Can I bathe my cat with normal shampoo? - here the answer

Cats, normally, hate bath time because they do not like water, get wet, smell the soaps or take them as we want to rub them, they do not understand the need. In addition, in the case of domestic cats, a routine of constant hygiene is not necessary, since they clean themselves a lot. Anyway, it is true that every so often or if they get dirty a lot, it is necessary to wash them. For this, it is necessary to use the right material but, both on this aspect and on the correct way to bathe them, there are many questions among those who live with cats. For this, in this article we want to clear one of the most common doubts: can I bathe my cat with normal shampoo? Pay attention and discover the answer and many more interesting details.

Can I bathe my cat with my shampoo?

As happens in other animals, including ourselves, there is a thin outer layer of fat on the skin, that is, oily, which serves as protection for the dermis . This layer insulates the skin from harmful external agents such as the sun and the cold, it does not do it completely but it does it enough to avoid damage. Therefore, it is not good to wash the body very often since this thin and protective layer is removed, especially when soaps are used. In addition, in our case, after many years of doing it our body is more accustomed in a certain way, but in the case of animals, like cats, it is not like that. If we exceed the frequency of bathing of our cat and if we use strong products we will be damaging their skin without realizing it, which can lead to problems in this part of the body such as dermatitis and allergies.

When in doubt: " Can I bathe my cat with my shampoo? " The answer is that you can NOT bathe your cat with normal shampoo because it is not adapted to the animal's skin type. Humans and cats have different skin pH, so our soaps are too strong for the dermis of a cat and therefore will damage it. If you wash your cat with your soap, after washing it you will notice that it irritates your skin, itches a lot and you feel discomfort and, with the usual use of this product, your cat's hair will fall more.

In addition to this doubt, among those who live with domestic felines there are others related to the bathroom material:

Can I bathe my cat with neutral soap, white or baby shampoo?

Some people believe that since these types of soaps or shampoos are softer, less aggressive to our skin and hair, then they can be good for animals. The truth is that this is not so, because although for us it is neutral and soft for cats, and other animals, it is not. We must think that our neutral pH is not the same as that of cats and that ours is acidic or strong for them, damaging their skin. So it's not a good idea to use these soaps to wash our feline companion.

Can I bathe my cat with shampoo or dog soap?

The question about whether you can use dog shampoo in cats or not is very common, since many people think that being animals considered pets and with various similarities can use the same products without problem. Again, this is not correct and if we wash our cat with a dog soap we can cause damage to the skin and hair. In addition, it is important to know that anti-flea or antiparasitic shampoos for dogs are even more dangerous for cats than normal dog soaps. This is because the antiparasitic product that shampoo carries is not suitable, especially in the concentrated amount, for felines, so even if we only use a small drop, there may be poisoning.

How to bathe my cat

If you then ask how to bathe my cat at home then you have to keep in mind that the main thing is to use shampoo for cats, which can be purchased at any pet store or veterinary center. In addition, you can choose between normal shampoo for them, according to their hair type and age, or use the dry shampoo for cats, perfect for those who can not stand the bath with water in any way.

It is vital that we do not force the animal, but that we accustom it little by little to this situation and above all that we try to do it since it is small. It is advisable to use a basin to reduce the space and amount of water, the shampoo indicated for cats and that the water is warm and never exceeds 25 ºC. To dry it, towels will be necessary and, if the hair is long, use a hair dryer at a distance and with the warm air will be the most indicated, as long as the animal is not scared.

You have to think that cats are very clean animals and that they clean themselves constantly, so it is not necessary to bathe them often. At the most you can bathe once a month if it is really necessary, for example if you have messed a lot when leaving home or eating or playing.

Prevent the cat from getting dirty

Instead of thinking about bathing them frequently, it is best to add to their habit of keeping clean a series of tips to prevent the cat from getting dirty :

  • Keep your sandbox clean and use cat-specific sand.
  • Do not let it leave much from home.
  • Maintain the cleanliness of your home, both the floor and other surfaces.
  • Make sure your bed and blankets are clean.
  • Make sure your drinker and feeder have enough food but do not overflow.
  • Do not touch it if you have dirty hands.
  • Brush it every day a little.
  • Keep trash and food scraps out of reach.

Homemade shampoo for cats

It is best to make a homemade oatmeal shampoo for cats, because this cereal is perfect to care for skin and hair and is very soft, ideal for allergic skin and with a tendency to irritate and suffer from dermatitis. Thus, it is a hypoallergenic shampoo that is perfect for small kittens, so it is a good idea to use it on any other cat at your age, except for those who need to use prescription shampoos prescribed by a veterinarian. To do so, follow these instructions:

Ingredients

  • 2 cups rolled oats or oatmeal
  • 1/4 cup of baking soda
  • 1 liter of mineral water or distilled water

Preparation

  1. Grind the oatmeal until it is powdered or use the flour.
  2. Boil the mineral or distilled water and when it is still hot add it in a bowl to mix well with the oats.
  3. Add the baking soda and keep mixing until you see it very uniform, you can use the blender to go faster.
  4. Add water if you see it thick or oatmeal if you notice too much liquid.
  5. Let it cool and when it is at room temperature you can now store the mixture in the shampoo container you have chosen.
  6. Always shake well before use.