1. Pro Pet Works Oatmeal Pet Wash
Key Features
Made from all-natural ingredients
Formulated for dry and sensitive skin
Soapless and detergent-free
Includes almond oil, oat proteins and vitamin E
Made from all-natural and skin-beneficial ingredients, this oatmeal shampoo will thoroughly cleanse your kitty’s coat plus moisturize their skin. There are no harsh chemicals and the pH has been balanced to make it suitable for all felines, including those with sensitive skin. Since it is soap-free and detergent-free, it will not irritate either the skin or the eyes of your kitty – super important in general, but especially for the first-time bathers!
The formula includes organic aloe vera, hydrolized oat proteins, glycerin, various vitamins and botanical extracts to make both your cat’s skin and fur clean, healthy and great-smelling. Overall, a great gentle and natural cat shampoo that not only cleanses well but also soothes and moisturizes dry skin.
2. Earthbath 2 in 1 Conditioning Cat Shampoo
Key Features
Specially created for cats with dry, itchy skin
Natural, soap-free, and pH balanced
Promotes healing and remoisturizing
Deodorizing with wild cherry fragrance
Formulated with organic aloe vera to soften the coat, this cat shampoo is specifically designed to promote healing and remoisturizing of dry and flaky skin. The shampoo is both soap-free and pH-balanced, allowing it to clean your cat’s skin and coat in a very gentle manner, leaving behind a nice wild cherry scent.
When using it, you can rest assured that it is not going to wash off any flea applications which you have used on your cat as it’s quite gentle. Aside from helping to fight against skin irritation, this formula also has the benefit of treating tangled fur – this should make your cat’s next grooming session much easier!
3. Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath
Key Features
Waterless, foam-like cat shampoo
Freshens up the coat, leaving it soft and shiny
Safe and effective for cats over 12 weeks old
Makes for a great touch-up between baths
If your cat hates water more than anything, this waterless shampoo might be the perfect pick. Similar to dry shampoo for humans, this formula doesn’t have to be rinsed to work – you just massage it onto your kitty’s coat thoroughly and then brush it after the foam has dried.
Some of the cleansing and conditioning ingredients include aloe, neem oil, vitamin E, and oatmeal. Because it’s 100% natural, the shampoo is safe to use on young kittens of 12 weeks or older, as well as adult felines. Truly one of the best waterless cat shampoos on the market! It should be mentioned, however, that while this formula does help freshen up your kitty’s coat, it’s not exactly a substitute for a proper bath; it provides a fantastic touch-up in between baths though!
4. Top Performance Fresh Pet
Key Features
With gentle coconut surfactants, aloe, and glycerin
Cleanses and prevents tangles and matting
Has a sweet scent which lingers for weeks
Matches natural pH balance of your cat’s skin
If you have a long-haired cat who always seems to get tangled and matted, this shampoo will aid in the smoothing out of their fur. Made with coconut oil, glycerin, and gentle surfactants, the formula cleanses the skin and conditions the coat while preventing tangles.
Suitable for kittens as young as six weeks old and adult cats too, the shampoo has been specially formulated to match the pH of your pet’s skin. Several different sizes are available depending on how many cats (or dogs) you have and how often you bathe them, but we highly recommend the larger sizes for multi-pet households as they’re more affordable.
5. Nootie Aloe & Oatmeal Shampoo
Key Features
Made with colloidal oatmeal, coconut oil, and ordenone
Free of harsh chemicals, including soap and parabens
Cleanses and conditions the coat, soothes dry skin
Made in the USA to high standards
If your cat is scratching all the time due to dry skin, a gentle, conditioning shampoo could help relieve their discomfort. Nootie’s Soothing pet shampoo is perfect for this. Free from harsh chemicals, but packed with soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, coconut oil, colloidal oatmeal, and ordenone, the formula rejuvenates and freshens the coat while moisturizing the skin.
Since it is made in the USA to high standards, you can rest assured that it has been tested extensively, and plenty of other pet owners testify to the formula’s positive effects. The formula is suitable for both cats and dogs, and even horses can benefit from it – a nice plus for multi-pet households.
6. Calily Life for Pets Shampoo + Conditioner
Key Features
2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner
Includes oatmeal, shea butter, and gentle surfactants
Thoroughly cleanses and conditions coat and skin
Lightly scented
A 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, the Calily Life boasts a blend of natural ingredients and is designed to clean, protect, and enhance your cat’s coat. Since it is organic and quite mild, it is designed to calm and soothe your cat’s itchy and dry skin, but it also has a moisturizing effect which an irritated skin is sure to appreciate. As a bonus, it will leave your kitty’s coat smelling fresh for days!
Some of the ingredients in this gentle pet shampoo include oatmeal, aloe, shea butter and surfactants, all of which help to both cleanse and condition fur and skin. While gentle, this shampoo is also one of the most effective when it comes to cleaning dirty coats, so we highly recommend it for outdoor kitties.
7. Burt’s Bees Tearless Kitten Shampoo
Key Features
Made using 99.8% natural ingredients
Sulfate-free with no colorants
With buttermilk, honey and apple
Made in the USA
Made almost entirely of natural ingredients, the Burt’s Bees kitty shampoo is as mild as it gets, plus it contains a range of skin-beneficial ingredients including buttermilk powder, honey, and apple. It’s very refreshing and gentle, so it’s ideal for more frequent baths.
Made in the USA, this natural cat shampoo is perfectly pet-safe and pH balanced, so it’s suitable for felines of all breeds and ages, including kittens. Thanks to its gentle ingredients, it doesn’t sting in the least so even your kitten’s eyes will be well-protected.
8. Magic Coat Gentle Tearless Shampoo
Key Features
Gentle formula does not irritate eyes and skin
With aloe leaf juice and hydrolyzed keratin
Mild citrus scent
Suitable for all types of coat
Great for cats with all types of coat, including the long-haired breeds, the gentle formula of Magic Coat has been specially designed to not irritate your pet’s eyes or flare up their sensitive skin. As for the coat itself, gentle surfactants and hydrolyzed keratin help to bring it back to looking its very best.
With a mild citrus scent, the shampoo will leave your kitty feeling and smelling fresh and clean for days, if not weeks. And because the formula is quite gentle yet effective at cleansing, you can use it on both adult cats and kittens.
9. Pets Are Kids Too Premium Pet Oatmeal Shampoo
Key Features
With baking soda, oatmeal, glycerin and coconut cleanser
Infused with vitamins A, D & E
Cleanses the coat, moisturizes and soothes dry skin
Made in the US, with sustainable ingredients
Made using a special formula of organic oatmeal, baking soda, and aloe vera, this pet shampoo not only cleanses the coat but also offers relief from itchy and dry skin. As well as removing odor, it also leaves behind an oatmeal cookie scent, which is bound to be a hit in any household!
The Pets Are Kids Too hypoallergenic shampoo is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, so it also helps to prevent allergies, yeast, and hotspots. The ingredients are plant-derived and 100% pet-safe, so suitable even for sensitive cats, as well as dogs.
Best Cat Shampoo Buying Guide & FAQ
Regularly bathing your cat will keep their coat shiny and thick, and their skin supple and healthy, but only if you choose the right pet-friendly shampoo. The list above contains some of the best formulas that the market has to offer, so whichever product you choose, we're certain that both you and your kitty are going to like it. However, if you could use some help in picking out the best cat shampoo for your pet, this buying guide can help point you in the right direction. Here, we cover everything you need to know about cat shampoos, including how to choose the right one for your kitty's skin and fur, as well as how to properly bathe your cat. So, without further ado, let's get to it!
What to Consider When Buying a Feline Shampoo
To get the best cat shampoo for your kitty, consider the following things:
- Ingredient List
It is always worth checking the back of the bottle before settling on the shampoo. Since cats groom themselves all the time, they are likely to end up ingesting whatever is on their coat, so you need to know more about what is going into their body. Bear in mind that words such as ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ don’t necessarily mean that they are good for your feline. Train yourself to look beyond the marketing language and you will have a better idea of what is going on. That said, natural ingredients such as aloe vera, oatmeal, and glycerin are always welcome in pet shampoos. If your cat is suffering from a pest condition such as fleas, you may need to use a shampoo that contains harsher chemicals, but it is worth consulting with your vet beforehand for confirmation.
- Restriction of Harsh Chemicals
Following on from the point above, cats that have especially sensitive skin should avoid harsh chemicals in shampoos that can end up damaging and irritating their skin. If you are ever unsure about putting something on your cat’s body, it is always worth consulting your vet. That being said, heavy fragrance should be avoided as much as possible. While some cats don’t mind some fragrance, others - especially those with sensitive skin - will find it irritating. A few examples of other chemicals to avoid include parabens, sodium laurel sulfate, pyrethroids, and petrochemicals. If you're unsure which product is best for your sensitive pet but can't visit the vet, check out formulas labeled as "hypoallergenic shampoo"; these should be free from all harsh chemicals.
- Specialized Cat Shampoos
While many shampoos are for general usage on all felines, others are designed for specific cats. For example, there are special shampoos for kittens as well as senior cats. Also, there are those which are made for felines with sensitive skin or those with particularly long coats. If you have a cat who has an aversion to going anywhere near water, a dry shampoo may be the best option. So, before settling on a specific product, consider if your kitty or their skin or coat has any specialized needs.
- Shampoos for Specific Health Conditions
You can also look into getting a shampoo for your cat that is made for their specific health condition. For example, some formulas can reduce the risk of hairballs, while others fight against skin conditions like dandruff. Also, some will help to deal with ticks and fleas which have made their home on your cat. If your cat is suffering from a specific health condition, it is worth speaking to your veterinarian for more information on the best way to deal with it.
Check out our articles on the Best Flea Shampoo for Cats, Best Flea Treatments For Cats, and Cat Hairball Remedies.
Do Cats Need Baths?
If you have ever tried to bathe your cat before, you will probably already be only too aware that most felines don’t enjoy it! The question of whether cats need baths is one which is hotly debated. Obviously, cats are self-grooming animals, and this leads some people to conclude that bathing them is not worthwhile. However, giving your feline friend a bath can have some positive benefits on their skin and coat.
There are some situations when giving your bath is advisable. For instance, if they get covered in dirt or any kind of substance which they shouldn’t ingest, bathing them will prevent them from licking the affected area during their regular grooming session. Similarly, if they get something stuck around their paws or bottom area, it is a good time for a bath. Alternatively, your cat may have matted hair or some other kind of fur problem which needs to be cleared up. Bathing can also help to fight back against excessive shedding which can lead to a thin and dull coat.
When some cats get older, they become less fastidious in their grooming, so you may have to give them a bath yourself from time to time. Alternatively, they may be suffering from some sort of physical impediment which makes bending difficult or they may be simply overweight. Of course, there are also various skin and coat conditions which may make it necessary to wash your cat with a special medicated shampoo.
There are a number of benefits that come from regularly bathing your cat. First of all, you have the obvious cleansing and refreshing effects on your feline’s coat and skin. Also, bathing helps to remove loose hair from your cat’s coat, stopping the fur from getting all over your house and clothes, and decreasing the number of hairballs that your cat will get from grooming themselves. If you have allergy sufferers in the house, they are more likely to be able to tolerate a clean cat compared to a dirty and hairy feline.
Additionally, when you are bathing your cat, this gives you the opportunity to give them an inspection and discover any injuries or health problems that they may be suffering from including ticks, fleas, rashes, or other infections. Discover these issues early and you will be able to report them to your vet and take action against them at the soonest possible opportunity. You will also have the opportunity to remove tangles and mats from their fur, which can prove to be uncomfortable for your cat. Finally, you have the simple pleasure of your cat looking and smelling at their very best!
You may also like our articles on Brushes For Cats, Cat Brushing Gloves, and Cat Ear Cleaners.
Different Types of Cat Shampoo
There are several different types of cat shampoo which are all worth considering in more detail before you settle on the right one for your furry friend.
- Regular Shampoo
The most standard type of cat shampoo is usually made with a host of natural ingredients that are designed to cleanse your kitty's fur without irritating their skin. Usually, they have moisturizing properties to help to soothe dry and itchy skin, and often promise to leave your cat smelling great with a range of scents as well.
- 2-in-1 Shampoo
This type of shampoo contains a conditioner as well as shampoo. As well as soothing and cleaning, it also offers a conditioning and detangling effect. This type of shampoo usually contains the same kind of natural, pH-balanced ingredients, and is especially useful for cats with longer coats.
- Kitten Shampoo
You can also choose to buy a shampoo that has been specially formulated for kittens. These shampoos have been designed to be especially gentle for use on young cats and are also suitable for pregnant felines. Getting your cat into a bath time routine from a young age will help to make the job of washing them so much easier in the future.
- Dandruff Shampoo
Just as you can buy dandruff shampoo for humans, the same goes for cats as well. It is specially designed to reduce excess dander, as well as preventing dry, flaky skin, but still has the same cleaning and deodorizing effects of other shampoos for cats. Homes with cat allergies will particularly benefit from this type of product.
- Waterless Shampoo
Finally, we have the type of shampoo which doesn’t require water to work. If your cat resists water with every fiber of their being, this may well prove to be the best choice. All you have to do is apply the product and massage it into your cat’s skin. You should then let your cat air-dry, before brushing to remove accumulated dirt and debris.
Our Top Pick
While all shampoos featured on our list are undoubtedly great products, the Pro Pet Works oatmeal shampoo and conditioner has to be our number one choice. Recommended by vets, it contains a host of natural and skin-friendly ingredients that are beneficial for dry, sensitive or itchy skin.
Soap-less and detergent free, this formula is designed not to cause any irritation. Some of the main ingredients include organic aloe extracts, hydrolyzed oat proteins, and vitamins A, D & E. It really ticks all the boxes and does everything that you would want from a high-quality natural cat shampoo!
You may also like our article on Vitamins For Cats.
