Top 7 Best Kitten Shampoos in 2022

The best kitten shampoos

Unhealthy and stinky fur on your beloved pet?

If you like cuddling with your kitten, you must have noticed that pets can sometimes have an unpleasant smell. Also, both outdoor and indoor cats are susceptible to build-up in their fur. It may be from oils, dirt, dander, or sebum.

There is nothing better than having a pet that has a smell fresh and tidy for cuddle time. Bathing your cat is a part of their necessary grooming needs because its fur accumulates sebum and dirt which can lead to damaged, dry and dull fur.

Using shampoo on your precious cat will help make them clean and separate any debris that settled within their fur. Moreover, shampoos have special grooming features which target a particular skin or fur problem in your cat.

Maintaining your cat fresh helps reduce any odors. It will also be beneficial for you as an owner so that you can ensure that your pet’s hygiene is good which will lessen smells and dirt from rubbing off onto your house furniture or your own hands while petting them.

There are different types of cat shampoo in the market. There is the traditional shampoo, shampoo-conditioner, and waterless shampoo. The one that is for you will depend both on you and your cat.

We have to remember that like humans, our kittens need to be always clean, too. By nature, cats groom themselves. However, there are some instances wherein you need to bathe them especially if their coats are greasy or sticky. Cat shampoos can be a good way to help keep your cats clean and your house, too.

Looking for the best shampoo for your kittens might not be an easy task. There are a lot of kitten shampoos in the market and it can be tough to choose one that will suit your pet best. When you are on the hunt for it, you want to pick the one that has as natural ingredients as possible and grooming features for your cat such as irritation, tangled fur, itchy skin, etc.

Here at Owl Ratings, we have created a comprehensive buying guide so you can be sure which kitten shampoo will be beneficial to your favorite pet’s skin health and coat.

Best overall

This shampoo is formulated to promote healing and aid in relieving skin conditions. It is made with pure oatmeal, chamomile, and aloe vera for a soothing and gentle approach to bathing your pet. It also has almond oil that works as a conditioner. It makes your kitten smell lovely after each bath. John Paul Pet Oatmeal Shampoo makes your loving kitties look more beautiful. It gives a nice shine to your cat’s fur and produces healthy and better hair. It can also help in removing ticks. It keeps their paws free from being dry and will make the nails stay fresh. Another good thing about this shampoo is that it is also good for pets with sensitive skin and soothes the skin from pain, itchiness, and dryness.

No detergents have been used in formulating this product. Its consistency is thick compared to other shampoos so you do not need to use a lot of it. While bathing your cats, it is also easy to remove this shampoo from their fur.

Best natural shampoo

The brand makes use of baking soda to easily deodorize and revitalize a pungent coat. It is infused with a chamomile-lavender scent that will make you and your kitten love it. The combination of these scents has natural calming abilities.

Cat dander can cause big stress on kitten owners especially if they suffer from allergic reactions. This product is a dander-decreasing shampoo and will control your cat’s dander.

Amidst all the goodness of this product, it also has its limitations. This contains sodium laurel sulfate. This substance has a tremendously strong oil-reducing capacity. In coexistence with baking soda, this shampoo may not be ideal for cats whose skin is dry or have itchy skin problems.

Best for white tur

Keep your pet clean and bright with this whitening shampoo. It has a special formula that is designed to brighten and whiten coats. It is made with visual enhancers to make dull coats appear more vibrant and whiter. It also adds highlights to all color coats. This shampoo has five conditioning agents to moisturize and calm your pet’s coat. It maximizes the beauty of your kitten’s coat and conditions its hair for easy management.

This product is made in the USA with the same all-natural botanical extracts as other PAUL MITCHELL brands for humans. It is tested on humans first, PH balanced for pets. Another good thing about this shampoo is its highly concentrated botanical formula. Because of this special formula, you will need less quantity of it in applying to your pets compared to other brands.

Best for fleas

A product that offers you everything you need to get rid of your kitten’s fleas. This is what Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo is known for. It has a proven soothing and effective formula. To add to its greatness, its price in the market is affordable.

Pet owners who are regular buyers of this shampoo say that it can definitely terminate fleas instantly. This shampoo is your best line of defense for entirely eliminating those pesky insects. It does not only kill fleas but all its larvae and eggs. Moreover, this product also removes your cat’s loose scales, dirt, and dandruff.

If this shampoo gets rid of your beloved pets’ fleas in no time, it does not promise complete riddance of fleas in your home.

Another edge of this product is its mosquito repellent capability. Your furry friend will be safe from mosquito bites.

The strong scent of this shampoo does not make other people happy. Some find its medicinal scent very unpleasant. It is also not recommended to use it on your pets too often or else it will lose its efficacy.

Best for allergies

This product is recommended by veterinarians. It is sulfate, cruelty, and paraben-free. It is also free from colorants, fragrances, and harsh materials that may be harmful to your pets. These chemicals may cause allergies and skin condition flare-ups in cats that have sensitive skin.

It is a product that is suitable for all cats. Its formulas are pH balanced most especially for kittens and cats.

Components include shine-boosting honey and shea butter to guarantee non-stop purring. It is meticulously made with aloe vera and colloidal oat flour to lessen flaking and improve dry skin.

Because this product has no deodorizing effect, it will leave an unpleasant smell after use, and will not work on smelly cats. And to add to the not-so-good thing about this shampoo, it does not lather. Otherwise, this item works wonderfully for most cats.

Best for long tur

Espree Silky Show Cat Shampoo has a formula that moisturizes and cleans damaged and dry long coats. This deluxe formula enhances shine, manageability, and texture, and eases brushing and combing. It also aids in bringing out the luster and shine in your kitty’s coat. A few hours after you bathe your loving pet, you can still smell its fragrance, and it leaves a soothing and light odor every after bath.

This is a product made from the USA and has ingredients that are globally sourced. It is manufactured with 100% organically-grown aloe vera.

A highly-recommended shampoo if your cat is prone to matting or tangling of the fur, but you don’t want to cut the damaged parts of their fur. Water-dissolvable silk protein found in its formula easily consumes into the skin and hair. With the smell of calming waters, your kitten will not only look awesome but will smell great, too. This product is good to use for flea treatments as well.

Best dry shampoo

A waterless cat shampoo is a perfect answer if your furry friend won’t groom on its own or if they don’t like water during bath time. Since this dry shampoo does not need to be rinsed, it makes cleaning your kitten much easier. You just need to brush its fur after applying it.

The ingredients of this product all work together in giving the best to your dear kitty. The aloe vera helps to supply nourishment to assist both healthy coat and skin. Neem oil contains emollients, fatty acids, and vitamin E that support the skin’s continuity of normal moisture levels. The vitamin E component is a natural preservative and abundant in strong antioxidants that combat environmental destruction. To help in the preservation and protection of the natural moisture content of the skin, oatmeal has also been added to this product.

This shampoo is recommended by veterinarians and is great for kittens over 12 weeks old.

What to look for in a good kitten shampoo

If you’re bathing your pet kitten, finding the perfect shampoo is vital. Giving a kitten a bath is perhaps not your favorite pastime in life. A lot of cats do not enjoy this activity. Since baths are not often well received by your furry pets, it is advisable to make sure that each bathing time is worth all the hassles you will endure. Choosing the right shampoo can make or break your beloved kitten’s bathing experience.

The shampoo that is the best for your kitten is something that will help make those bathing sessions a little bit easier (and fun). Cats are meticulous with their hygiene. Those hard-to-reach parts of their bodies can hinder them from looking their best, that is why lathering them once in a while with a good quality shampoo can help them stay beautiful.

With all the choices available in the market today, it can be pretty difficult to pick which one will work best for your kitten. There are a few factors you must consider before getting the right product for your beloved pet.

Non-toxic

Cats constantly lick themselves. The last thing you like is a shampoo that is full of harmful chemicals. If you choose a no-rinse shampoo/cleanser for your pet, it should only have natural or organic ingredients to avoid harming your cat.

Gentle formula

The best shampoo for your kitten will make its coat clean, shiny, and soft without any bad reactions. Our cats also need our TLC. If you choose a harsh shampoo for your kitten, its fur will become unmanageable, dry, and can sometimes cause irritation.

A good & soft scent

Strong fragrances will most likely make your kitten miserable and unhappy. It is better to prefer clean, soft, and fresh scents for your pets. While you as the owner may like your furry friend to smell good with a stronger scent, it is your cat that will live with the scent daily.

Moisturizing

A shampoo that has a moisturizing effect is very good for your cat, especially if your pet has long hair. Moisturizers will help replace oils that are lost during bath time, and will also help in making brushing much easier.

Easy rinse

Since cats normally lick their bodies, you want to have a shampoo that does not stay on their fur and skin. Even if the shampoo is made of natural ingredients, it is best for your cat to not ingest it.

The features mentioned above are the most important qualities to look for when choosing the best shampoo for your pet kitten. However, if you also care about the planet, you may also be interested in these attributes as well.

Cruelty-free

As a lover of animals, you may want to look also into details on how companies made these products. It is important that no animals were harmed during the process.

Biodegradable

Nowadays, there are manufacturers that are not just 100% green in their products’ ingredients, but also in their packaging. A lot of cat shampoos are being packaged with biodegradable and recycled materials.

On the other hand, there are shampoo ingredients that can be troublesome for cats. The FDA does not test these cat shampoos so pet owners should read the labels and check the ingredients.

Here are some of those harmful components that may harm your kittens:

Sulfates

These are chemicals that can cause skin discomfort and irritation to cats. Two of the most common sulfates are sodium laureth and sodium lauryl

Essential oils

A lot of essential oils that are concentrated are dangerous to cats. These oils are toxic to them, whether diffused in a room or applied to their skin. It is best to avoid cat shampoos that have essential oils in their ingredients.

Mineral oils

These are oils that can be contaminated or impure. To be safe, it is recommended to avoid them. These oils can also block the pores of your pet’s skin. This usually happens if your pet has naturally oily skin.

Formaldehyde

This ingredient is tricky. It may not be mentioned under the ingredients section of the label of your cat shampoo but other ingredients that release this chemical may be included. Some of these may include quaternium-5, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, and DMDM hydantoin.

Phthalates

There is still an ongoing study and research about the safety of this chemical. However, there are some who suspect this to cause hormone disturbance in pets.

FAQ

Final verdict

Cats are definitely one of the easiest, if not the easiest pets to own. They are very self-sufficient and independent creatures. Other than feeding and petting, they can take care of themselves.

If you are concerned about the cleanliness of your pet kitten, a cat shampoo is something that you need. In the forms of regular shampoos, waterless shampoos, or shampoo-conditioners, there is definitely a cat shampoo that is perfect for your furry friend.

You have to remember to always use cat-friendly shampoos and conditioners only. And the most important thing is to be consistent in showing your feline friends how much you love and care for them.