Some cats are easy to bathe. And some cats turn bath time into a brutal beat down. You probably have a few battle scars to prove it!

You want the best for your fur baby, even if your cat doesn’t appreciate it. That means using a no-nonsense shampoo for bath time. You want an all-natural shampoo with no hidden ingredients that gets the job done.

Shopping for a shampoo that checks all these boxes isn’t easy. Luckily, we’re taking some of the work out by listing nine of the best organic cat shampoos. Reviewers love these shampoos. Each shampoo has an exciting ingredient that makes it unique compared to the rest. Let’s dive in!

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Pro Pet Works 5 in 1 Oatmeal Shampoo	Cruelty-free Good for other small animals Bottle made from recycled materials	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Pawtitas Sheabutter & Oatmeal Cat Shampoo & Conditioner	Good value Cruelty-free All ingredients are certified organic	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		BotaniVet Manuka Honey Pet Shampoo	Uses manuka honey Veterinary recommended All ingredients are certified organic	CHECK PRICE
Best for Kittens		Mad About Organics Oatmeal Shampoo	Can use on pregnant animals Can use on other small animals Great for puppies and kittens as young as 4 weeks	CHECK PRICE
		Chubbs Catatonic Shampoo Bars	Zero waste Cruelty-free Professional groomers use this soap	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Organic Cat Shampoos

1. Pro Pet Works 5 in 1 Oatmeal Shampoo – Best Overall

Pro Pet Works 5-in-1 oatmeal shampoo is the best organic cat shampoo overall. This product cleanses your cat’s fur, all while moisturizing and healing dry, damaged skin. There’s no animal byproduct, and it’s cruelty-free! This shampoo has great ingredients for an affordable price. You don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals like parabens and sulfates harming your cat’s skin. Even the bottle size is one ounce larger than a typical bottle of pet shampoo.

Pro Pet Works is great for animals eight weeks or older. You can also use this product on other small animals like ferrets and rabbits! You won’t have to buy multiple shampoo products for each pet.

2. Pawtitas Sheabutter & Oatmeal Cat Shampoo & Conditioner  – Best Value

Pawtitas 2-in-1 cat shampoo and conditioner is the best for the money. This shampoo is a high-quality shampoo that won’t break the bank. Pawtitas’ cat shampoo has 100% organic, all-natural shae butter and oatmeal that helps soothe dry, itchy skin. It also contains the new super ingredient on the block for pets, Moringa. There’s no fragrance, so if you’re someone that likes little to no scent, this shampoo could be the one.

A con to this shampoo is that it uses chamomile. Some cats may be sensitive to this shampoo, so use it sparingly and ensure you rinse off the soap thoroughly. This could be a reason why you can’t use this shampoo on a cat that’s younger than 12 weeks old. You need to leave it on your cat’s coat for five minutes which isn’t easy when bathing a cat. Overall, the ingredients in this shampoo are great for the price.

3. BotaniVet Manuka Honey Pet Shampoo –  Premium Choice

BotaniVet manuka honey pet shampoo is the best premium choice. This shampoo uses all-natural, certified organic ingredients that enrich your cat’s coat while adding extra hydration. Even heavy-coated cats experience the benefits of this shampoo.

What makes this shampoo special is the manuka honey. Manuka honey promotes healthy skin and wound healing, perfect for cats with allergies and skin issues. Veterinary dermatologists also recommend this shampoo.

Reviewers report their pet’s fur as extra shiny and soft when using this pet shampoo. Owners with hairless cats like Sphinxes say that this shampoo is great for their cat’s unprotected skin. Unfortunately, there’s no option for a larger quantity, so you may spend more money on this shampoo than others.

4. Mad About Organics Oatmeal Shampoo – Best for Kittens

Mad About Organics started making their shampoo when they needed a product to clean their pregnant breeding horse. Their efforts resulted in an all-organic shampoo perfect for young or pregnant animals. You can even use this shampoo on small animals like rodents and guinea pigs!

Mad About Organics oatmeal shampoo is the best option for kittens and puppies that need a good scrub. There are no harsh chemicals and 98% of the ingredients are all-natural.

The downside to this product is the size. You only get 4 fl oz, much less than a regular amount of pet shampoo. However, you need to make a soapy solution of this product instead of applying it directly to your cat’s coat, so it lasts about as long as a standard bottle of shampoo. Plus, the solution makes for an easy rinse! Before applying it to your pet’s coat, ensure that everything is ready to go when you bathe your cat so the process is quick and easy- as easy as bathing a cat can be!

5. Chubbs Catatonic Shampoo Bars

Chubbs Catatonic Shampoo Bars are shampoo bars specifically designed for cats. Professional pet groomers use this shampoo and love it. Not only is it organic, it’s also zero waste, vegan, and hypoallergenic. This shampoo is an excellent degreaser, giving your cat a show-quality coat. If you enter your cat into cat shows, this soap bar may be for you. It’s free of sulfates, D-Limonene, and other harmful chemicals you want to avoid in soaps. Plus, it’s easy to pack and store.

6. Nuesta Pets Shampoo for Dogs & Cats

Nuesta’s pet shampoo for dogs and cats helps cleanse your cat’s coat and restore pH balance to the skin. It’s fragrance-free, easy to lather, and is all-natural and organic. One of the ingredients is witch hazel. Witch hazel is great for dogs but is toxic for cats. However, witch hazel could topically benefit a cat’s skin in tiny amounts. It’s best to use this shampoo sparingly and to rinse thoroughly.

The downside to this shampoo is that it needs to sit on your cat’s coat for at least three to five minutes. Plus, a little goes a long way. This is a great option for cat owners wanting a product with good ingredients and lasts a while. You get two 16 fl oz bottles for an affordable price with this order.

7. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog & Cat Shampoo

Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Pet Shampoo is a soap-free shampoo that helps relieve itchy, dry skin. Reviewers love how clean, soft, and shiny their pet’s fur is after using this shampoo. Earthbath is a shampoo many ingredient-conscious owners use. If your cat uses a monthly flea and tick topical medicine, you don’t have to worry about this shampoo washing it off. Just ensure that you follow bathing instructions on your cat’s medication.

The biggest con with this shampoo is that not every ingredient is organic. The aloe vera is organic, one of the biggest and best ingredients to help nourish and moisturize your cat’s skin. The rest of the ingredients are safe to use on cats as young as 6 weeks. But if you love this product, there’s a 1-gallon option for purchase!

8. Earthbath 2-in-1 Wild Cherry Conditioning Cat Shampoo

Another Earthbath shampoo! Pet owners everywhere love this brand. This shampoo has added moisturizing properties for your cat’s coat and skin, plus added vitamins A, B, D, & E for an extra shiny, healthy coat. Like the Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Pet Shampoo, the ingredients in this shampoo aren’t all organic. Still, the primary ingredient for itchiness is organic. Mixed with added conditioning properties, your cat should feel silky smooth and hydrated.

Some reviewers report that the cherry scent is too strong. This may be a problem for some cats, given their astute sense of smell. Cats as young as six weeks old can use this shampoo. Flea and tick medications are also safe to use with this conditioning shampoo.

9. Nuesta Waterless Foaming Shampoo

Nuesta’s waterless foaming shampoo is a good option for kitties who loathe bath time. This waterless shampoo makes bathing your cat convenient and hassle-free. Owners of hairless cats report to love this waterless shampoo. The ingredients are natural, organic, and have no synthetic fragrances.

It may be best to rinse your kitty with a simple baby wipe or washcloth if you can. There’s no rinsing involved with this shampoo. However, one of the ingredients is witch hazel which could irritate a cat’s skin.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Right Organic Cat Shampoo

How To Bathe A Cat

The following video shows a veterinary technician properly bathing a cat. In this video, you’ll receive tips on how to handle a cat, water pressure, lathering, and other helpful tips.

What To Look For In A Cat Shampoo

Cat shampoos work for different reasons. Some help a medical condition. Other shampoos provide a basic cleanse of the coat.

Cat Shampoo Ingredients To Avoid

Soaps for cats and dogs have evolved over the last few decades. In the past, groomers used baby shampoo, Dawn’s dish soap (some still do), and other over-the-counter soaps.

Grooming supplies have changed drastically over the last twenty years. Now, there are products specifically designed for cats! Still, some pet products include ingredients you should avoid. Those ingredients are:

Avoiding these ingredients helps you choose a better product for your cat’s skin. Always read the labels and ensure you’re leaving the soap on for the specified time. If the label says no longer than five minutes, don’t leave the soap on for ten minutes.

Can You Use Human Shampoo On Cats?

Cat shampoo is specifically designed to work for a cat’s coat and skin. Human shampoo could contain harmful ingredients that irritate a cat’s skin and cause dermatitis, hair loss, poisoning. Never use a product on a cat that isn’t created and manufactured for a cat’s needs.

Final Thoughts

We recommend the best overall shampoo, Pro Pet Works 5 in 1 Oatmeal Shampoo. It has great ingredients, has a fair price, and you can use it on young animals that are at least eight weeks old. Reviewers love this shampoo, and we believe you will as well.

Try Pawtitas Sheabutter & Oatmeal Cat Shampoo & Conditioner if the budget is tight. If you’re feeling fancy, BotaniVet Manuka Honey Pet Shampoo. Manuka honey contains many benefits for the skin, and we believe this shampoo can help your pet.

• See Also: 10 Best Antifungal Shampoos for Cats 

Featured Image Credit: angnokever, Shutterstock