Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

6 DIY Homemade Cat Urine Stain & Odor Removers You Can Make Today

close up of woman in rubber gloves with cloth and derergent spray cleaning carpet at home

Of course, accidents happen, so you can’t fault your kitty for the occasional mess. But you will want to make sure that you are prepared to clean it up as soon as possible since this is the easiest time to prevent any staining or odors. Unfortunately, not all messes are spotted as soon as they happen, resulting in unsightly set-in stains and offensive lingering odors. Luckily, there are ways you can eliminate these, whether they be on your clothing, carpet, or furniture. Basically, you name it, and there is a trusty homemade concoction that is sure to remove even the toughest of stains and odors.

Before we dive in, we issue a cautionary note! Cats are drawn to the smell of bleach and their urine contains ammonia, so products and detergents containing either should be avoided to prevent repeat messes. If you find that your cat is having accidents frequently, it might be time for you to consider why. Their litter box should be cleaned regularly and kept in a private spot. You could also try making a few slight changes to their bathroom environment. This could mean swapping out their litter (including washing the box beforehand; you might even consider using bleach since they love the scent!), replacing their current litter box altogether, or changing the location of the box.

Another helpful tip: If you are having trouble spotting the exact source of the smell, you can use a black light to locate the areas to be cleaned.

Now, let’s get to the DIY cat urine and odor remover formulas! As a safety tip, please do not allow your cat access to the area where the products are fresh. Use them, remove any excess, and let the spot completely dry before allowing your cat in the room.

divider 3 paws

The Importance of Proper Cleaning

Cats can detect scents long after we’ve cleaned them and can no longer smell them ourselves, which opens opportunities for repeat accidents. Homemade cleaners are awesome in an emergency, but with these gentle solutions, many stains and odors can begin to reappear after some time. If the goal is to eradicate these for good and avoid your cat returning to the same spot, investing in a tough enzyme cleaner is your best bet and luckily, there are many pet-friendly products on the market.

Our Favorite Enzyme Cleaner 

The Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is our favorite enzyme cleaner out there. It permanently removes even the very worst kitty stains and smells, leaving your home fresh and clean! Click here to learn more about this amazing product and get yourself a bottle.

Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
  • ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...
  • FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...
  • FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical...

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!

divider 3 paws

The 6 DIY Cat Urine & Odor Removers

1. Make a DIY Cat Stain & Odor Remover

DIY Cat Stain & Odor Remover That Actually Works
Image Credit: hillspet

Hill’s Pet provides thorough instructions on how to clean cat urine right, the first time! This will help prevent future staining or the chance your cat will find this spot to mark again. They’ve also included instructions on how to properly clean up the inevitable cat hairball vomit. What a useful bonus! Get the instructions here.


2. Get Rid of Sour Cat Urine Smells

How to Get Rid of Sour Cat-Urine Smell
Image Credit: dengarden

Dengarden offers a few different approaches, depending on where you find the urine stain or smell and whether it’s fresh or was cleaned previously. It mentions how one stain can lead to other pets joining in on the pee party, which we think is pretty clever, though the thought is truly terrifying. Let’s try to avoid that at all costs! Get the instructions here.


3. Remove Cat Urine From Carpet

How To Remove Cat Urine From Carpet
Image Credit: sweetsillysara

The simple solution offered by this blog will cost you a whopping $2. Although this may only be a temporary fix when you are in a jam, this combined with a long-term solution provides your room and the area with a freshness you might not otherwise get from the other recipes we’ve listed.


4. Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell

DIY Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell
Image Credit: homemadesimple

Cat pee is a strong liquid, and it can take a lot of work to get rid of the stain and the stench. You may need to try a few techniques and will probably need to repeat the process a handful of times to get the best results. This guide to getting rid of the cat pee smell encourages blotting wet pee and using a mixture of vinegar and water to neutralize odors and stains.


5. Remove Cat Urine Smell Permanently

DIY Remove Cat Urine Smell Permanently
Image Credit: feathersinthewoods

Whether your cat is mistakenly peeing outside the litter tray, was caught short while ill, or is a male cat that likes to spray everywhere and everything, the smell is equally offensive. Buying remover from the store typically means spraying some equally offensive chemicals around the house, but this recipe uses peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap—three ingredients that many of us have stashed under the kitchen sink and that regularly feature in homemade cleaning recipes.


6. Make Homemade Cat Urine Cleaner

DIY Homemade Cat Urine Cleaner
Image Credit: tipsbulletin

If you notice your cat peeing on the floor or furniture and act quickly, it may be possible to blot up the offending liquid and take action before it sets into the fabric and becomes more difficult to get rid of. Otherwise, you will likely end up having to use one of the trusted home ingredients to make a homemade cat urine cleaner. It is always good to have peroxide and white vinegar in the home for these emergencies.

divider 3 paws

Wrapping Up

So the next time your furbaby has an accident, there is no need to panic! Following one of these trusted recipes and set of instructions is guaranteed to have your carpet, clothing or furniture appear as though nothing ever happened! If you found this post to be helpful – please share it with your fellow cat owners. We are positive they will appreciate it during the occasional cat urine emergency.


Featured Image Credit: Ground Picture, Shutterstock

Want content like this delivered to you?

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News, insights, expert advice, and everything cat

* By submitting, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

2 Responses

    1. Oh gosh, Della, that sounds awful, I'm so sorry. Hopefully one of the DIY options on our list can help! Alternatively, our favorite bioenzymatic cleaner is the Hepper one, found here: https://www.hepper.com/products/hepper-advanced-bio-enzyme-pet-stain-odor-eliminator-spray/ It neutralizes scents and removes them at their source. Hope that helps!

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

The 5 Stages of a Urinary Blockage in Cats: Vet-Verified Info & FAQ

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a syndrome related to inflammation in the bladder and urethra. It’s one of the most frustrating...

How to Get Flytrap Glue off a Cat: 4 Vet-Approved Steps

Glue flytraps do an excellent job of eliminating pesky flies, mosquitos, and other insects. Sometimes, these traps can accidentally get stuck to a...

Can Cats Drink Beer? Our Vet Explains

If you have ever considered letting your cat taste your beer, here’s why you should not contemplate this possibility anymore. Sharing beer—or alcohol...

How Long Do Sphynx Cats Live? Vet Reviewed Lifespan, Care Tips & FAQ

You can’t help but notice a Sphynx cat. The large ears and almond-shaped eyes command your attention. It’s no wonder that they are...

More related

Will a Cat Eye Infection Heal On its Own? Our Vet Explains

Cats get eye infections for several reasons, with viruses, injuries, and allergies being the most common causes. It goes without saying that the...

We Chat With Illustrator Sunny Eckerle About Her Bodega Cats

A few years ago, the illustrator Sunny Eckerle walked into a bodega in Brooklyn and found herself greeted by a cat. After assuming...

Why Do Cats Fake Sleep? 7 Vet-Reviewed Possible Reasons

Cats sleep an average of 12 to 16 hours a day, which may seem like a lot of time compared to humans, but...

How to Create a Viral Cat Video: 6 Simple Steps

Cats have the power to attract billions of views online. A simple web search of viral cat videos will lead you to an...

Keep reading

How Often Do Cats Pee? Vet-Verified Facts & When to Worry

Just like people, how often cats pee each day can vary. It depends mostly on how much water they consume, their age, diet, and the environmental temperature. Cats that eat wet food may pee more than cats that eat kibble,...

cat-peeing-on-the-floor

Why Does Your Cat Sit on Things You Are Using? 4 Common Reasons

What is the deal with your cat sitting on things you are using? There are countless videos on social media of individuals trying to work on the computer or read a book and their cat just wants to use it...

cat-books-Unsplash-photo-1627308722931-0e6a1214c03e

Can Cats Eat Jackfruit? Vet Reviewed Risks & Alternatives

The tropical fruit known as a jackfruit has quite a sweet taste to it, which is why your little buddy might be bugging you for some. We do hope they haven’t already ingested any, however, as jackfruit is not a...

Can Cats Eat Jackfruit

Why Is My Cat’s Poop Watery? 8 Vet-Approved Reasons

Changes in bathroom habits are one of cat parents’ biggest causes of worry. Though diarrhea in cats isn’t the most unusual phenomenon, it’s crucial to figure out what may be causing it, especially if it’s regularly affecting your cat. Watery...

orange cat pooping on the grass

10 Best Cat Treats in Canada in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

Cats are highly food-motivated animals that will do just about anything for their favorite treat. However, they are also picky and won’t work for just anything. Whether you are clicker training your cat to perform tricks or just want to...

Blue maine coon cat with treats outdoors

Can Cats Eat Flaxseeds? Vet-Approved Nutritional Facts & FAQ

Cats are carnivores, and in the wild, they would not give plant-based foods a second thought. Instead, they would focus on hunting down small animals to get protein and other nutrients. As domesticated animals, cats rely on us to make...

Can Cats Eat Flaxseeds

Mouse Meat Cat Food: Vet-Reviewed Pros, Cons & Future Uses

If we think of the great matchups in history, a few stand out as quintessential examples. There’s apple pie and ice cream, hamburgers and French fries, among many others. In the animal kingdom, there’s the cat and mouse. Pet owners...

woman-buying-cat-food-at-pet-store

How Do Cats Fall Asleep So Fast? Vet-Reviewed Feline Sleep Cycle

So, we’ve probably all used the term “catnap” to describe a short stretch of sleep that we take during the day. Perhaps it’s because cats are perceived as lazy, but anyone who lives with a cat knows that this is...

cute ginger kitty