5 Best Laundry Detergent & Boosters for Cat Urine – 2023 Reviews & Top Picks
By Ashley Bates
Updated on
Cat urine can be a really tricky smell to remove from your fabrics. If your cat mistakes your laundry pile as a quick spot to do their business, you’ll need something to help you neutralize those odors.
Here are five product reviews that target just these kinds of issues. These laundry detergents and boosters will take the traces of cat urgent away for good so you can get back into your favorite cardigan.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated 2023)
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall |
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Shop Care 4X Ultra |
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Check Price |
Best Value |
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Odoban Disinfectant Laundry & Air Freshener |
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Check Price |
Premium Choice |
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Skout's Honor Laundry Booster |
|
Check Price |
Best for Kittens |
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Puracy Free and Clear Natural Laundry Pet Detergent |
|
Check Price |
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Thornell Odorcide Laundry |
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Check Price |
The 5 Best Laundry Detergents and Boosters for Cat Urine
1. Shop Care 4X Ultra – Best Overall
Effective Ingredient: | Synergistic enzymes |
Detergent Type: | Concentrated |
Compatible Surfaces: | Porous and non-porous surfaces |
When it comes to checking all the boxes as to what makes a laundry detergent for urine great, Shop Care 4x Ultra is our favorite overall. It comes in a one-gallon bottle, lasting longer than many other similar brands—plus, there are double-batch and five-gallon options.
This synergistic enzyme detergent is incredibly concentrated and effective—a little bit goes a long way. This product eliminates odors on contact and gets rid of the tough stains associated with them.
The formula is excellent for cat urine, but it will work for all kinds of messes your feline makes with ultra-cleaning power. It will work in any washing machine.
- Works well for multiple surfaces
- Powerful synergistic enzymes remove odors
- Doubles as a stain remover
- Not all natural
2. Odoban Disinfectant Laundry & Air Freshener – Best Value
Effective Ingredient: | Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride |
Detergent Type: | Disinfectant |
Compatible Surfaces: | Porous and non-porous surfaces |
If you want to save a few bucks but need an effective product, look at the Odoban Disinfectant. It comes in a gallon jug so you can stretch the product quite far, eliminating harsh ammonia odors associated with cat urine.
This product is ideal for different pet viruses, killing up to 99% of germs. You can use this on virtually any surface, including hard tile, upholstery, carpet—and even bedding. It leaves no filmy residue to leftover buildup on laundry, So, it’s really a one-stop-shop.
We think the eucalyptus scent is crisp and clean without smelling too much like chemicals. Not to mention, it’s multipurpose and works to reduce aromas on laundry and acts as a disinfectant. You can use this as a fabric booster as well as in several other areas of the home—from furniture to carpets.
- Multipurpose
- Disinfectants against harmful viruses
- Fresh eucalyptus scent
- Not a traditional detergent
3. Skout’s Honor Laundry Booster – Premium Choice
Effective Ingredient: | Plant-based surfactant |
Detergent Type: | Concentrated |
Compatible Surfaces: | Fabric |
The Skouts Honor Laundry Booster is a very effective option for harsh urine smells. Rather than being the base detergent, this booster just acts as a complementary component to reduce odors and refresh fabrics.
This three-time concentrated formula is powerful, removing both smells and stains in no time. You can use it on porous surfaces for optimal cleaning, including furniture.
All ingredients are eco-friendly and biodegradable—non-toxic for you and your pets alike.
A cool perk with this purchase is the charity involved. Skout’s Honor gives a portion of proceeds to animal shelters.
- Non-toxic, environmentally friendly formula
- Specially formulated for laundry
- A portion of proceeds help animals
- More expensive
4. Puracy Free and Clear Natural Laundry Pet Detergent – Best for Kittens
Effective Ingredient: | Plant-based enzymes |
Detergent Type: | Concentrated |
Compatible Surfaces: | Fabrics |
Puracy Free and Clear Natural Laundry Pet Detergent will agree with every household member—fleshy or furry. It is completely hypoallergenic and safe to use. So, if you have all your sensitive or allergy-prone people around, it’s a terrific buy. It might be especially good for kittens.
Even though it might not seem like you get a lot for the price; the formula is highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Rather than using harsh chemicals, they use a plant-based enzyme to eliminate odors.
The aftereffects were as strong as some other products, but it’s ideal for allergy sufferers.
- Hypoallergenic
- Great choice for kittens
- Not as effective as some brands
5. Thornell Odorcide Laundry
Effective Ingredient: | Plant-based surfactant |
Detergent Type: | Concentrated |
Compatible Surfaces: | Porous surfaces |
The Thornell Odorcide Laundry specifically targets the worst pet smells, including cat urine. It is also powerful enough to combat vomit and sweat. You simply add a portion to a regular load of laundry to neutralize the ammonia smell.
Since it is hypoallergenic, touting all safe ingredients, you can use this on even your most sensitive garments. The formula is non-toxic, so you won’t have to worry about potentially irritating chemicals.
This detergent is safe to use for pets and kids alike, which says something about product gentleness. When you measure accordingly, this product works wonders to take away tough urine spots. It’s a handy product to have on hand when your pet has an accident.
It definitely works to remove stains and smells, but we could still catch a little whiff after one wash.
- Easy laundry additive
- Safe for children and pets
- Works for other bad smells and stains
- Works well, but not as effective as some
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Detergent Booster
If you have a cat who isn’t fixed yet, or maybe they’re just learning the ropes. No matter what stage they are in, accidents happen. But cat pee can be very difficult to remove from porous surfaces.
Cat urine contains ammonia, which is extremely strong. The longer it sets into the fabric, the tougher the smell is to remove. Luckily, companies have come up with formulas that neutralize these unpleasantries.
Laundry Detergent for Cat Urine: How to Buy
Here’s what to consider or look for while you shop for these products.
Odor Control
Depending on the type of laundry detergent or booster you choose, there will be some kind of odor neutralizer included.
- Plant-based enzymes
- Baking soda
- Essential oils
- Surfactant
Stain Removing Power
Getting rid of the smell of cat pee is a big challenge, but what about the stain? Sometimes a product can take care of other issues. Other times, you might need a product that specifically targets stains.
Formula Effectiveness
When it comes to stubborn smells like cat urine, even effective formulas can meet their match. While it’s not always the case, usually formulas with chemicals are more powerful. However, those same items might cause irritation or trigger allergies.
Fragrance
Some laundry detergents that target cat urine are scent-free, serving as a neutralizer only. Others have fabric freshening scents that can come from natural or synthetic sources.
Because of chemical sensitivities or allergic reactions, some people might be reactive to certain scent additives.
Laundry-Safe
Some products are terrific for removing cat urine smells—just not in your washing machine. Make sure to read all labels before purchasing to make sure it’s safe for your washer.
Conclusion
Again, we think Shop Care 4x Ultra is an excellent product for laundry. It removes that intense ammonia smell, restoring the fabric. It works in virtually any washing machine, perfect for most situations.
If you want to save a few bucks, you can try out the Odoban Disinfectant. It works wonders on fabrics, upholstery, and other household surfaces. So, it’s really a steal for the value.
In any case, we hope these reviews made your buying process a little easier.
Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock