We all know that most cats hate water and the idea of taking a cat bath makes them want to run for cover. When it is time to give your cat a bath, you are probably wondering what is safe soap for cats?
Most cats are good at self-cleaning with their specially designed tongues that are created specifically for grooming but sometimes your cat just really needs a good soak in a bath if they are especially dirty or smelly.
Check out our researched brand list of cat soap below to find a good fit for your kitty. Your furry feline friend will be squeaky clean in no time!
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Safe Soap for Cats:
It is important to use scent free, pure and natural soap and shampoo when bathing your cat. This will help protect their skin biome and prevent any upper respiratory responses to harmful chemicals and fragrances.
Cat’s are natural groomers and are therefore constantly cleaning themselves by licking. If you read the ingredients on the shampoo or cat soap you are about to use to bathe them with and it causes any concerns make sure to research further before covering their coat or skin with something harmful that they might ingest.
Keep in mind that the fewer ingredients usually means that it is likely one of the better choices when it comes to finding safe soap for cats. Browse the list below to find the cat soap you think would be a great fit for your furry friend.
Recommended Cat Soap List:
- Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile Mild Baby Soap
- Wondercide Pet Shampoo Bar for Cats
- J.R. Liggett’s Cat Hair Shampoo Bar
- Warren London Hypoallergenic Cat Shampoo and Conditioner
- Mighty Meow Soothing Hypoallergenic Cat Shampoo
- Earthbath Hypoallergenic Fragrance Free Cat Shampoo
- HYPONIC Hypoallergenic Premium Fragrance Free Shampoo for Cats
- Burt’s Bees for Kittens and Cats Natural Tearless Shampoo with Buttermilk
- Pipette Fragrance Free Hypoallergenic Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
- Aquaphor Unscented Baby Wash and Shampoo
- CeraVe Fragrance Free Baby Wash and Shampoo
- Evereden Fragrance Free Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
- Burt’s Bees Unscented Baby Shampoo
- Dawn Dish Soap Original Scent Blue (Read more below about how and when to use Dawn dish soap on your cat.)
Waterless Cat Shampoo and Cat Cleansing Wipes:
If you have a particularly fussy cat who fights you tooth and nail to take a bath, you can use cat wipes or waterless shampoo. Use only brands specially formulated for cats. This will help freshen their skin and coat if they need a bath without using any water at all.
- Mooncat Waterless Cat Shampoo
- Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath
- Mighty Meow Waterless Cat Shampoo
- Furbliss Hygienic Pet Wipes
- Earthbath Fragrance Free Hypoallergenic Cat Wipes
- Burt’s Bees for Cats Grooming Wipes
Some Common Cat Soap Questions:
Can You Use Baby Shampoo on Cats?
Yes! You can use baby shampoo on cats. However, it is best to only use unscented baby shampoo that is made with pure and natural ingredients. Some recommended brands of baby shampoo for cats: Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Mild Baby Shampoo, Pipette Fragrance Free Hypoallergenic Baby Shampoo and Body Wash , Aquaphor Unscented Baby Wash and Shampoo, CeraVe Fragrance Free Baby Wash and Shampoo, Evereden Fragrance Free Baby Shampoo and Body Wash and Burt’s Bees Unscented Baby Shampoo.
Can You Use Dawn Dish Soap on Cats?
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap on cats. Dawn is effective at removing grease and grime from especially dirty things, even cats. We still recommend avoiding using any Dawn dish soap that has been heavily scented or the antibacterial version. What most pet care experts recommend is to use the original blue Dawn dish soap if you have a greasy or muddy cat. However, we would advise against using Dawn dish soap for every single bath time for your cat and to use an unscented soap product with less ingredients for cats not covered in grease or mud.
Human Shampoo on Cats?
Yes, you can use human shampoo on cats as long as it isn’t full of unnecessary chemicals that can be harmful to both you and your cat. Try to avoid human shampoo that has fragrance and make sure it is as pure and natural as possible. A shampoo with pure and natural ingredients will help prevent your cat’s skin from drying out or causing respiratory problems from added fragrances. We recommend unscented human baby shampoo or unscented castile soap to keep ingredients as simple and pure as possible. To play it completely safe it is best to just use a soap that you know has been specially formulated for cats.
Can You Use Regular Shampoo on A Cat?
Yes, you can use regular shampoo on a cat. However, the answer is similar to the question above and you shouldn’t use a harsh shampoo on your cats. It should be as pure and natural of a shampoo as you can find to avoid any complications with your cat’s skin. We recommend following the safe soap for cats list in this post.
Can You Use Dove Soap on Cats?
Yes, you can use Dove soap on cats. However, Dove soap should only be used to wash your cat if you don’t have any of the recommended cat safe soaps mentioned above and your cat really needs a bath right away. In other words, while Dove soap is okay occasionally it should not be your go-to when cleaning your cat. Dove soap is formulated for human skin and is quite gentle but it will mess with the pH level of your cat’s skin causing skin irritation and dryness.
Can I Use Head and Shoulders on My Cat?
No, you should not use Head and Shoulders on your cat. Head and Shoulders is formulated to treat human dandruff and would not be suitable for your cat’s skin. Head and Shoulders would cause irritation to your cat’s skin by drying it out and messing up the overall pH level. We recommend avoiding the use of all human dandruff shampoo on your cat. Check out the safe cat soap list above for much safer options.
Can I Use Ajax to Wash my Cat?
NO! Absolutely under no circumstances should you use ajax to wash your cat. Please see our approved list of cat safe shampoo and wash them with that instead. Ajax is full of chemicals and can be very harsh on your cat’s sensitive skin.
We hope that this post helps you determine what is safe soap for cats and that your cat can have a pleasant bath time experience!
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- How to Cut Overgrown Cat Claws
- What Foods Are Toxic to Cats? 5 Items to Avoid!
- DIY Pet Bowl Placemat for Cats
The views expressed across the blog are the opinion of the author and not necessarily endorsed by Pet Coupon Savings. Always consult your veterinarian for professional advice. Pet Coupon Savings may earn a small commission via affiliate links. Read more about our policies.
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