The 9 Best Cat Shampoos of 2026

Best Overall

Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Cats

$7 at Amazon $7 at Chewy View on Petco

Burt’s Bees is one of the most trusted brands for pet products, which is why we have several on this list, including in this top spot. This shampoo is pH-balanced for cats, who need shampoos with a higher pH than humans. As Stregowski told us, “It could lead to skin issues if a cat has sensitivity and if you're repeatedly bathing them in a shampoo that has a little more acidity than their skin.”

It’s also waterless, as most cats will resist being submerged in water. This spray provides a way to keep your cat clean from time to time without the trauma of putting them through a full bath. It’s particularly well-liked when dealing with smelly cats or elderly cats who aren’t proficient at cleaning themselves. If you’re dealing with a real mess, like mud or feces, this shampoo might not pack enough firepower.

Owners found this shampoo gentle, and it helped produce a smoother, healthier-looking coat. This spray is free of sulfates, which can be harsh on the skin and remove your pet's natural oils. It also doesn’t contain parabens, a preservative that may have negative health effects. The spray is free of added fragrances, too, and boasts a mild scent due to its natural ingredients. It’s available in a 10-ounce bottle.

_{Size: 10 fluid ounces | Scent: Apple and honey}

Best for Kittens

Burt’s Bees Natural Tearless Shampoo with Buttermilk

$9

$9 at Amazon $11 at Chewy

This second option is similar to our top choice from Burt's Bees, with special attention given to its gentle, tear-free ingredients, making it well-suited to kittens. Like our top choice, it doesn’t contain any sulfates, which can be harsh on a cat’s skin and may strip natural oils. It is also free of parabens and other harsh chemicals, and contains 99.7 percent natural ingredients.

Like its equivalent for adult cats, this Burt's Bees formulation comes in a 10-ounce bottle. However, this is not a waterless shampoo. So, while it might work better for cleaning large messes, you will need to get your cat wet, lather them up, and rinse them off. This might be difficult depending on your cat’s temperament.

_{Size: 10 fluid ounces | Scent: Buttermilk}

Best for Odor

Arm and Hammer 2-in-1 Dander & Odor Control Shampoo for Cats

$7 at Amazon

$9

$7 at Walmart View on Doordash.com

If your primary concern is odor and you feel that the Burt’s Bees options aren’t doing enough, Arm and Hammer’s two-in-one Dander & Odor Control Shampoo for Cats could be a great option for you. This shampoo is specifically designed to combat odor using baking soda. It is also designed to remove dander, which can help people who are allergic to cats.

This shampoo is also more affordable than many of our other options, costing less money for double the quantity of our top pick. It does contain sodium laureth sulfate, which is used to help clean dirt and build lather, but continued exposure may be irritating to the skin. This shouldn’t be a problem, as you should not be bathing your cat that often.

_{Sizes: 8 ounce, 20 ounce | Scent: Lavender chamomile}

Best for Fleas

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Foaming Shampoo for Cats

$17

$12 at Amazon View on Chewy

$16

$12 at Walmart

If fleas are your main reason for needing a cat shampoo, then consider Adams Plus Flea & Tick Foaming Shampoo for Cats. This formula is very effective at dealing with fleas. However, we should note that it is not a complete flea solution; you’ll also have to consider the source of the fleas. Most fleas live in the environment, not on the cat. If your cat keeps getting fleas, the solution should not be to wash them more; instead, you need to determine where your cat is picking up fleas and deal with that directly.

This formula has more chemicals than our other options, and though it has aloe and oatmeal to soothe the skin, it will be a little rougher on the skin than our other options. This is due to the anti-flea properties. We strongly recommend only using it when needed for fleas. We would also recommend speaking with a vet before using this or any flea removal product with a cat.

_{Size: 10 fluid ounces | Scent: Fresh}

Best for Dry or Sensitive Skin

Burt's Bees Hypoallergenic Cat Shampoo

$7 at Amazon $10 at Chewy View on Petco

This option from Burt’s Bees takes specific care to cater to hypoallergenic cats and cats with sensitive skin. It is free of fragrances and contains no sulfates, harsh chemicals, or colorants. It’s primarily made from natural ingredients, but does contain about 0.3 percent artificial ingredients.

This shampoo comes in a 10-ounce bottle and also has a pH blend that is appropriate for cats who need a slightly higher pH level in their shampoo than humans.

_{Size: 10 fluid ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free}

Best Wipes

Nootie Waterless Shampoo Wipes for Dogs & Cats

$14

$14 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Nootie.com

If you’re looking for a way to quickly spot clean your cat, Nootie’s Waterless Shampoo Wipes are a great option. These wipes are pH-balanced for cats and are free of alcohol or sulfates. They contain aloe vera and oatmeal extract to help soothe the skin. They’re also pH-balanced for cats, which can help prevent skin irritation with repeated use.

Nootie Waterless Wipes come in packages of 70 wipes with three fragrance options: Cherry Blossom, Cucumber Melon, and Sweet Pea & Vanilla. We generally prefer fragrance-free cat shampoos, as cats have sensitive olfactory systems, though these fragrances aren’t too overwhelming and tend to be less of a problem in wipe form.

_{Size: 11.68 ounces | Scents: Cherry blossom, cucumber melon, sweet pea & vanilla}

Best for Shedding

FURminator deShedding Rinse-Free Cat Shampoo

$13

$13 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Petco

Shedding can be a lot to deal with, especially if you have a long-haired cat. The FURminator deShedding Shampoo will help with this. It contains hydrolyzed plant proteins and omega fatty acids that are meant to improve coat health and reduce shedding. It foams and lathers without water, making it easy to use compared to other options.

This shampoo is available in 8.5- and 16-ounce bottles; the 8.5-ounce bottle is slightly more expensive by volume than some of our other options. It’s also unscented.

_{Size: 8.5 ounces, 16 ounces | Scent: Unscented}

Best Allergen-Reducing

Allertech Anti-Allergen Pet Shampoo

$27 at Amazon View on Natlallergy.com

If you, or someone who frequents your home, has cat allergies, this shampoo is designed to ease their symptoms. Cat allergies are triggered by proteins found in a cat’s saliva, urine, and dander (tiny flecks of skin that cats shed). Most commonly, it is the dander that allergy sufferers respond to when they are in an area a cat frequents. This shampoo is formulated to remove as many allergens as possible from your cat, most commonly the dander that builds up on their fur. It also contains moisturizing and conditioning agents, which serve to improve the health of your cat’s skin and coat and also contribute to less dander production.

Of note: The ingredient list provided is quite vague, including a "proprietary natural anti-allergen base." It’s hard to get a sense of what that means, and we generally prefer products where we can identify everything that goes into them. This shampoo comes in a 16-ounce bottle, which is a bit pricier than some of our other options. It’s unscented, which we find preferable for cat shampoo products.

_{Size: 16 fluid ounces | Scent: Unscented}

Best Hypoallergenic

PetO’Cera Hypoallergenic Cat Shampoo and Conditioner

$19 at Amazon

Slightly different from the shampoos that reduce allergenic dander, PetO'Cera's All-In-One cat Shampoo and Conditioner is actually hypoallergenic for cats with sensitive skin. This all-in-one formula cleans (like a soap) and softens (like a conditioner) all in one step. Its plant-based formula contains ceramide, arginine, and botanicals (similar to your favorite skincare) to help moisturize and protect your cat's skin. It's free of parabens, dyes, alcohol, and harsh chemicals, making it tear-free and hypoallergenic for use on kittens and cats with sensitive skin.

Since cats dislike baths, this formula also contains catnip, silvervine, and matatabi to help calm anxious cats and make bath time less stressful. It comes in a simple pump dispenser that distributes the perfect amount of suds for a hassle-free bathtime.

_{Size: 10.14 ounces | Scent: Catnip & matatabi}