Best Cat Shampoos in 2022

Last update: November 16, 2022

Are you supposed to bathe a cat?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the individual cat. Some cats enjoy bathing and will even ask to be bathed, while others detest it and will do everything they can to avoid it. Ultimately, it is up to the owner to decide whether or not to bathe their cat, taking into consideration the cat's personality and preferences.

Can I use Dove soap on my cat?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the specific cat and its skin type. Some cats may be fine using Dove soap, while others may experience skin irritation. If you are unsure, it is best to consult with a veterinarian before using any type of soap on your cat.

Can I use hair conditioner on my cat?

Yes, you can use hair conditioner on your cat. In fact, many pet stores sell cat-specific conditioners that can help to improve the health and appearance of your cat's fur. Just be sure to avoid conditioners that contain harsh chemicals or fragrances, as these could irritate your cat's skin.

Do you need special shampoo for cats?

No, you don't need special shampoo for cats. Any gentle shampoo will do.


Dechra Miconahex + Triz Pet Shampoo Review:


I am a veterinarian who is currently enjoying a much-needed break. Due to spring and summertime interaction with grasses and weeds, a friend's dog experienced skin inflammation. I am aware from my professional experience that discomfort, particularly if the pet is licking and chewing the damaged skin, can swiftly develop into a bacterial skin infection or, less frequently, a yeast infection of the skin. I visited a national, corporate veterinarian chain that is owned by a candy firm because I currently do not have access to veterinary items. I'm not going to say. It was the iconic "Banfield," of course! Because they dubbed this shampoo a "prescription," they would not sell it to me. BULL! Before they would sell me this shampoo, they wanted to "diagnose" me for close to $200. When I explained that I was a veterinarian to the receptionist, who obviously preferred not to assist me, she gave me a strange look as if I were loaded with "something not so good." I'd say: Apply this shampoo on your dog's coat, paying special attention to the obvious problem areas such as the groin and armpits (axillae). After at least 10 minutes, leave on, and then rinse with lukewarm water. Use each 3 to 4 days. Contact a reputable veterinarian, who may or may not be "corporate," if there is no improvement.



Dechra DermaBenSs Shampoo, 12-Ounce Review:


My dog has skin problems. Over time, the skin of her skinfolds—armpits and leg pits—became black, and she had dreadful infection and an overpowering odor. She would lick and rub various parts of her neck and under-torso, but the sores on her back would just seem to appear. Even though I bathed her every week and gave her daily pricey medications, nothing appeared to improve. The shampoo recommended by the veterinarian, Dechra DermaBens, has been nothing short of a miracle.My dog now gets baths twice a week, and if I follow this routine religiously, she essentially has no skin issues.I initially give her a conventional shampoo bath before rinsing it off. (The Dechra doesn't lather much; I use regular shampoo to clean her and medicinal shampoo to heal.) Then I apply Dechra DermaBens all over, paying extra attention to the regions that are most sensitive. I hold her for ten minutes while sitting with her wrapped in a towel like a small burrito. I then remove the specialty shampoo. Next, it's time to blow dry. By the way, my dog has a thick coat. The regions that were dark gradually turned pink. I'm not joking, either.I now just use this to care for her skin. The antibiotics were stopped about two years ago.



Burt’s Bees Dander Reducing Spray for Cats | Made with Colloidal Oat Flour & Aloe Vera | Cruelty Free, Sulfate & Paraben Free, pH Balanced for Cats - Made in The USA Review:


This product really does work well. When I was caring for animals for the humane organization, I adopted two black cats. (I acquired kittens of the same hue because I figured I could tell people I only had one cat but it was really, really fast and since black kittens don't get adopted as often.) Anyway, because they are black, you can notice when they are getting EXTREMELY dandery. Once a month, I tried bathing them in dander shampoo, but that just made things worse. I tried applying some coconut oil or olive oil, but that only made the problem worse and made them appear oily. But this is fantastic stuff. I also bought the wipes to go along with it, so I sprayed this on my hand, ran my fingers through their fur to get to their skin, and then rubbed them with the wipes to get the dander that had already been shed off before brushing them. I do it outside on the deck, and though it can become filthy in the winter, I sometimes do it there. But it really does work; they look better right away, and as time passes, I see that their skin is getting less dandruff as a result of being moisturized. Get the spray instead of the wipes if you can because you can simply spray it over a cloth or towel to remove past pet dander. However, I also enjoy using pre-moistened wipes, so if you don't mind paying the money, I'd recommend getting both. Finally, there is a sizable amount of spray. With two cats, I predict the container will last me at least a year.



Burt's Bees for Cats Hypoallergenic Shampoo with Shea Butter and Honey | Best Shampoo for All Cats and Kittens with Sensitive Skin Review:


This has really made me happy. My mom's 17-year-old cat, who I'm caring for, wanted to sit on my lap but did not smell at all pleasant. His coat was also greasier than it ought to be, I thought. The following afternoon, I gave him his first bath of his life—but most definitely not his last—after ordering this shampoo. I disagree with the commenter who said it sudsed up excessively. The cat's fur is lustrous, fluffy, and unscented after a complete rinse, squeeze, rubdown, and blow-dry. My past attempts to use cat shampoo resulted in the cat smelling perfume-like like the shampoo. I'm sensitive to strong scents and cats don't enjoy it when their fur smells like other things, so I'm glad this shampoo virtually eliminated the cat's unpleasant odor. He's getting older and can't take care of himself like he used to, so I'm going to ask my mother if she'll let me give him a wash every now and again.



Burt's Bees Tearless Kitten Shampoo with Buttermilk Review:


When we first got my cat home, she had a strong odor. This product eliminated that odor, leaving her with a cat-like scent (not a bad thing lol she smells clean now). I'm not disappointed that it lacked a perfume, but it would be great if it had a cat- and kitten-safe scent. It was excellent because I love this thing in its non-bubbly state because it didn't startle her. After her bath, she felt incredibly soft, and a few days later, she still does. The only difficulty I had was determining when you had completely rinsed it. After rinsing her several times, I no longer felt it on her, but I wasn't sure. She felt clean and didn't feel slimy at all, but after being dried off as much as possible with a towel, she licked the rest of the way dry before passing out briefly. I'm not claiming it's related, but I would rinse more thoroughly the next time out just in case. She only puked once, and she is presently in great health. In all honesty, she might have had trouble adjusting to new cuisine. I'm just adding this information because of what happened and my lack of absolute certainty. Rinsing is a little tricky to determine for sure, though. However, the product is still fantastic; burt's bees has always been one of my favorite brands.



Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo Review:


Without a doubt, the best shampoo available for allergic dogs! My American pit bull is incredibly allergic to nearly everything. He literally digs, scratches, and eats his feet constantly to the point where he will actually cause himself to bleed, and the doctor is convinced he is even allergic to grass (I'm not paying over $300 to find out). He has also developed several skin diseases. Up until I discovered this shampoo, I had to have a bottle of steroids on hand to stop him from digging and biting. It thoroughly cleans his coat without overdrying or leaving any residue, and it lathers up quite beautifully. He always seems to feel better after taking a bath, in my opinion. He is frequently praised for how beautiful his coat is. Since I discovered this shampoo, I don't have to worry about him licking, biting, and digging himself to the point of bleeding blood. He still uses some, of course, as the allergy isn't cured, but I can't survive without this shampoo! Try this shampoo if you have a pit with skin allergies. NO, you won't be let down. Our veterinarian is in awe of the improvement. Before I discovered this shampoo, she intended to put him on prescription drugs for the rest of his life. Additionally, it has a great aroma.



Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor, 24-Ounce, Blue Review:


A fantastic purchase that I'm happy I made.first purchased oral medications. No luckOnce more, apply the second purchased liquid on the cat's neck. No luck.bought this, and it was excellent!After the bath, all of the fleas immediately landed on the face. After my two cats calmed down, I removed a ton of fleas that were only present on their faces (I did not use this method on their faces). I found no fleas on them the following day. They had fur that was both extremely silky and shiny. are still! It appears as though they visited a professional hair stylist!The pump bottle is also excellent. especially when you need to grab soap quickly while bathing a cat. And the bottle is huge!



Vet's Best Waterless Cat Bath | No Rinse Waterless Dry Shampoo for Cats | Natural Formula | 4 Ounces Review:


Our 12-year-old cat had a double coat and became less diligent about grooming as he aged. His generally sleek black coat became more matted with time, and he also started to get really awful dandruff, which was very noticeable. The majority of the mattes were centered near the base of his tail, making brushing a misery. Additionally, it was clear that the nearby skin must have been inflamed because combing close to it simply made it worse. I used a comb/cutter that truly does a good job of eliminating a cat's undercoat for several months. However, using this cutting comb to remove the mattes simply made the cat more uncomfortable. I purchased a dog matte remover, which, once more, did not please the cat. The continual matte removal ultimately got to the point where the cat would run away if he saw the matte cutter approaching, and occasionally we had to use electric hair clippers to get rid of the worst of the mattes—neither man nor beast found that amusing! I eventually found this product, knowing that bathing the cat would not be an option. We started working on it as soon as we got it from Amazon. The foam that the pump creates, which is comparable to hair mousse, does turn into liquid very soon. Nevertheless, I pumped a ton of it right onto the cat's back end and carefully massaged the hurt spot with my fingertips. To my astonishment, neither the wet liquid's sensation nor the (quite good) smell convinced the cat to leave its current location. He didn't mind and sat through the full application despite the fact that the fur immediately dries to feel a little "greasy" rather than damp. I was astonished to discover that the dandruff problem seemed to be addressed and that no new mattes appeared within a matter of two to three days. My initial application was made about six months ago, and while a small amount of dandruff just reappeared, the mattes have never come back. Since we can all envision what a matted cat's undercoat smells like, I believe the cat wasn't put off by the stench of his hindquarters. He started taking care of himself once more, and I believe it was because this cream helped to remove the mattes (and the odor!) and made his coat silky and velvety. As we administered it, I'm convinced he immediately understood that we were attempting to assist him, and I believe that in his tiny kitty mind, he then accepted it. Our condo's forced hot air heating makes it extremely dry throughout the winter months here in New England, necessitating the daily addition of a sizable amount of humidification. His coat has occasionally developed a slight static electric crackle due to the general dryness, and I believe that his skin, like mine at this time of year, feels a little tight. This week, I do intend to apply the shampoo once again in the hopes that it will keep him looking and feeling as silky and supple as he should and desires to. The shampoo absolutely astounded us in terms of eradicating matte hair and has a very pleasant scent.



Vet's Best Flea and Tick Waterless Bath Foam for Cats | Flea Treatment Dry Shampoo for Cats | Flea Killer with Certified Natural Oils | 5 Ounces Review:


I've finally discovered the greatest flea treatment for my cat. Even though I knew that all of the insecticides were killing her, the fleas were making both her and I crazy. I know that fleas can travel on you if you feed stray animals outside, but I have no idea how fleas got inside my house without a dog, even when I applied topical flea treatment on her. Never in her life has my cat spent a single day outside. Since the topical wasn't working for her, I've been searching for alternatives. After trying this medication on Amazon, I ordered the entire range because it really works. Now, I'm not claiming that I don't have any more fleas; I do, but I use a flea comb on her every day and find a few of them. Despite this, she isn't scratching maniacally, she has put on weight, and her fur is once again wonderful. I am spraying the yard with insecticide to kill fleas because I know it will take some time to be flea-free, but I don't want to poison her once again.


How can I make my cat smell better?

There are a few things you can do to make your cat smell better. First, start by brushing your cat regularly to remove any dirt and debris that may be trapped in their fur. You can also give them regular baths using a mild soap or shampoo designed specifically for cats. In between baths, you can use a pet-safe dry shampoo to help absorb any excess oils on their skin. Finally, be sure to keep their litter box clean and free of any waste to help control any unpleasant odors.

How do you clean a cat without scratching it?

If you're looking to clean your cat without having to worry about them scratching you, then there are a few things you can do. One is to try and brush them outside if possible, as this will help to keep the mess contained. If you must clean them inside, then make sure to put a towel over their back so that they can't reach you with their claws. You can also try using a pet vacuum cleaner to help remove any loose fur, as this will also help to keep them from scratching you.

How do you dry a cat after a bath?

The best way to dry a cat after a bath is to use a towel and gently pat them dry. You can also use a hairdryer on a low setting to help them dry off. Make sure you keep the hairdryer moving so that it doesn't get too hot in one spot.

How do you make homemade cat shampoo?

First, you will need a cup of unscented, liquid Castile soap. You can find this soap at health food stores, some grocery stores, or online. Next, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the soap. Finally, add a teaspoon of glycerin. You can find glycerin at craft stores or online. Mix all of the ingredients together and store in a bottle. To use, wet your cat's fur and massage the shampoo into their fur. Rinse thoroughly.

How often can I bathe my cat with Dawn?

You can bathe your cat with Dawn once a week.

How often should I bathe my cat?

How often you should bathe your cat depends on a few things. If your cat spends a lot of time outdoors, you may need to bathe them more often. If they have long hair, you may also need to bathe them more often to prevent mats and tangles. If your cat is healthy and doesn't spend a lot of time outdoors, you can probably get away with bathing them every few months.