Why this basket
- Built from Cats Protection, Battersea and PDSA advice on cleaning up pee indoors, in the order they give: blot, clean, rinse and let it dry. A UV torch comes first, to find the patches you cannot see.
- Cats Protection says a cat's sensitive nose draws it back to a spot that was not cleaned properly, to top up the scent, so nothing here just perfumes over the smell.
- There are two ways to clean, so buy one: a spray made for cat urine, or the charities' cheaper home mix of biological washing powder and warm water.
- A sudden change in toilet habits goes to the vet first. Cats Protection and Battersea both say to rule out a medical reason before anything else.
Today
A UV torch to find dried patches
4.4 on Amazon · 33,743 ratings · 2K+ bought last month · #1 in Pet Urine Detectors · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Urine glows under ultraviolet light, which is why crime scene officers use UV, the Royal Society of Chemistry explains. In a dark room, sweep this 395nm torch over the carpet and mark each patch you find. The listing says it will not show wet puddles, so use it on dried patches and let your nose check the rest.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Bright for such a small torch(4 of 13 reviews)
- Batteries come in the box, so it works straight away(2 of 13 reviews)
- Light and compact enough for a drawer or pocket(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The beam is modest, so hold it close; smeared pee on rugs is hard to see(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 3.7 x 1.1 x 1.1 cm
- Weight
- 62 g
- Material
- Aluminium
- In the box
- Battery
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 4 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 2 of them, including today.
Kitchen roll to blot fresh pee
by Amazon 3-ply kitchen roll (3)
4.5 on Amazon · 11,499 ratings · 70K+ bought last month · #1 in Kitchen Rolls · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Cats Protection's first step on a carpet is to blot the pee with kitchen roll, and Battersea says to lift as much as you can with paper towels before any cleaner goes on. Press rather than scrub: Which? warns that rubbing a stain too hard can damage carpet fibres. These are 3-ply sheets, 80 to a roll, the listing says.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Thick sheets that soak up spills quickly(5 of 8 reviews)
- Strong enough to hold together when wet(4 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Paper
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 26 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
An enzyme cleaner made for cat urine
Simple Solution Extreme, 500ml
4.3 on Amazon · 47,626 ratings · 10K+ bought last month · #1 in Cat Stain Removers · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Cats Protection says you can buy cleaners made for cat pee, and Which? explains that enzyme cleaners break down organic odours such as urine. The listing's directions: test a hidden area, soak twice the size of the patch down to the underlay, wait 10 minutes, blot, then leave it 24 to 48 hours to dry. Keep your cat out of the room meanwhile, as Cats Protection advises.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Clears set-in pee smells from carpets, sofas and beds(7 of 13 reviews)
- The smell can get worse at first, then goes as it dries(2 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Old, soaked-in smells can take several applications(4 of 13 reviews)
- The spray head leaks on some bottles, mostly the 945 ml size(3 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 500 g
- In the box
- 1 x stain & odour remover
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 4 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 4 of them, including today.
Biological washing powder, the cheaper route
Daz bio washing powder, 120 washes
4.8 on Amazon · 1,045 ratings · 2K+ bought last month · #4 in Powder Detergent · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Cats Protection, Battersea and PDSA all give a home method with biological washing powder and warm water; Battersea mixes one part powder to nine of water. Work it in with a soft brush without soaking the carpet, rinse with a little clean water and pat dry. Cats Protection then suggests surgical spirit, from a chemist, after a patch test.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Washing comes out smelling fresh without being overpowering(6 of 8 reviews)
- Dissolves well and cleans on cool washes(4 of 8 reviews)
- The big box lasts a household for weeks(3 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
Price: we have checked it on 4 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
This week
One more tray than you have cats
CAT CENTRE big open litter tray, 56cm
4.7 on Amazon · 1,578 ratings · 300+ bought last month · #10 in Cat Litter Boxes · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Cats Protection's rule is one litter tray per cat, plus one, because some cats will not pee and poo in the same tray. Put it somewhere quiet, away from food, water, beds, doorways and the washing machine. This open tray is 56 by 39 cm with 23 cm sides, and the listing says it suits cats that pee high.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- High sides keep wee in the tray, even from cats that sit high(7 of 13 reviews)
- Roomy enough for large and older cats to turn round(7 of 13 reviews)
- The rim comes off so the tray is easy to clean(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Keen diggers still flick some litter out over the front(4 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 56 x 39 x 23 cm
- Weight
- 870 g
- Material
- Plastic
- Made for
- cats
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 4 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Also recommended on: a new kitten, a smelly litter tray, Covered or open litter tray?.
Can wait
- A carpet cleaner machine. Which? says you can rent one for bigger jobs from some DIY stores, tool hire shops, dry cleaners and supermarkets. Treat the patches by hand first.
- Professional cleaning for duvets and cushions. Battersea says duvets and cushions can be professionally cleaned, and that its washing powder method works on any absorbent fabric as well as carpet.
Skip it
- SkipCleaners that contain ammoniaCats Protection says many household cleaners contain ammonia, which is also found in cat urine, so using them can make the problem worse.
- SkipPlug-in air fresheners and scented candlesBattersea suggests removing them if your cat is sensitive to change or strange smells in the home.
- SkipScented litter and scented litter freshenersCats Protection says to avoid scented litter: cats have very sensitive noses, and strong scents could put them off the tray altogether.
Quick questions
How do I get cat pee smell out of carpet?
Blot up as much as you can with kitchen roll, then clean the patch with an enzyme cleaner sold for urine, or with biological washing powder mixed one part to nine with warm water, Battersea says. Rinse with a little clean water, pat dry and let it dry fully. Cats Protection suggests surgical spirit afterwards to lift the last traces, after a patch test.
What is the best cat pee smell remover?
One that breaks the urine down rather than perfuming over it. Which? says enzyme cleaners break down organic odours such as urine, and Cats Protection's cheaper option is a warm 10% mix of biological washing powder. Avoid anything containing ammonia: Cats Protection says it is also found in cat urine and can make the problem worse.
Why does my cat keep peeing in the same spot?
Usually because it still smells like a toilet to them. Once a spot has been used, Cats Protection says, a cat's nose leads it back to top up the scent unless the spot is cleaned properly. Clean it with enzymes or bio powder and give one tray per cat, plus one. For a spot that keeps being sprayed, PDSA suggests putting the cat's food there, as cats tend not to spray where they eat.
My cat has suddenly started peeing outside the tray. What should I do?
Take your cat to the vet first. Cats Protection says a sudden change, such as peeing where they should not, may have a medical reason, and Battersea says the same about spraying. Once the vet has ruled that out, clean every spot properly and look again at how many trays you have and where they are.
Is spraying the same as peeing outside the tray?
No. Cats Protection says cats usually pee squatting and leave a puddle in a quiet spot, while spraying is a squirt of pee from a standing position onto an upright surface. Clean both the same way. Battersea says an enzymatic cleaner sold for urine stains suits sprayed curtains and upholstery.
Sources: Cats Protection: cats and toileting (checked 27 September 2026); Cats Protection blog: behaviour focus, spraying (checked 27 September 2026); Cats Protection: cats and spraying (checked 27 September 2026); Cats Protection blog: are cleaning products safe for cats? (checked 27 September 2026); Battersea: why is my cat going to the toilet around the house? (checked 27 September 2026); Battersea: cat spraying (checked 27 September 2026); PDSA: vet Q&A, how can I stop my cat spraying indoors? (checked 27 September 2026); Which?: how to deep clean a carpet by hand (checked 27 September 2026); Royal Society of Chemistry, Education in Chemistry: fluorescence (checked 27 September 2026).
