership. Some carpet stains can be cleaned with all-purpose cleaners or home remedies, but tough stains come out much more easily with a cleaner especially made for breaking down pet stains.

The cleaners on this list are proven to work on tough stains, and with 9 great options, there’s sure to be a stain cleaner that meets your needs.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated 2024)

The 9 Best Carpet Cleaners for Cat Urine

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

Our choice for the best overall carpet cleaner for cat urine is the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain And Odor Eliminator. This cleaner contains live bacteria, which bind with and destroy urine stains and odors. Easy to use and with no chemical fragrance left behind, this cleaner is effective, yet not overpowering. This spray actually cleans the smell and stain from your carpet, rather than simply covering it up. 

Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme spray works not only on urine but any other bodily fluid your cat may produce to stain your surfaces, including vomit. The live bacteria in this spray are sensitive to temperature extremes, which could destroy them, causing a decline in cleaning power. The bacterial spores may also be neutralized by acidic or oxidizing cleaning agents. You’ll also need to exercise some patience when dealing with deep-set smells, as the cleaner must remain in contact with the surface for a longer period of time for best results. 

Fortunately, Hepper Bio-enzyme comes in a large bottle, offering plenty of product to remove even the most stubborn cat urine stains from your carpet.

It is an easy choice to top our list of best carpet cleaners for cat pee.

---

2. Out! Oxy Fast Activated Pet Stain & Odor Remover – Budget Buy

We suggest Out! Oxy Fast Activated Pet Stain and Odor Remover if you’re on a budget. This cleaner is a much lower price than the others on this list, but with a 95% approval rating, it is clear that buyers still love it. Its hydrogen-peroxide-based formula frees oxygen from stains to break them down, making bodily fluids like urine clear up with no trouble. However, you should be aware that hydrogen peroxide can cause stomach irritation in cats, so you should make sure your cat doesn’t ingest it.

The formula is great for breaking down most stains, but it sometimes struggles with tough odors, so multiple applications might be needed.

---

3. Rocco and Roxie Professional Strength Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator

One of the most powerful cleaners on the market today is the Rocco and Roxie Professional Strength Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator. It makes cleaning tough stains a breeze and works especially well on stubborn, strong-smelling stains, new or old. It’s safe to use around children and pets and works on many surfaces. It is also gained the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval, showing that it works well on various carpet types. Although this is a slightly more expensive cleaner, ounce-for-ounce, it can be diluted slightly with water if needed and overall makes cleaning stubborn stains easy.

Some reviewers don’t love the fragrance, which is fresh and slightly minty, but others say it smells clean and fresh.

---

4. Simple Solution Pet Stain and Odor Remover

Bacteria and enzymes are combined in the powerful Simple Solution Pet Stain and Odor Remover. This cleaner will take care of fresh and dry stains on most surfaces with minimal damage, including carpet. It is a cost-effective option that costs much less than many comparable enzyme cleaners, and it’s safe to use around children and pets. Its 3-in-1 nozzle helps you focus the cleaner on your stain, and it is unscented, making it a good option if you have allergies or a sensitive nose.

This cleaner is generally highly rated, but a few reviewers noted that it sometimes struggles with strong smells, so you might need multiple cleans to get out lingering odors.

---

5. Nature’s Miracle Cat Enzymatic Urine Destroyer

If you’re trying to get a stain out with minimal hassle, Nature’s Miracle Cat Enzymatic Urine Destroyer is here to help you out. We found this cleaner to be a great choice. It works off an enzyme-based formula that easily breaks down new and old stains, making it fast and easy to use. It also is designed to work on any surface, so while it works well as a carpet cleaner, you can use it for any cat mess.

The cleaner comes in a 1-gallon bottle, which is nice if you need to treat a large area or have a cat that has frequent accidents, but it does mean that it’s a little expensive and bulky if you aren’t likely to go through it quickly. Another drawback is that some reviewers noted that the fragrance is a little strong, making it overpowering at times.

---

6. MisterMax Anti-Icky-Poo

MisterMax Anti-Icky-Poo is a great option for removing cat urine from carpets It comes in three different sizes so you can decide how much you’ll use. The bacterial culture that the cleaner is based on breaks down old and new stains and is completely non-toxic to pets and humans. It works for all kinds of bodily fluids, including urine, poo, vomit, and other odors. It also has two different scent options.

If you like to have a fresh scent when you clean, the scented option might be right for you, but if strong odors bug you, you can go with unscented just as easily. One drawback of this cleaner is that some reviewers noted that they needed multiple applications to fully remove a stain.

---

7. PetSafe Pet Loo Wee Care Enzyme Cleaner

Enzyme-based cleaners are much more environmentally friendly than chemical cleaners, and PetSafe Pet Loo Wee Care Enzyme Cleaner takes that to the max. Its biodegradable enzyme technology is free of harsh chemicals and vegan, making it great for keeping your house clean without sacrificing the environment. It comes with no added fragrances, so it is great for sensitive noses.

Some reviewers did mention discoloration on fabric, so make sure to test it in an inconspicuous spot to make sure it doesn’t break down dye. Also, note that there were a few customers who complained of the bottle leaking in transit.

---

8. Nature’s Miracle Oxy Formula Set-in Stain Remover, Orange Scent

Nature’s Miracle Oxy Formula Set-in Stain Remover gets rid of deep, dried-out stains quickly by using oxygen to penetrate and lift odors. Although it’s specifically marketed towards dog owners, it is equally effective when fighting stains made by cats. It is easy to use, with simple instructions to spray, let soak, and blot. The citrus scent makes it a great choice because cats don’t like the smell, making it less likely they’ll return to the spot in the future. If you prefer unscented stain removers, however, you might want to go with another option.

One reviewer did mention that it took a lot of cleaner per use to get the stain out fully, so you might go through it more quickly than you’d expect.

---

9. Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Urine and Odor Destroyer

If you like more plants in your life, Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Urine and Odor Destroyer might be the product to try. Everything from the cleaning materials to the fragrance is plant-based, with proprietary technology that helps it clean without harsh chemicals that might damage the carpet or harm the environment. It is non-toxic and can be combined with other cleaners. Since it’s safe at a range of temperatures, it can even be added to a steam carpet cleaner.

Reviews for this product are generally good; however, several customers complained that the bottle wasn’t sealed well and leaked in transit or was easy to spill.

Buyers Guide: Choosing the Best Carpet Cleaner for Cat Urine

Enzyme vs. Traditional Cleaners

If you have looked at pet cleaners for a while, you might notice that enzyme and bacteria cleaners are everywhere. These cleaners use biological materials that break down proteins to remove stains instead of chemical cleaners. These cleaners are different from most cleaners, but that doesn’t mean they’re always better.

Pros of Enzyme Cleaners

One of the biggest pluses of using an enzyme cleaner is that they are generally non-toxic and don’t damage surfaces. This makes them safe to use around pets and children and makes them more environmentally friendly than many traditional cleaners. They eat away at a stain over time, breaking it down on the molecular level so that the stain and odor are completely removed. It sometimes takes several hours or a few applications of the enzyme, depending on the cleaner and the stain.

Pros of Traditional Cleaners

Traditional cleaners still have a place too! Traditional cleaners are often much lower in price than enzyme cleaners, and they still do a good job disinfecting and sanitizing an area as they clean. There are many different cleaners with varying levels of harshness—from baking soda to bleach and beyond—and finding the right cleaner can make it easy to get a range of stains out, not just biological stains. They also tend to be fast-acting compared to enzyme cleaners, requiring only minutes to soak and clean an area instead of hours.

Final Thoughts

Pet stains are annoying, but they don’t have to last forever. Good cleaners can take cat urine out of the carpet without a trace. We loved Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain And Odor Eliminator because of its powerful enzyme cleaner that broke down stains easily. If you are on a budget but still want a quality remover, Out! Oxy Fast Activated Pet Stain and Odor Remover is another great choice.

Finally, Rocco and Roxie Professional Strength Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator is another option worth the cost. All the cleaners on this list will help you get your home clean in no time!

---

Featured Image Credit: Syda-Productions, Shutterstock