Cat urine is one of the worst and hardest pet smells to get rid of. While it’s relatively easy to litter train a cat, accidents happen. Whether you have a new kitten or a cat with health issues, if you find yourself dealing with cat urine, you need to get rid of the smell fast! Luckily, there are several products available that can get rid of the smell and keep it gone for good. But not every cleaner works on hardwood floors, so you’ll need to choose your product carefully.
We reviewed many cat urine remover options to give you the list of the best ones for hardwood floors. Read on to get your home back to smelling clean and fresh.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
Effective on urine, feces, vomit, and pet odors
Works on carpets, floors, furniture, and other fabrics
Comes in a large 32-ounce bottle
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Best Value
Nature’s Miracle No More Marking Pet Stain & Odor Remover
Affordable
Removes cat urine odors
Prevents re-occurrence
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Best Overall
Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Professional Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator
Breaks down odor-causing crystals
Water-based
Can be used on multiple surfaces
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Simple Solution Hardfloor Stain & Odor Remover
Multiple application options
Designed specifically for use on hardwood floors
No strong odor
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Stink Free Hardfloor Pet Urine & Odor Remover
Completely removes odor
Non-toxic
Mild fragrance
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The 11 Best Cat Urine Removers for Hardwood Floors
- Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray – Best Overall
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Product Form: Spray
The Hepper Advanced Bio Enzymatic Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator is our choice for the best Cat Urine Removers for Hardwood Floors. This is a hardy enzyme cleaner that will cut through stains and odors very effectively!
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Product Form: Spray
Enzyme cleaners are the only cleaners known to break down uric acid and remove it permanently. Other cleaners may temporarily neutralize odors, but the uric acid may recrystallize later since the chemical compounds are still present.
Just spray this cleaner on the affected area and leave it to air dry. Once the cleaner evaporates, taking the uric acid compounds with it, your house will be left smelling fresh as a daisy!
At Excited Cats we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Pros
Effective enzymic formula
Works on carpets, floors, furniture, and other fabrics
Comes in a large 32-ounce bottle
Effective on urine, feces, vomit, and pet odors
Cons
Must test formula on carpet before applying it to a large area
Nature’s Miracle No More Marking is the best cat urine remover for hardwood floors for the money in. It completely gets rid of the nasty urine smell and replaces it with a lemongrass and cinnamon scent that discourages your cat from revisiting the scene of the crime. Nature’s Miracle No More Marking is available at a an affordable price compared to many other products, so you won’t break the bank by buying this cleaner.
Effective enzymic formula
Works on carpets, floors, furniture, and other fabrics
Comes in a large 32-ounce bottle
Effective on urine, feces, vomit, and pet odors
- Effective enzymic formula
- Works on carpets, floors, furniture, and other fabrics
- Comes in a large 32-ounce bottle
- Effective on urine, feces, vomit, and pet odors
Must test formula on carpet before applying it to a large area
- Must test formula on carpet before applying it to a large area
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Some users may find the smell left behind from this product isn’t just offensive to their cat, but offensive to them too. It isn’t ideal for people with smell sensitivities or allergies.
Pros
Affordable
Removes cat urine odors
Prevents re-occurrence
Cons
Strong smelling
Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Professional Strength Odor Eliminator can be used on any surface to remove urine odors. It contains enzymatic bacteria that break down the odor-causing ammonia crystals in cat urine. It is a water-based product, so it won’t harm the finish on your hardwood, which is why we recommend it as the best overall cat urine remover for hardwood floors. It does have a bit of a minty/cinnamon smell when it’s applied. However, this smell dissipates once the product dries. Most customers will find the product odor to be less offensive than the smell of cat urine!
Affordable
Removes cat urine odors
Prevents re-occurrence
- Affordable
- Removes cat urine odors
- Prevents re-occurrence
Strong smelling
- Strong smelling
The one downside of Rocco & Roxie products is that they are expensive. But this does such a great job of removing odors quickly and efficiently, we think that it’s well worth it.
Pros
Breaks down odor-causing crystals
Water-based
Can be used on multiple surfaces
Cons
Slight smell
Expensive
Another good option for cat urine removers for hardwood floors is Simple Solution Hardfloor Stain & Odor Remover. This product is designed specifically for hardwood. The three-in-one nozzle has foam, mist, and stream application options. It eliminates urine odors and discourages repeat incidents. There is no strong odor with this spray, and it is quick to dry, making clean-up a breeze.
Breaks down odor-causing crystals
Water-based
Can be used on multiple surfaces
- Breaks down odor-causing crystals
- Water-based
- Can be used on multiple surfaces
Slight smell
Expensive
- Slight smell
- Expensive
It’s important to note that Simple Solutions is made to be used on sealed hard floors. If your floor isn’t sealed, this has the potential to leave a wet spot on your wood. However, it shouldn’t be an issue if your hardwood was installed properly. This product does have a high price tag compared to most other options, and some customers report that it leaves a slippery spot on the floor.
Pros
Multiple application options
Designed specifically for use on hardwood floors
No strong odor
Cons
Expensive
Only for use on sealed floors
Leaves floor slippery
This professional-strength cleaner from Stink Free removes stains and odors from your hardwood floor with a spray and a wipe. Its oxidative cleaning power completely breaks down odors, so even your cat can’t smell them. It is non-toxic to both humans and pets and can be used on any hard floor surface.
Multiple application options
Designed specifically for use on hardwood floors
No strong odor
- Multiple application options
- Designed specifically for use on hardwood floors
- No strong odor
Expensive
Only for use on sealed floors
Leaves floor slippery
- Expensive
- Only for use on sealed floors
- Leaves floor slippery
This product isn’t recommended for use on waxed floors, though, because it has the potential to remove the wax finish. It does have a fragrance but it’s not overpowering.
Pros
Completely removes odor
Non-toxic
Mild fragrance
Cons
Not for use on waxed floors
Urine Off Cat & Kitten Formula is an enzymatic cleaner with a high bacteria concentration that is specifically formulated to target cat urine odors. As cat urine is known for its offensive smell, this product has upped the ante by adding more enzymes than typical urine odor removal products. It is a USDA-certified biobased product, so you can feel good about using an environmentally friendly, non-toxic product.
Completely removes odor
Non-toxic
Mild fragrance
- Completely removes odor
- Non-toxic
- Mild fragrance
Not for use on waxed floors
- Not for use on waxed floors
Urine Off does a great job of removing odors from kitten accidents. But if you’re trying to remove the smell of urine from an unneutered male cat, this product simply doesn’t have enough power to remove the smell without multiple applications. Even if you think that the smell is totally removed, male cats can still detect it and will mark the same location. However, we still think that this product is worth recommending because it works on all other cat urine smells.
Pros
Environmentally friendly
Extra bacteria to target cat urine
Cons
Doesn’t remove odor from unneutered males’ urine
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Urine Removal Program is a bacterial/enzymatic cleaner to destroy urine stains and odors from any surface. It is 100% biodegradable and non-toxic, so you can feel safe about using it in your home. This product works fast and it works well.
Environmentally friendly
Extra bacteria to target cat urine
- Environmentally friendly
- Extra bacteria to target cat urine
Doesn’t remove odor from unneutered males’ urine
- Doesn’t remove odor from unneutered males’ urine
Product Form: Liquid
As an aromatherapy product, Dr. Elsey’s cleaner has a slight lavender smell that won’t appeal to all users. This is also a concentrated cleaner, so it has to be diluted with water before using it on urine stains. The extra work required to mix the stain remover may be too much for some pet parents when there are so many easy spray-on options available. That said, you won’t use nearly as much product to remove odors because it is a concentrate. This makes it a more cost-effective solution than many other products, as you use such a small amount at a time.
Pros
Destroys odors
Biodegradable
Cost-effective solution
Cons
Concentrated solution that requires mixing
Lavender smell
Nature’s Miracle Cat Urine Destroyer Foam uses enzymes and oxygen to target and break down cat urine odors at the molecular level. It even removes the yellow sticky residue that’s often left behind with cat urine, so you won’t have to scrub the stain twice.
Destroys odors
Biodegradable
Cost-effective solution
- Destroys odors
- Biodegradable
- Cost-effective solution
Concentrated solution that requires mixing
Lavender smell
- Concentrated solution that requires mixing
- Lavender smell
Product Form: Aerosol Foam
The biggest complaint about Nature’s Miracle Foam isn’t the product itself, but rather the dispenser. The product works great, but the foam spray dispenser doesn’t “target” spray well. In fact, some dispensers spray the foam everywhere, making a bit of a mess. There is also a scent left behind from this product. While the manufacturer claims that the odor dissipates as the product dries, for some people, it seems to remain permanently.
Pros
Removes stain and odor
Cons
The dispenser can be messy
Strong odor
Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Urine Odor Destroyer is an eco-friendly solution to removing cat urine odors on hardwood floors. It is non-toxic and biodegradable and doesn’t contain any harsh cleaning chemicals. It works a little differently than many other urine odor removers in that it uses veggie-based detergents to saturate and absorb odors through osmosis.
Removes stain and odor
- Removes stain and odor
The dispenser can be messy
Strong odor
- The dispenser can be messy
- Strong odor
It is only recommended to use this cleaner on hardwood floors that are sealed with water-safe sealant. Also, the spray bottle is notorious for leaking. While urine odors are removed enough for the capabilities of human noses, this product doesn’t seem to remove them well enough to keep cats from smelling them.
Pros
Eco-friendly
Uses osmosis rather than enzymes to remove odors
Cons
Not for use on unsealed floors
Leaves odors behind that cats can smell
Leaky spray nozzle
Ion Fusion Odor Destroyer takes a different approach to pet clean-up than any other product on this list. The product provides you with a refill pod and a 32-ounce bottle of solution that you will combine with water to make the cleaner. It’s safe to use on any water-safe surface and even provides the option of using it as an air freshener to spray around the room.
Eco-friendly
Uses osmosis rather than enzymes to remove odors
- Eco-friendly
- Uses osmosis rather than enzymes to remove odors
Not for use on unsealed floors
Leaves odors behind that cats can smell
Leaky spray nozzle
- Not for use on unsealed floors
- Leaves odors behind that cats can smell
- Leaky spray nozzle
While it seems like this product couldn’t possibly remove the smell of cat urine, it actually does an amazing job! It doesn’t leave behind any weird smells, and your entire room will smell fresh after using it. The problem is that either it works or it doesn’t. If this product isn’t mixed perfectly or too much water is added, it loses all its urine odor removal properties. This basically leaves you with an expensive air freshener, and you’ll have to purchase an additional refill to start over.
Pros
Pet odor remover and air freshener
No odors left behind
Eco-friendly
Cons
Doesn’t work unless mixed perfectly
Urine Gone Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator is a no-frills enzymatic cleaner that is non-toxic and safe for hardwood floors. There’s nothing fancy or special about this product, but it does remove cat urine odors and stop your cat from re-marking.
Pet odor remover and air freshener
No odors left behind
Eco-friendly
- Pet odor remover and air freshener
- No odors left behind
- Eco-friendly
Doesn’t work unless mixed perfectly
- Doesn’t work unless mixed perfectly
There is a fragrance to this product that’s offensive to some, and the smell doesn’t dissipate once the product has dried. The other downside of this odor eliminator is that you have to use a large amount to remove the smell of cat urine. While this can be frustrating, it is indeed safe for hardwood and quite effective, so we still think that it’s worth trying.
Pros
Basic enzymatic cleaner
Prevents re-marking
Hardwood safe
Cons
Offensive fragrance
Requires a large amount of product to get rid of the odor
- See Also: 10 Best Pet Stain Removers – Reviews & Top Picks
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Cat Urine Remover for Hardwood Floors
What to look for in a cat urine remover for hardwood
Treated surfaces: Before purchasing a stain and odor removal product, look at the surfaces that it’s designed to treat. Some products are formulated for hardwood floors, while others are better suited for removing stains from carpet or upholstery. Not all cleaners will be safe for hardwood, so be sure to check the label.
Active ingredients: The ingredients used to target stains and fight odors vary between products. While some contain non-toxic, safe chemicals that can be used around pets and children, others don’t. If you’re concerned about your cat re-marking, look for ingredients that break down and eradicate ammonia odors. Citrus scents (like lemongrass) also work well for preventing re-occurring accidents.
Application method: For small areas, a quick spray-on product is usually your best bet. However, if you need to treat a large area of a floor or multiple areas, a concentrated product that is mixed with water can be more cost-effective and does a better job at deep cleaning.
Related Read: 10 Best Cleaners for Dog Urine on Hardwood Floors: Reviews & Top Picks!
Basic enzymatic cleaner
Prevents re-marking
Hardwood safe
- Basic enzymatic cleaner
- Prevents re-marking
- Hardwood safe
Offensive fragrance
Requires a large amount of product to get rid of the odor
- Offensive fragrance
- Requires a large amount of product to get rid of the odor
Treated surfaces: Before purchasing a stain and odor removal product, look at the surfaces that it’s designed to treat. Some products are formulated for hardwood floors, while others are better suited for removing stains from carpet or upholstery. Not all cleaners will be safe for hardwood, so be sure to check the label.
Active ingredients: The ingredients used to target stains and fight odors vary between products. While some contain non-toxic, safe chemicals that can be used around pets and children, others don’t. If you’re concerned about your cat re-marking, look for ingredients that break down and eradicate ammonia odors. Citrus scents (like lemongrass) also work well for preventing re-occurring accidents.
Application method: For small areas, a quick spray-on product is usually your best bet. However, if you need to treat a large area of a floor or multiple areas, a concentrated product that is mixed with water can be more cost-effective and does a better job at deep cleaning.
Treated surfaces: Before purchasing a stain and odor removal product, look at the surfaces that it’s designed to treat. Some products are formulated for hardwood floors, while others are better suited for removing stains from carpet or upholstery. Not all cleaners will be safe for hardwood, so be sure to check the label.
Active ingredients: The ingredients used to target stains and fight odors vary between products. While some contain non-toxic, safe chemicals that can be used around pets and children, others don’t. If you’re concerned about your cat re-marking, look for ingredients that break down and eradicate ammonia odors. Citrus scents (like lemongrass) also work well for preventing re-occurring accidents.
Application method: For small areas, a quick spray-on product is usually your best bet. However, if you need to treat a large area of a floor or multiple areas, a concentrated product that is mixed with water can be more cost-effective and does a better job at deep cleaning.
Conclusion
Our recommendation for the best overall cat urine remover for hardwood floors is the Hepper Advanced Bio Enzymatic Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator. This multi-surface enzymatic cleaner breaks down odor-causing crystals in cat urine to 100% eliminate the smell, and has a natural scent that neutralizes odor instead of masking it. The best value for the money is Nature’s Miracle No More Marking Pet Stain & Odor Remover. This product targets the stain and smell while leaving behind an odor that tells your cat that the spot is off-limits for future accidents, all at a budget-friendly price tag.
Cat urine odors stink, but they don’t have to ruin your floor! With these reviews and buyer’s guide, you should have no problem finding a product to get the stink out of your hardwood for good.
Featured Image Credit: Anthony de Kroon, Unsplash
