Is Dog Shampoo Safe for Cats? What You Need to Know

Just last week, my friend asked me whether she could use a dog shampoo to bathe her cat. It didn’t take long to give her an answer as the question was not a difficult one.

I soon discovered my friend wasn’t alone. Many cat owners have been asking, “Can I use dog shampoo on my cat?”

Whether you transited from owning a dog to owning a cat, or you couldn’t find the shampoo for your cat the last time you went shopping, etc. you’ve probably been tempted to use a dog shampoo for your cat. But is that okay?

In this article, I explained whether or not you can wash a cat with dog shampoo and why.

In this post, you will learn

• The Uniqueness Of A Cat’s Coat
• Care For Your Cat’s Coat
• Can I Use Dog Shampoo On My Cat?
• How To Bathe Your Cat
• What If I Can’t Find A Cat Shampoo?

Let’s roll!

The Uniqueness Of A Cat’s Coat

You may not have known it but your cat’s coat plays a huge role in its overall health. By observing a cat’s coat, you can tell whether it is healthy or not.

A full and lustrous coat shows a healthy cat while a pale looking coat could be a sign that a cat is suffering a particular disease.

The coat of a cat provides needed body heat and resists body irritants.

Additionally, this coat is a means of communication between the cat and its prey, other cats, and its human companion.

Because the cat values its coat so much, you’ll always find it licking up its fur to stay clean.

But is this personal grooming enough for your cat’s skin? What if he falls into a very dirty spot or his skin gets infected?

Then it wouldn’t be okay for him to lick up his fur. Would it?

Join me in the next section to see how you can care for your cat’s coat and improve his health.

Care For Your Cat’s Coat

One way to care for your cat’s coat is by brushing him regularly. As nature demands, your cat will shed at different times of the year but don’t bank on that.

You should brush your feline’s coat as much as you can. Whether your pet is shorthaired or longhaired will determine how often you’ll brush its coat. A longhaired cat will require more frequent grooming.

Brushing your cat’s coat will help get rid of dead hair and protect him against mites and parasites.

Furthermore, while grooming your pet, look out for anything unusual like missing hair patches, wounds, infestations, or infections. If you notice any disturbing signs, do well to inform your vet. Once a proper diagnosis is done, then you can find s solution to the skin problem.

Secondly, ensure that your cat gets proper vaccination and maintain a deworming schedule. This is another excellent way to care for your cat’s skin. It will improve your cat’s fur quality and boost its overall health.

In a situation where your cat’s coat is very soiled, and there’s a need to bathe him, but you did not prepare beforehand, will it be okay to use a dog shampoo?

I answered this question in the next section.

Tag along!

Can I Use Dog Shampoo On My Cat?

The short answer is NO and listed below are my reasons why:

Based on pH levels, cats usually have a ph of 6 while dogs have a pH of 7.5. And this pH level is put into consideration in the production of the shampoos for the different species.

Therefore, dog shampoo is not suitable for your cat’s skin. It can dry out your cat’s skin and make it prone to parasites.

Secondly, most dog shampoos contain permethrin, an insecticide that is poisonous to cats.

Normally, when a cat inhales permethrin, he could suffer respiratory paralysis. muscle contraction, and sometimes death.

If you use dog shampoo containing permethrin on your cat, it becomes unsafe for your cat to clean himself afterwards. He could suffer from respiratory stress.

And if your pet has wounds or sores, contact with permethrin can result in hypersalivation, diarrhoea, vomiting, ataxia, or tremors.

These are emergencies that will demand the attention of a vet. Is that what you want?

Furthermore, dog shampoos contain essential oils. These oils may soothe human and dog skin but it is not good for your cat.

The enzyme that metabolizes essential oils is missing in a cat’s body. Even when diluted, essential oils can be toxic for your cat. Kittens are the most vulnerable here.

Additionally, Selenium sulfide and coal tar are other substances used in dog shampoos that are harmful to cats.

Nevertheless, some shampoos are produced for use in both cats and dogs of all ages. You can tell from the product label. A tag like “safe for use on cats” means it is okay to get it for your cat.

Got it? Good!

Let’s see how you can bathe your cat in the next section.

Keep reading!

How To Bathe Your Cat

Earlier, we established that cats seldom need a bath except when they are unable to clean themselves.

Maybe your cat is ill, or his coat got stained, and you need to bathe him, here are helpful steps:

1. First, get the necessary items like towels, cleaning products, and a dryer.
2. Next, trim his nails so he doesn’t scratch you when he gets defensive during the bath.

• Now, brush your cat to remove any loose fur or mat. Also, protect his ears from the water with cotton wool.

1. Place a rubber mat in the tub and fill the tub to about 4 inches with warm water to grant your cat traction
2. Next, using a handheld sprayer or a plastic cup, pour water over his body.
3. Now, apply a cat shampoo and starting from the neck, gradually massage your cat toward the tail.

(Leave out his face, eyes, and ears. You can wipe them with a damp washcloth after the bath).

• Then rinse off the lather thoroughly with warm water
• It’s drying time. Dry your cat with a towel before using the dryer. If your cat is not cool with the dryer, you can place him in a warm room till he is completely dried.

The dryer should be in the lowest warm setting. In a case where the cat has long fur, gently comb it with a wide-toothed comb to prevent mats later.

1. Finally, reward your cat with treats, praise, playtime for cooperation.

Moving on, we’ll see other cleaning products you can use when you don’t have a cat shampoo.

Read on!

What If I Can’t Find A Cat Shampoo?

1. Try using only clean water to rinse off the dirt stuck to your cat’s fur

(NB: rinsing a cat week can reduce dander)

2. Dilute Chlorhexidine, an antiseptic used to treat skin conditions in water, and bathe your cat with the mixture (remember to follow the instructions on the label).

Opt for this method only when bathing your cat is an emergency.

3. You can use wipes designed for cats and dry shampoo to clean up your cat.
4. A simple  castile soap  without  fragrance  is another product that  will  not  harm  your furry companion
5. You can also consider preparing the shampoo yourself.

Some pet owners say a combination of apple cider vinegar, vegetable glycerin, and warm water makes a good cat shampoo.

But do your research on the ingredients that are safe for your cat before you proceed.

Bottom line

One-time use of dog shampoo on your cat may not hurt much but do not risk it. There are shampoos that have been prepared specially for cats. Go for them.

Some of these shampoos are even prepared for specific breeds like dark fur, long hair, etc.

All the same, seek the consent of your vet before you use any product on your pet.

Conclusion

So, Can you wash a cat with dog shampoo? I’m pretty sure you can answer that question at this point.

Now tell me in the comments, have you ever used dog shampoo on your cat or know anyone who did? What was the outcome?

I hope to hear from you soon. Meanwhile, share this post with other cat owners on your list, thank you!