Cat-Safe Cleaning Products: What to Use, What to Avoid and Why

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

Cats spend hours grooming, so anything on the floor, a counter or a sofa can end up on their coat and in their mouth. Some common cleaning products are dangerous to cats. Understanding which ingredients are risky helps you to keep your home clean and your cat safe.

Why cats are vulnerable

Cats lack certain liver enzymes, so they cannot break down some chemicals that other animals can. They also walk on floors, lie on surfaces and lick their paws. Small amounts of toxic substances can cause serious harm. Fumes can irritate their lungs, especially in cats with asthma. See feline asthma.

Ingredients to avoid

• Phenols and phenolic disinfectants (such as some pine cleaners). Cats cannot process them well, and exposure can damage the liver.
• Essential oils, including tea tree, pine, citrus, peppermint, wintergreen, ylang ylang, cinnamon and clove. They can cause drooling, vomiting, tremors and liver damage. See essential oils and cats.
• Bleach, which can burn skin, mouth and stomach, and fumes can irritate.
• Ammonia, which irritates and can encourage marking because it resembles urine.
• Quaternary ammonium compounds in some disinfectants, which can irritate.
• Hydrogen peroxide at high concentrations.
• Glycol ethers and solvents, found in some glass cleaners.
• Lye and drain cleaners, which are caustic.
• Antifreeze, deadly. See autumn hazards for cats.
• Naphthalene (mothballs).

If you are not sure about an ingredient, check with your vet.

Safer choices

• Mild dish soap and water for most surfaces.
• Diluted white vinegar for glass and some floors, avoiding natural stone. Let it dry before the cat returns.
• Baking soda to absorb odors, vacuumed up afterward.
• Enzyme cleaners for urine and vomit, which break down proteins. See how to remove cat urine odor.
• Products labeled pet-safe, though labels are not regulated, so read ingredients.
• Steam cleaning for floors and carpets, without chemicals.

How to clean safely

1. Keep your cat out of the room while cleaning, and until floors are dry.
2. Ventilate with open windows.
3. Follow dilution instructions, and never mix products. Mixing bleach and ammonia produces toxic gas.
4. Rinse surfaces that cats touch, such as counters and floors.
5. Store products in closed cabinets.
6. Use unscented products where possible.
7. Dispose of wipes and sponges where cats cannot reach.

Litter box cleaning

Clean the box with mild soap and water, rinse well and dry. Avoid strong-smelling disinfectants, since cats may avoid the box. See how often to clean a litter box.

Laundry and bedding

Use fragrance-free detergent. Rinse well. Avoid dryer sheets and fabric softeners that can irritate skin.

Air fresheners and diffusers

Plug-in fresheners, sprays and candles release chemicals and fragrance oils. Avoid them, or use sparingly in well-ventilated spaces away from cats.

Garage and garden products

Keep antifreeze, de-icers, pesticides and fertilizers locked away. See cat-friendly garden and yard.

If your cat is exposed

• Remove the cat from the area.
• If the product is on the fur, wipe or wash following label directions, and prevent licking.
• Do not induce vomiting unless a vet says so.
• Call your vet or a poison hotline, and have the product label ready.
• Seek emergency care for drooling, vomiting, trouble breathing or tremors.

See cat poisoning: what to do and cat emergency warning signs.

Reading labels and choosing brands

Labels can mislead. Words like natural and green do not mean safe for cats, and some natural products contain essential oils. Check the ingredients list, and avoid anything with phenol, pine oil, tea tree oil, citrus oil, bleach or ammonia. Choose products with few ingredients, and fragrance free if possible. If you are unsure, call the manufacturer or ask your vet, and keep the product's safety data sheet on hand. When in doubt, plain soap and water works for most jobs.

Cleaning after accidents

Blot liquid, apply an enzyme cleaner as directed, and let it air dry. Do not use ammonia on urine, and do not steam-clean urine stains, which can set the smell. See how to remove cat urine odor.

A simple cat-safe cleaning kit

Keep a few basics: mild dish soap, a spray bottle of diluted white vinegar for suitable surfaces, baking soda, an enzyme cleaner for pet accidents, microfiber cloths and a steam mop if you have one. Store them together on a high shelf. Use gloves, and ventilate. Wipe floors with plain water after cleaning, so that residues do not stay behind. This kit handles most household tasks without exposing your cat to harsh chemicals.

When to see a vet

See a vet immediately after any suspected exposure. Use the US vet directory to find a clinic.