4 All-Natural Cat Urine, Odor, and Stain Removers

These are the best all-natural ways to clean any cat pee and stains or remove bad odor in a natural and sustainable manner.

By Maryruth Belsey-Priebe

Fact checked by Sander Tamm

Natural Cat Pee, Odor & Stain Removal
Natural Cat Pee, Odor & Stain Removal / Sander Tamm / Ecolife

Accidents happen, even with the most well-potty-trained cats. Cleaning up after your cat has peed on the carpet can be a tedious task and sometimes even hazardous if you use conventional urine stain removers that are overloaded with fragrances and chemicals. Thankfully, there are natural cat stain and odor removers that will eliminate the issue without filling the air with chemicals or straining our planet’s finite resources.

Here are 4 natural cat urine, odor, and stain removers:

Enzymatic cleaners

When making homemade pet stain remover using natural ingredients such as vinegar or baking soda isn’t an option for you, there are some store-bought solutions you can try that can work very well.

In general, the best solution for removing cat urine from almost any surface so that it is no longer detectable by your pet (this is especially important for cats) is an enzymatic cleaner. These work because they are full of natural organisms that eat away odor-causing bacteria that exist in the stain. There should be local options available, but consider brands like Nature’s Miracle or Only Natural Pet: a certified B-Corp company selling non-toxic, organic pet goods.

To use a natural enzyme cleaner for cleaning cat urine, follow these steps:

  1. Blot up as much excess cat urine as possible.
  2. Generously apply (spray) the enzyme cleaner.
  3. Allow it to sit for five to ten minutes, and respray if too dry.
  4. Wipe the surface clean with a rag or paper towel.
  5. Sniff the area once completely dry.
  6. If you smell a hint of cat urine, repeat the process.

Baking soda

Baking soda is nature’s deodorizer and is mostly harmless for your family and the environment. For machine-washable items, empty an entire box of baking soda into the washing machine with the affected items and run a normal load. If you can still smell urine, wash the items again with an enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle. For carpeting or upholstered items that can be laundered, liberally sprinkle baking soda over the area and allow it to soak up as much moisture as possible. Vacuum the remaining soda thoroughly, then treat it with one of the other options listed below.

Vinegar and water

After thoroughly blotting the stain and/or applying baking soda as above, mix warm water and vinegar. Then apply with a rag in a blotting fashion or with a spray bottle. Place something heavy on the stain and allow it to soak up. Repeat if necessary. Undiluted vinegar can also be used to wash urine off hardwood floors – wash area, rinse with warm water, and dry immediately.

Rosemary oils

The smell of a rosemary shrub will help to deter your cats from re-staining the area, especially when dealing with carpeting or upholstery. Melt a bar of castile soap with equal parts rubbing alcohol and natural rosemary essential oil. Let the mixture set, and then use it to blot or spray the affected area. The same smells are also emitted from live rosemary plants, so consider adding the strong-smelling herb to any unintended cat-pee sites.