Cats “are expert self-groomers,” as veterinarian Lisa Chimes put it, but that doesn’t mean cat parents are off the hook for their kitty’s hygiene needs.
“If a cat’s coat is looking scruffy, matted or you notice dandruff-like flakes, debris or an odor, they probably need your help,” explained Chimes, who has her own line of pet grooming products. And in general, kittens, older cats, injured kitties and sick cats will likely need extra cleansing support from their human parents, she added.
In addition, “Cats with diarrhea or urinary issues … may need help staying clean,” said Ann Hohenhaus, a veterinarian at New York City’s Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. Caretakers of long-haired cats, whose waste can more easily get stuck in their lengthy fur, may especially be familiar with this kind of sanitary cleansing.
Even if your cat’s coat appears clean, they still will benefit from regular grooming, particularly brushing, emphasized Chimes. “[Daily brushing] helps improve skin and coat health, and reduces the amount of hair ingested by your cat and shed around your home,” she noted.
The more you get your cat used to being groomed, the more comfortable your kitty will be with the process, said Chimes. If you’re just starting out, focus on a small area to start with, and “gradually build up as your cat tolerates it,” she advised. And don’t forget the power of positive reinforcement: Treats will help your cat create a positive association with grooming. (My cat lovesGreenies’ dental treats.)
For more insights from Chimes and Hohenhaus, plus their product recommendations for supporting your cat’s hygiene, read on.
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
To cleanse your cat, “I would choose products specially created for cats,” said Hohenhaus.
Hohenhaus recommended Wahl‘s waterless cat shampoo “for spot cleaning.”
This plant-based shampoo works without requiring a rinse; per the brand, just dry your cat with a towel and brush their coat after applying the product.
Made with oatmeal and free of alcohol and parabens, the shampoo is designed to cleanse while moisturizing and soothing itchy, dry skin (and it conveniently dispenses via a handy pump).
“[My cat is] always so much more comfortable after and has WAY less dandruff,” writes one reviewer, Justine. “I can tell it’s definitely soothing for his dry, itchy skin. If your pet suffers from dry, flakey skin and constant scratching, this is a great product for that … You only need to rub in a small amount and then brush it through well to remove any loose fur and dirt or flakes. It also leaves their fur shiny and smelling amazing from the oatmeal and coconut.”
Chimes recommended using good quality wipes to cleanse your cat since “they are mostly water-based and therefore leave less residue” than a dry shampoo. “Wipes can also help mechanically remove dirt from the coat and can typically be used all over the body,” Chimes noted.
Based on Chimes’s advice, we selected these cat wipes from Wahl, the same brand Hohenhaus recommended for dry shampoo.
Wahl‘s rinse-free cat wipes are alcohol- and paraben-free, enhanced with soothing oatmeal and designed for use all over your cat’s body, from their face and tail to their paws and ears. Available in a pack of 50, the no-mess wipes cleanse grime and foul smells without needing to be rinsed off after application. Reviewers say they’ve used the towelettes with success on senior cats, kittens and especially dirty stray cats.
“When grooming/cleansing your cat, it’s best to do so after they have eaten and gone to the bathroom — this will help ensure that they are feeling as relaxed as possible,” emphasized Chimes. “Try doing it in a calm environment and consider using a cat pheromone product, like Feliway, if your cat finds it stressful.”
Designed specifically for cats, the Feliway diffuser helps create a comforting environment for your kitty by releasing a calming pheromone analog when plugged into an open outlet. The popular tool is designed to reduce cats’ stress without affecting other household pets or people.
In previous HuffPost coverage, a veterinarian behaviorist recommended the Feliway pheromone diffuser to help reduce cats’ separation anxiety, too.
This Feliway starter kit comes with a diffuser and a 30-day vial.
“A good quality slicker brush is the bare minimum you need for all cats (except for the hairless types),” explained Chimes. “Daily brushing removes tangles, loose hairs, and debris, while spreading the natural coat oils and enhancing the blood flow through the skin.”
In addition, regular brushing helps limit the amount of hair your cat ingests as they groom themselves, plus it lessens shedding around your home, Chimes added.
Based on Chimes’s advice, HuffPost selected this super-bestselling pet slicker brush, which has garnered over 95,000 Amazon reviews. Designed for use on cats and dogs, the brush sports fine, angled bristles for gentle yet effective detangling. The bristles are retractable, so you’ll be able to easily remove the fur the brush picked up with the push of a button.
The Hertzko brush comes in two colors, two sizes and a sensitive skin style.
In addition to a slicker brush, I regularly use this stainless-steel cat comb on my cat, Bee, and find it works beautifully on her thick short-haired coat. Bee loves getting brushed with this tool — she completely relaxes, jelly-like, on her side and purrs during our grooming sessions with it. I imagine the brush feels the way a good scalp massage does on her skin, as the comb both captures her loose fur and gently removes flakes and dirties from her skin (giving her a nice gentle full-body scratch in the process).
I credit this comb (and regular brushing) for alerting me early on to Bee’s recent bout with fleas, too, before the situation got much worse. The comb caught a live flea in its teeth during a casual grooming sesh, and though the comb’s bristles are quite gentle on my cat and seem to never catch on her fur, the stainless-steel teeth were sturdy and close-together enough to hold the jumpy flea firmly in place until I could dump the creature right into the trash (and then act immediately on the crisis).
The brush comes in two sizes. I use the smaller size for my cat; the larger size is designed for use on larger pets like large breed dogs.
If you notice your cat has developed matted fur (particularly common with sick cats), stay away from scissors, stressed Hohenhaus. “[With scissors,] the risk of cutting the underlying skin is huge. If that happens, you will need a trip to the animal ER to get your cat stitched up,” she explained.
Instead, “Consider purchasing an inexpensive clipper to use when trimming hair mats,” advised Hohenhaus. “Buy one with a narrow blade width – around an inch wide is a good blade size for use in cats.”
Per Hohenhaus’s recommendation, we selected this low-noise cat clipper from Oneisall. The cordless tool has a 1.1-inch blade, close to Hohenhaus’s specifications, and comes with two stainless-steel clipper heads, one for larger swaths like the body and bottom and one for smaller areas that require extra care like paws and ears.
Both heads are removable and waterproof for easy cleaning. The clipper is rechargeable and can run for up to two hours before needing to be rejuiced.
“I’ve amassed a small collection of clippers over the years … this Oneisall clipper is a happy surprise,” wrote one reviewer. “It’s lighter than I expected, but balanced in the hand. It’s also the quietest clipper I’ve ever heard … I highly recommend this clipper for sanitary trims and trimming around little paw beans which only takes a minute or two per cat.”
What about bathing your cat? “A complete bath or a spot bath are totally fine for a cat, but you need to go slow and see how your cat reacts,” said Hohenhaus. “Kittens that have been bathed as youngsters tolerate baths more easily.”
If you do go the bath route, “Be careful about getting soap in your cat’s eyes because this can damage the cornea or clear part of the eye,” wrote Hohenhaus. “If you decide on a bath, consider putting a sterile petrolatum ointment made specifically for the eyes in before the bath to protect the eyes.”
Hohenhaus recommended this Systane eye ointment for safeguarding your kitty’s eyes before bath time.
Hohenhaus recommended using products specifically designed for cats to clean your kitty, but also noted that “‘No More Tears’ baby shampoo is a good choice for bathing a cat.”
“While human baby products are probably safe in cats, they are not designed for creatures who lick themselves to maintain hygiene,” she added. So, make sure you cleanse your cat completely of human baby shampoo if you do decide to use it in the bath.