December 29, 2023
Fact checked by
Sarah Zimerman / Cats.com
Have you ever put on clothes fresh from the clean laundry basket—only to find your cat peed in the basket itself? Because I sure have. I’ve also had a cat that loved to pee on any clothing left on the bathroom floor. Not only is it gross, but this uniquely pungent odor is so tough to eliminate.
Cats urinate outside the litter box for a number of reasons. Sometimes, a medical condition like a UTI or diabetes is to blame—so always check with your vet if the issue is ongoing. Environmental stressors, limited resources, and household rivalries may also play a role. Identifying the “why” behind your kitty’s accidents can help you find a solution.
If you’re dealing with garments or linens covered in cat pee, I feel your pain. Fortunately, there are ways to neutralize that stubborn stink. In most cases, an enzyme-based detergent will be your best bet. If you’re looking for the best laundry detergents for cat urine, start with these six options that tackle stains and odors:
At a Glance: Best Laundry Detergents for Cat Urine
Take a look at these laundry detergents for cat urine—we highlighted the features of each product. Later in the article, you’ll find more detailed information about each product.
Pet Parents® PetTergent® Enzymatic Pet Laundry Detergent
- Designed to tackle biological pet stains
- Safe, naturally-occurring ingredients
- Vet-approved scents
Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent
- Tough on odors and stains but gentle on your clothes and skin
- Uses clean ingredients
- Free of dye and fragrances
Absolutely Clean Enzyme Laundry Detergent
- No harsh chemicals
- Clean smell
- More affordable option
Persil Pro Clean + Odor Fighter
- Low-suds formula
- Pleasant scent
- 2X concentrated
LaundraPet Premium Laundry Detergent
- Veterinarian formulated
- Effectively removes pet odors and stains
- 3X concentrated
Skout’s Honor Laundry Booster
- Removes the toughest pet stains & odors: urine, blood, feces, mud, vomit, and sweat
- Plant-derived formula: safe for families, pets, and homes
- Leaves no residue
How Do Enzyme Cleaners Work?
Enzyme cleaners work best when you pretreat the stains—especially set-in stains. Sarah Zimmerman / Cats.com
When it comes to biological stains like urine, you’ll have the most success with an enzymatic cleaner or detergent. These are earth-friendly, pet-safe, and highly concentrated. But how do they work?
Bacteria breaks down organic waste—enzymatic cleaners harness this power by using non-pathogenic bacteria to create enzymes. Enzymes speed up the breakdown process for organic messes.
Uric acid isn’t water soluble—meaning your standard detergent isn’t going to cut it. It can help, but a bio-based enzymatic cleaner is the way to go to fully remove cat urine stains and smells. Removing the smell completely will help to avoid repeat accidents.
Enzymes need time to work, so it’s not a bad idea to pretreat stains first, letting the cleaner do its thing for 20 minutes or so. Then you can add an enzymatic detergent to your washing machine. You can also use the soak setting on your washing machine to let the enzymes work longer. Note that it may take two (or three) wash cycles to eliminate cat urine completely.
Why Trust Cats.com
Sarah Zimmerman / Cats.com
All Cats.com reviews begin with hours of thoughtful research—this one involved a lot of time spent at the washing machine! To find the most effective laundry detergents for tackling cat urine, we learned why cat pee is so challenging to clean in the first place—researching the ingredients and methods that handle urine stains and odors best.
We also read up on what worked well for real cat parents, taking note of the products that had the most success removing cat urine. Then we sifted through the market, honing in on enzyme-based detergents geared specifically for tackling pet messes.
This lineup includes detergents that are formulated to work on biological accidents: from pee and poop to sweat and blood. Each of our selections has earned positive reviews from cat parents. We also prioritized detergents made with pet-safe materials.
The Top 6 Best Laundry Detergents for Cat Urine
Our rankings are determined by a variety of factors. Every household will have different needs and preferences, so while PetTergent® is our top choice, it may not be ideal for your unique cat. To help you choose the right laundry detergent for your cat, we’ve broken down our recommendations by scent, value, and other key considerations.
#1 Overall Best: Pet Parents® PetTergent® Enzymatic Pet Laundry Detergent
Here’s a detergent formulated specifically for pet parents. Rather than masking cat urine with perfumey scents, PetTergent uses a proprietary blend of enzymes derived from soybeans and Ricinus communis seeds (castor oil) to lift and remove pet odors.
The bio-based ingredients in this detergent are non-toxic to pets, so you can safely use it on your cat’s bedding and toys. You won’t find any harmful components here that are sometimes in conventional detergents—that means no bleach, ammonia, sulfates, dyes, parabens, or harmful fragrances.
We appreciate that the scents in this detergent are approved by a panel of veterinarians, and all of the ingredients meet the standards for the EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List. We also like how effective this cleaner is: you only need 1–2 ounces per load and shouldn’t have to add boosters or additives for this detergent to work.
What We Liked:
- Designed to tackle biological pet stains
- Safe, naturally-occurring ingredients
- Vet-approved scents
- Recyclable packaging
- Consumers like the scent
What We Didn’t Like:
- On the pricey side
#2 Most Gentle Detergent: Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent
Here’s another detergent that works well on biological stains. While this Dirty Labs enzyme cleaner is tough on pet messes, it’s gentle on delicate laundry and sensitive skin. So if your cat pees on your favorite Merino wool sweater, this is the detergent to reach for.
We recommend the scent-free formula here, but Dirty Labs detergent is also available in Murasaki (jasmine, matcha, and vetiver) and a Signature Scent (magnolia, bergamot, and cedar). This formula is a USDA Certified BioBased Product and meets the EPA Safer Product Standards criteria.
This laundry detergent is hyper-concentrated, septic-safe, and can be used with cold water. Cat parents report it’s successful in removing urine smell from clothing as well as plastic litter bins.
What We Liked:
- Tough on odors and stains but gentle on your clothes and skin
- Uses clean ingredients
- Free of dye and fragrances
- Plastic-free packaging
What We Didn’t Like:
- Fairly expensive (but a little will go a long way)
- Can get sudsy if you use too much
#3 Best Value: Absolutely Clean Enzyme Laundry Detergent
One downside of enzymatic cleaners is their steep cost. Here’s a detergent that’s a little easier on your wallet. Formulated with natural enzymes, Absolutely Clean fights stains and odors without harsh chemicals. This detergent is approved by veterinarians to be safe around pets, and it’s gentle enough for children or those with sensitive skin.
It’s worth noting enzymes require heat, moisture, and time to work properly. The folks at Absolutely Clean recommend adding a few pumps to urine stains and then letting the material soak in hot water for 30 minutes. This gives the enzymes time to work. After this pre-soak, you can toss soiled laundry into the washing machine with this detergent.
What We Liked:
- No harsh chemicals
- Clean smell
- More affordable option
- veteran-owned company
What We Didn’t Like:
- Will likely require multiple wash cycles
#4 Best Scent: Persil Pro Clean + Odor Fighter
If you’re not scent-averse, Persil Pro Clean could be the answer to your pet stain woes. A lot of users like its fresh fragrance, reporting that it’s more neutral and not too strong or overpowering.
This detergent can be used in all types of washing machines, including high-efficiency (HE) machines. It works hard to remove both visible stains and strong odors. However, this formula doesn’t contain enzymes, so you may need to use it in conjunction with an enzymatic pre-treatment or laundry booster to completely remove cat urine.
What We Liked:
- Low-suds formula
- Pleasant scent
- 2X concentrated
- HE compatible
What We Didn’t Like:
- Doesn’t contain enzymes
#5 Best Concentrated Formula: LaundraPet Premium Laundry Detergent
A highly concentrated formula means you can use less and save. With triple the cleaning power of conventional laundry detergents, LaundraPet is ideal for folks dealing with regular accidents or those still litter box training their cat.
You don’t need to use a lot of this stuff to remove pet odors and stains. Each 64-ounce bottle should be able to tackle up to 96 loads. What’s more, you can use it in any water temperature, making it even more cost-effective. Cat parents report this detergent is a game changer when dealing with pet messes.
What We Liked:
- Veterinarian formulated
- Effectively removes pet odors and stains
- 3X concentrated
- Economical choice: a little goes a long way
- Made in the USA
What We Didn’t Like:
- Heavily soiled clothes may need a second wash
#6 Best Laundry Additive: Skout’s Honor Laundry Booster
For the best results, many cat parents choose to add a booster or additive to the urine-soaked laundry. This highly-regarded booster from Skout’s Honor can be used alongside your regular detergent to remove the most stubborn pet messes, including urine, feces, blood, vomit, and sweat.
This powerful, concentrated formula can be used on clothing, upholstery, and water-safe materials. It’s compatible with both washing machines and carpet cleaning machines. All Skout’s Honor products adhere to the California Green Industry Initiative, which means there are no harsh chemicals or animal testing.
What We Liked:
- Removes the toughest pet stains and odors: urine, blood, feces, mud, vomit, and sweat
- Plant-derived formula: safe for families, pets, and homes
- Leaves no residue
- For every bottle sold, Skout’s Honor donates a day’s worth of food to a rescue animal
What We Didn’t Like:
- May discolor silk, leather, or natural materials
What to Consider When Shopping for Laundry Detergent for Cat Urine
Sarah Zimmerman / Cats.com
Dealing with cat urine is no easy task, but choosing a good detergent is one step in the right direction. Here’s what to look for:
- Enzyme-based detergents: When it comes to eliminating cat urine, your regular, everyday detergent probably won’t work. Enzymatic cleaners are specifically formulated to break down bio-based odors and stains at their source.
- Concentrated formulas: Most bio-based cleaners are highly concentrated—meaning you’ll need less of them to tackle tough stains and odors. Knowing this helps ease some of the sticker shock associated with these types of cleaners.
- Pet-safe ingredients: If you’re washing items that your cat uses, like their bed or a favorite blanket, reach for cleaners with gentle, non-toxic ingredients. As a rule, enzymatic detergents are free from harmful chemicals that can irritate your pet.
- Scent: This is more of a personal preference than anything else. Some people (and cats) have particularly sensitive sniffers, so opting for a scent-free option may be preferable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get cat pee out of laundry?
If the pee is still fresh, first blot out as much as possible with a paper towel or spare pet towel. Then, pretreat the area with a liquid enzymatic cleaner. Toss it in the washing machine with your enzyme detergent, along with an enzymatic booster or additive for best results. If possible, dry the laundry in the sun for a boost of freshness.
Why is my cat peeing on my clothes?
In some cases, inappropriate urination (peeing outside the litter box) could signify a medical condition. Othertimes it is due to environmental stressors like a dirty litter box, lack of privacy, loud noise, a new pet, loss of a pet, or a change in routine. Lastly, cats may snub their box if they dislike the litter's smell or texture or if they're displeased with the box's location.
