As a cat owner, you usually don’t need to worry about giving your cat a bath all that often. But sometimes it’s necessary—perhaps your cat isn’t able to groom themself, or they’ve gotten into something particularly nasty that they probably shouldn’t be licking off. This is where the necessary evil of bathing your cat will come in.
So, now you’re considering your options as to what kind of shampoo you would like to use. The best choice is a quality shampoo specifically designed for cats. However, in a pinch, you can make a shampoo at home. That said, using these recipes regularly could lead to dry skin and irritation, so we don’t recommend making a habit out of it.
Not sure what goes into a homemade shampoo? Well, we’re to help with these 3 homemade recipes for your very own DIY cat shampoo.
Alternatives
If you’re in a rush to give your cat a bath (they’re a stinky, gooey mess) and you don’t have these ingredients or any cat shampoo handy, there are a few other alternatives you can use.1
- Dawn dish soap: This soap is famous for its use in cleaning wildlife that has been coated in oil from oil spills. It’s an effective detergent that will gently clean any greasy messes your cat may have gotten into. Use the unscented, undyed versions, as this will help minimize skin irritation.
- Baby shampoo: This shampoo is designed to be much gentler for babies, so it could also work on your cat’s delicate skin. A small amount on occasion won’t damage your cat’s skin. Use formulas without fragrances and with a “no tears” label.
- Castile soap: This soap is made with olive oil and is very gentle and moisturizing. Just be sure that it doesn’t have any added ingredients and is 100% pure.
Any of these are safe for you to use on your cat in an emergency bath situation, but it’s best to not use them regularly.
Everyday Pet Shampoo
The best pet shampoos are carefully formulated to clean your pet without causing irritation. Hepper's Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo does a great job of this by combining soothing ingredients like aloe vera and colloidal oatmeal. It is also pH-balanced and free of irritants like dyes, soaps, sulfates, and phthalates. You and your pet will both enjoy the fresh, clean scent, too!
- Only Natural Pet Shampoo - Our vegan, plant-based formulation is made with safe and natural...
- No Soap - A cat and dog wash free from soaps, glutens, dyes, DEA, sulfates and phthalates means it's...
- Colloidal Oatmeal - Formula soothes and nourishes dry, irritated skin, providing itchy skin relief...
The 3 DIY Cat Shampoo Homemade Recipes
1. Basic Shampoo
Basic Shampoo
Equipment
- 1 Bottle/ Container
Materials
- 4 cups of warm water
- 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup 1 cup of Dawn dish soap (unscented)
Instructions
- Very carefully mix the ingredients together (the Dawn will foam up if you shake too vigorously).
- Add it to a clean bottle or container.
- Wet your cat with warm water and pour the mixture on your cat and rub it into their fur, ensuring it reaches the skin, and rinse thoroughly.
Notes
2. Moisturizing Shampoo
This moisturizing shampoo is suitable for cats with sensitive and dry skin, particularly with the addition of the vegetable glycerin, which is a liquid that is usually made from palm, soybean, or coconut oils. You can replace the glycerin with Dawn dish soap, but the glycerin adds an extra moisturizing component to the shampoo, which will help any cats with dry skin.
- 4 cups of warm water
- ⅓ cup of vegetable glycerin
- ⅓ cup of apple cider vinegar
Mix the ingredients together in a bottle or container. Follow the same procedure as the first shampoo on our list. Get your cat wet with warm water, rub your shampoo into their fur and on their skin, and rinse well. Take some time with the rinsing because of the vegetable glycerin.
3. Sensitive Skin
This is a gentle shampoo that should work well for cats with sensitive skin. The oatmeal is great for soothing skin irritation, as it’s been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. Baking soda is good for odor absorption, but you should never let your cat ingest it. Large amounts can be toxic.
- 4 cups of warm water
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 cup of oatmeal (organic is best)
- 1 teaspoon of Dawn dish soap
The oatmeal should be ground up until it is as close to powder form as you can get. Place the ingredients into a clean container with a lid and shake well. After wetting your cat down, apply the shampoo and rub it into their fur, reaching the skin, and rinse well.
A Few Notes
It needs to be said that you should never use shampoo meant for humans on your cat. Humans and cats have very different pH levels, and our shampoo will dry out your cat’s skin.
- Petrochemicals
- Parabens
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Artificial dyes or fragrances
Be sure to avoid getting any shampoo in your cat’s eyes. This can cause irritation and pain. Cats lick themselves, so you should rinse any shampoo off thoroughly. Ingesting soap or other shampoo components is not ideal and can cause a stomach upset.
Conclusion
In the long run, it would be best if you purchased cat shampoo that is gentle and doesn’t contain any added harsh chemicals or fragrances. Since cats don’t usually need a bath very often, one bottle should last you for quite some time. But if you do need to give your cat a bath and you find yourself literally in a sticky situation without any car-safe shampoo, we hope that one of these DIY shampoos will help and that you and your cat come out of the bath unscathed.
You might also like:
- How to Stop Your Cat from Over-Grooming: 9 Proven Methods
- 9 Best Cat Grooming Gloves of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Olleg, Shutterstock
