8 Safe & Effective Cat Shampoo Alternatives

Unlike shampoo for adults, baby shampoo has a much gentler formula, which makes it suitable for use on your cat’s delicate skin. Look for a “no tears” label and avoid fragrances. You can use a small amount of baby shampoo to bathe your cat as you would normally. But, only use it in case of emergency, as you want to avoid using baby shampoo regularly on your cat.

Not to be used regularly.

Most of us have seen that Dawn dish soap is used at rescue centers to strip oil from wildlife affected by pollution. That means it will also do a great job of cleaning your cat’s coat if they’ve ended up covered in sticky or oily residue.

Dawn is okay to use on your cat, but it’s best to mix ¼ cup of Dawn with ½ cup of apple cider vinegar and 2 cups of water to make a blend that can be lathered over your cat’s coat before rinsing well. We don’t recommend using other brands of dish soap, as their safety hasn’t been established.

Castile soap is made with olive oil and is a safe and effective stand-in cat shampoo. It’s gentle and naturally hydrating, so it can be a good choice for cats with dry skin.

Make sure the Castile soap is 100% pure without added ingredients. Rinse your cat’s coat well to remove all traces of the soap to ensure their skin doesn’t get irritated by residue.

If you don’t want to get your cat wet and their fur simply needs freshening up, baking soda can do a great job of deodorizing odors. If you don’t know how to wash a cat, simply sprinkle the baking soda over your cat’s coat, making sure to avoid their face. Rub it into the base of the coat with your fingers and massage it well. Let it set for a few minutes before brushing out, then remove as much as possible using a dry towel.

If your dark cat is left looking a little lighter, don’t worry, it can happen but will go away. But you want to remove as much baking soda as possible to avoid your cat ingesting large amounts of it by licking it up. Some cats may be allergic to it, so keep a close eye on your kitty if you use this method, and be sure to contact a vet if you notice your cat is itchy, has red or swollen skin, is vomiting, has diarrhea, or looks lethargic.

Many of us have baby wipes at home. However, baby wipes can contain various ingredients, and we recommend using only Water wipes; they are safe for cats. Another good alternative is Pet Wipes, which are formulated with pet-safe ingredients. They can be used to spot-clean your cat and remove minor stains or areas where your cat has managed to work something foul into their coat.

If using wipes, use only the recommended type to ensure they don’t contain fragrances that could irritate your cat’s delicate skin.

This simple recipe creates an effective and gentle oatmeal shampoo to help soothe irritated skin. Simply mix 1 cup of ground oatmeal with ½ cup of baking soda and 4 cups of water. Pour this mixture over your cat’s fur before using your fingers to massage it through their fur and down to their skin. Leave for up to 5 minutes before rinsing clean with plenty of warm water.

This uses a large portion of baking soda, which you may need to buy if you’re not a regular baker.

You have the perfect dry cat shampoo alternative if you use cornstarch regularly in cooking! It can be sprinkled over your cat’s coat before using your fingers to work it through their fur. Brush it out, and your cat will look and smell cleaner!

Cornstarch won’t remove sticky or oily residue.

If your cat desperately needs a clean, but you can’t bear bathing them, this DIY dry shampoo recipe is the answer! Mix ½ cup of finely ground oatmeal with ½ cup of cornmeal and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Sprinkle this mixture all over your cat, while being careful to avoid their face. Rub the mixture in, and leave for 5 minutes before brushing out.

This won’t remove stubborn stains or oily and sticky residue.