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The Best Cat Shampoos for Your Feline

a couple people bathing a black and white cat in a small bathtub
Nadezda Murmakova/Shutterstock

Cats are typically very neat, self-grooming creatures, but sometimes they might need a bath. Whether they have a sticky or smelly coat, dandruff, or dry skin, various cat shampoos are available for baths.

What to Consider in Cat Shampoo

Here’s what to know before you buy:

  • Type: Consider if you need the shampoo for a simple bath or to help with allergies, dandruff, dry skin, etc.
  • Scent: Determine if you or your cat would prefer a scented or unscented shampoo. Some shampoos contain deodorizing assets to create a long-lasting fresh scent.
  • Ingredients: Check for formulas including good ingredients like minerals, vitamins, proteins, aloe, oatmeal, etc.

Best for Allergies: Burt’s Bees for Pets Hypoallergenic Shampoo

Burts Bees hypoallergenic cat shampoo.

The Burt’s Bees hypoallergenic shampoo cleans, softens, and conditions dry skin and fur. This shampoo is made with skin-moisturizing shea butter and shine-boosting honey. If your cat needs regular baths, this shampoo quickly works into your cat’s wet coat. This mild shampoo is pH balanced and suitable for all ages of kittens and cats. This product is free of fragrance, sulfates, colorants, and harsh chemicals.

Best for Dry Skin: John Paul Pet Oatmeal Shampoo

Paul Mitchell pet shampoo that has an almond scent.

This shampoo is specially formulated to moisturize dry, flaky, and sensitive skin. Ingredients include pure oatmeal, aloe vera gel, and sweet almond oil. It is a gentle, cleansing foam that cleans without water and leaves the coat soft and fresh. It is formulated to help get the oil and dirt out of the coat and leaves a wonderful almond fragrance behind. The formula is also highly concentrated, so it requires less product than competitive brands.

Best for Dandruff: Pet MD Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Shampoo

Pet MD medicated cat shampooo with Benzoyl peroxide.

This cat shampoo helps with the relief of scaling and itching from dermatitis, skin infections, and follicular plugging. The medicated shampoo helps with cleaning and degreasing and is soap- and paraben-free. It contains skin moisturizers and deodorizers to leave your cat feeling happy and smelling clean.

Best for Dandruff

Best for Waterless Baths: Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath

a bottle of Vet's Best waterless cat bath shampoo with a pump

For cats that don’t like water, a waterless cat shampoo is a great option. This product cleans and conditions your cat’s coat and moisturizes, soothes, and dries itchy skin. The waterless bath formula contains natural plant-based ingredients, including aloe vera, neem oil, vitamin E, and oatmeal. The rinse-free foam application is quick and easy to use. This product is safe to use with cats 12 weeks and older and will not affect topical flea control products.

Best for Waterless Baths

Best Two-in-One: TropiClean Shampoos for Pets

Tropiclean two-in-one luxury papaya coconut pet shampoo.

This luxurious two-in-one shampoo and conditioner cleanses, moisturizes, and conditions your pet’s skin and coat to help relax tangled hair. The formula is pH balanced, dye- and paraben-free, and will leave your pet with a soft and healthy coat. The shampoo has naturally derived ingredients with a papaya and coconut scent.

Rachel Shubin Rachel Shubin
Rachel Shubin is a freelance journalist who is passionate about telling stories. Along with writing reviews for LifeSavvy, she writes a book column for Cape May Magazine and is a reporter for the Cape May Star & Wave Newspaper. When Rachel is not writing, she can be found advocating for mental health awareness and animal rescue, reading novels, exploring Cape May, or working on her polymer clay jewelry business, Piper + Pearl Co. Read Full Bio »
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