Getting the right organic cat shampoo can be tricky. The wrong one can irritate your cat’s skin or fail to clean them the way that it should. We understand the complexities, and that’s why we want to help you find the best organic cat shampoo for your cat.
Here are 10 different organic cat shampoos, along with comprehensive reviews to help you make your decision. There’s also a comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know!
A Look at Our Top Picks in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
All-natural, pet-safe ingredients
pH balanced
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
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Best Value
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Shampoo
Paraben free
Aloe vera soothes skin
Contains medicated properties
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Premium Choice
Pet MD Medicated Cat Shampoo
Soap free
Gentle on skin
Effective formula
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Best for Kittens
Espree Tear-Free Aloe Vera
Tear-free formula
Aloe vera soothes skin
Gentle formula for kittens
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Kin+Kind Natural Oatmeal Cat Shampoo
Tear and cruelty free
Soothing oatmeal formula
Great mix of price and performance
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The 11 Best Organic Cat Shampoos
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo — Best Overall
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Size: 16 ounces
Life stage: All life stages
Medicated properties: None
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is our favorite organic cat shampoo. Its all-natural formula is made in the USA and is safe for your cat during all stages of their life. If you are bathing your cat to remove a tough mess, loosen up tangles or matts, or help with shedding, this shampoo was created to combat all of these common cat issues.
This shampoo is mildly scented and won’t cause any harm or irritation to your cat who will likely want to clean thenselves after they come out of a bath. You can feel safe with this product knowing it is free from soap, dye, sulfate and other harsh additives.
Overall, this is our favorite organic cat shampoo on todays market.
At PetKeen.com we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Pros
Gentle lather that soothes skin
Mild, long lasting scent
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
Can help release matts and tangles
Cons
Wet shampoo may not be an ideal pick for all cats
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Shampoo is an outstanding product at a great price, easily earning our nod as the best organic cat shampoo for the money. Not only does it do a great job of cleaning your cat, but it also contains medicated properties to help them overcome any conditions that they have, and the aloe vera helps soothe their skin.
Gentle lather that soothes skin
Mild, long lasting scent
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
Can help release matts and tangles
- Gentle lather that soothes skin
- Mild, long lasting scent
- Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
- Can help release matts and tangles
Wet shampoo may not be an ideal pick for all cats
- Wet shampoo may not be an ideal pick for all cats
Size: 16 ounces or 1 gallon
Life stage: Kitten and adult
Medicated properties: Antiseptic and antifungal
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It uses a paraben-free formula that’s great for your cat, and if you like it, you can purchase in bulk quantities for even more savings.
However, it’s not the best scent out there, and to truly get all the medicated properties, it needs multiple applications.
Pros
Affordable
Comes in bulk quantities
Contains medicated properties
Aloe vera soothes skin
Paraben free
Cons
Not the best scent
Requires frequent applications for full treatment
If you simply want the best of the best and don’t care how much it costs, Pet MD Medicated Cat Shampoo is precisely what you’re looking for. It’s expensive up front, but it’s worth it for everything that it offers.
Affordable
Comes in bulk quantities
Contains medicated properties
Aloe vera soothes skin
Paraben free
- Affordable
- Comes in bulk quantities
- Contains medicated properties
- Aloe vera soothes skin
- Paraben free
Not the best scent
Requires frequent applications for full treatment
- Not the best scent
- Requires frequent applications for full treatment
Size: 16 ounces
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: Antiseptic and antifungal
First, it’s FDA, USDA, and FSIS regulated, which means you know exactly what you’re getting, and there’s no variation from batch to batch. Second, it’s both paraben and soap free, which makes it incredibly gentle on your pet’s skin.
While you might think that your cat’s shampoo needs soap, the truth is that cats are effective self-groomers. You only need the shampoo to clean them off and ensure their skin and coat stay healthy and get all the nutrients that they need, and that’s exactly what this product does.
While this shampoo is expensive and doesn’t have any soap, it is gentle on a cat’s skin, and it does a great job of getting them clean and clearing up any problems that they might have.
Pros
FDA, USDA, and FSIS regulated
Effective formula
Paraben free
Soap free
Gentle on skin
Cons
Soap free
Expensive
Kittens have far more sensitive skin and bodies than their adult counterparts, so it’s essential to get a kitten-specific shampoo for them. Espree completely understands this and has created a top-notch kitten shampoo.
FDA, USDA, and FSIS regulated
Effective formula
Paraben free
Soap free
Gentle on skin
- FDA, USDA, and FSIS regulated
- Effective formula
- Paraben free
- Soap free
- Gentle on skin
Soap free
Expensive
- Soap free
- Expensive
Size: 12 ounces
Life stage: Kitten
Medicated properties: None
The formula is extremely gentle and tear free, so it reduces the likelihood that your kitten will have an adverse reaction and start to hate bath time. It also uses an aloe vera formula that helps soothe your kitten’s skin, which goes a long way in keeping them happy.
Espree makes this product in the U.S.A., which subjects it to stringent quality-control measures that you can rely on.
While we wish that there were medicated properties in this shampoo, the truth is that most kittens don’t need it. So, it’s an easy choice as the best organic shampoo for kittens.
Pros
Gentle formula for kittens
Aloe vera soothes skin
Made in the U.S.A.
Tear-free formula
Cons
No medicated properties
This soothing oatmeal formula is excellent for cats with sensitive skin, and the entire formula is both tear and cruelty free.
Gentle formula for kittens
Aloe vera soothes skin
Made in the U.S.A.
Tear-free formula
- Gentle formula for kittens
- Aloe vera soothes skin
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Tear-free formula
No medicated properties
- No medicated properties
Size: 12 ounces
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: None
Kin+Kind makes this shampoo right here in the United States, which means you can trust that you’re getting exactly what it says. It’s also hypoallergenic organic cat shampoo.
However, we do wish that it came in larger sizes, even though cats don’t need many baths. We also wish that there were medicated properties.
For most cats, though, it’s precisely what you need.
Pros
Great mix of price and performance
Soothing oatmeal formula
Tear and cruelty free
Made in the U.S.A.
Cons
No medicated properties
Only available in one size option
- Frisco 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner
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Size: 20 ounces, 1 gallon, or 2 gallons
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: None
Frisco is a massive name in the pet care industry, so it’s no surprise to see that it has an organic shampoo. It has a good mix of value and performance, and one of our favorite features is that it combines a shampoo and conditioner into one product.
Great mix of price and performance
Soothing oatmeal formula
Tear and cruelty free
Made in the U.S.A.
- Great mix of price and performance
- Soothing oatmeal formula
- Tear and cruelty free
- Made in the U.S.A.
No medicated properties
Only available in one size option
- No medicated properties
- Only available in one size option
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Size: 20 ounces, 1 gallon, or 2 gallons
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: None
This means you’ll spend less time lathering and rinsing off your cat, which means fewer struggles in the sink or bathtub. This Frisco shampoo and conditioner is paraben free and uses an aloe vera formula that helps soothe their skin.
Everything about this product supports healthy skin and coat and does it at a great price. It’s an adult-specific formula with no medicated features, but that’s not a massive deal for an otherwise healthy cat.
If you do like this shampoo and conditioner, it comes in bulk sizes that can help you save money. It’s a great choice from a big brand that you can trust.
Pros
Multiple size options available
Good mix of value and performance
Paraben free
Supports healthy skin and coat
Soothing aloe vera formula
Cons
No medicated features
Adult-specific formula
If your cat is dealing with fungal or bacterial problems, RX 4 Pets Cat Shampoo & Conditioner is a great option to help you clear things up. It helps treat and prevent various skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, dry skin, and mange.
Multiple size options available
Good mix of value and performance
Paraben free
Supports healthy skin and coat
Soothing aloe vera formula
- Multiple size options available
- Good mix of value and performance
- Paraben free
- Supports healthy skin and coat
- Soothing aloe vera formula
No medicated features
Adult-specific formula
- No medicated features
- Adult-specific formula
Size: 16-ounce
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal
It also has a hair-loss prevention formula that is great for older pets or those that simply have trouble retaining their hair. Add in the fresh clean scent and the fact that RX 4 makes this product in the United States, and it’s not hard to see why it’s on this list.
It is slightly expensive but not unaffordable. The most notable drawback is that it requires frequent applications to unlock its full anti-fungal and anti-bacterial benefits, but that’s offset by how gentle it is on your cat’s skin and coat.
Pros
Made in the U.S.A.
Helps treat and prevent various skin conditions
Hair-loss-prevention formula
Has a fresh and clean scent
Cons
Slightly expensive
Best results require frequent application
If all you’re looking for is a cat shampoo that does a great job of cleaning your cat and giving them a shiny coat, this is it. While it doesn’t do much else, that’s all you need for most cats.
Made in the U.S.A.
Helps treat and prevent various skin conditions
Hair-loss-prevention formula
Has a fresh and clean scent
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Helps treat and prevent various skin conditions
- Hair-loss-prevention formula
- Has a fresh and clean scent
Slightly expensive
Best results require frequent application
- Slightly expensive
- Best results require frequent application
It uses a soothing aloe vera formula that is great for your cat’s skin, and Espree makes this Silky Show Aloe Vera Cat Shampoo in the United States. It cleans a cat’s coat and conditions it so it’s ultra-soft to the touch.
While it’s a great shampoo and conditioner, there are no medicated properties, and it only comes in one size option. It’s a great product, but it’s definitely a case of what you see is what you get.
Pros
Affordably priced
Soothing aloe vera formula
Made in the U.S.A.
Conditions and cleans coat
Cons
Only available in one size
No medicated properties
There are serious advantages to using a waterless cat bath product. First, it’s much easier to apply because you don’t have to worry about rinsing off your cat in the sink or tub.
Affordably priced
Soothing aloe vera formula
Made in the U.S.A.
Conditions and cleans coat
- Affordably priced
- Soothing aloe vera formula
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Conditions and cleans coat
Only available in one size
No medicated properties
- Only available in one size
- No medicated properties
Size: 4 ounces
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: None
Second, if you’re dealing with a parasite problem, you often can’t give them a full bath for a while after a treatment. You still want to get them clean, though, and a waterless cat bath product like this enables you to do that.
It’s quick and easy to use, and it has aloe vera, neem oil, and vitamin E to help soothe a cat’s skin. It also has a calming fragrance, which is a great final touch. However, it is a bit expensive for a 4-ounce product and only comes in one size.
It’s not a perfect product, but it’s great if you need to stick with a waterless bath.
Pros
Doesn’t interfere with flea or tick medications
Quick and easy to use
Aloe vera, neem oil, and vitamin E soothes skin
Calming fragrance relaxes your cat
Cons
Slightly expensive for what you get
Only comes in one small size
No medicated properties
- Burt’s Bees Waterless Cat Shampoo
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Size: 10 ounces
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: None
Burt’s Bees has an outstanding waterless cat shampoo product. It doesn’t interact with parasite medication, and it’s super easy to apply even if your cat has an aversion to water.
Doesn’t interfere with flea or tick medications
Quick and easy to use
Aloe vera, neem oil, and vitamin E soothes skin
Calming fragrance relaxes your cat
- Doesn’t interfere with flea or tick medications
- Quick and easy to use
- Aloe vera, neem oil, and vitamin E soothes skin
- Calming fragrance relaxes your cat
Slightly expensive for what you get
Only comes in one small size
No medicated properties
- Slightly expensive for what you get
- Only comes in one small size
- No medicated properties
Size: 10 ounces
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: None
Even better, Burt’s Bees made and tested this shampoo with cruelty-free practices, so it didn’t harm any animals while making it. The apple and honey ingredients help nourish their coat, giving it a healthy structure and appearance that you’ll love.
It’s only 99.8% natural but it’s super affordable. It also comes in a 10-ounce package that lasts quite a while but doesn’t have any aloe vera or other naturally soothing ingredients.
Pros
Doesn’t interfere with flea and tick medications
Apple and honey ingredients nourish coats
Cruelty-free formula
Affordably priced
Easy to use
Cons
Not 100% natural (99.8%)
No aloe vera or other soothing ingredients
- DERMagic Cat Shampoo Bar
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Size: 3.75 ounces
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial
The DERMagic Cat Shampoo Bar is an entirely different product compared to the other shampoos on this list, and that’s because it’s a regular soap bar instead of a liquid.
Doesn’t interfere with flea and tick medications
Apple and honey ingredients nourish coats
Cruelty-free formula
Affordably priced
Easy to use
- Doesn’t interfere with flea and tick medications
- Apple and honey ingredients nourish coats
- Cruelty-free formula
- Affordably priced
- Easy to use
Not 100% natural (99.8%)
No aloe vera or other soothing ingredients
- Not 100% natural (99.8%)
- No aloe vera or other soothing ingredients
Size: 3.75 ounces
Life stage: Adult
Medicated properties: Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial
This makes it a bit more challenging to use on your cat, but it also has more natural and effective ingredients. That’s why this cat shampoo has both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties in addition to its regular cleaning and nourishing ones.
It’s a little expensive, but it uses both aloe vera and rosemary to help soothe your cat’s skin, and DERMagic makes this cat shampoo right here in the United States.
Finally, if you’re looking to support a great brand, for every 10 bars sold, DERMagic plants a tree! It’s an excellent product for your cat, and it’s an excellent product for the environment — a true win-win.
Pros
Lasts a long time
Includes medicated properties
Made in the U.S.A.
Company supports reforestation initiatives
Aloe vera and rosemary helps soothe skin
Cons
Only comes in a bar
Not as easy to apply
Expensive
Lasts a long time
Includes medicated properties
Made in the U.S.A.
Company supports reforestation initiatives
Aloe vera and rosemary helps soothe skin
- Lasts a long time
- Includes medicated properties
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Company supports reforestation initiatives
- Aloe vera and rosemary helps soothe skin
Only comes in a bar
Not as easy to apply
Expensive
- Only comes in a bar
- Not as easy to apply
- Expensive
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Organic Cat Shampoo
With so many great choices out there, it can be hard to figure out what you need and narrow it to just one. That’s why we created this comprehensive buyer’s guide, to walk you through everything that you need to know and to help you make your decision!
What to Look For in Organic Cat Shampoo
It depends on your cat, but you should always try to shop for hypoallergenic formulas. These typically contain natural ingredients and are more sensitive to a cat’s skin.
You also want to look for ingredients that help soothe the skin. These include aloe vera, oatmeal, and vitamin B. They should be an essential part of the formula, since bath time can strip away some of your cat’s natural oils. While they’ll build back up in a day or two, your cat is left vulnerable in the meantime. The soothing ingredients help with this and keep your cat happy and healthy. They also help prevent scratching and itching, which can lead to other problems.
You can look for medicated properties in the formulas too, but it depends on your cat and any issues they might be experiencing if this is essential.
How Often Should You Bathe Your Cat?
While some people like to recommend a strict bathing regiment for their cats, the truth is that it shouldn’t be that stringent. Instead, you should look at each cat individually and only give them a bath when they need it. Since cats are great self-groomers, this likely isn’t as often as you might think.
However, if they start to pick up an odor, look particularly grimy, or are dealing with a parasite problem, they will need a bath as soon as possible. Just don’t overdo it, as it’ll strip away beneficial oils from their skin.
Picking Between Traditional, Waterless, and Bar Cat Shampoo
When shopping for an organic shampoo, you’ll see three different options out there: traditional cat shampoo, waterless shampoo, and bar cat shampoo. There’s no wrong choice here, but there are pros and cons of each.
Typical cat shampoo comes in a liquid form, and after rinsing down your cat with water, all you do is lather it on, let it sit, and wash it off. It’s an effective option, but it does come with the downside of requiring multiple rinses.
If you’re treating your cat for fleas or ticks with a topical treatment, traditional shampoos and water can wash them off.
That’s something that you get to avoid with waterless shampoos. While they don’t do a great job of physically removing dirt or grime, they do clean your cat. They’re also easier to apply and typically don’t interact with flea or tick treatments.
Finally, bar cat shampoos look like regular bars of soap. They have the advantage of having more natural ingredients and are often gentler on your cat. The downside is that you have to create lather with the bar, and that’s not always very easy.
There’s no wrong choice here, and it’s entirely up to you what product type that you want to go with depending on your specific situation.
Should You Get a Medicated Option?
If you’re purchasing an organic shampoo for your cat, it’s natural to wonder if you should always opt for a medicated shampoo. Even if they don’t need it now, it saves you from having to run out and pick up something in the future, right?
While that’s true, it’s not always the best choice. Medicated shampoos often contain extra chemicals and ingredients that may not be the best for your cat. They typically won’t create any severe long-term effects, but the product as a whole can be less than ideal for your cat.
Therefore, we recommend sticking with non-medicated options unless your cat is showing symptoms or has a history of skin conditions. If you need further guidance about medicated shampoos and your cat, we highly recommend reaching out to your veterinarian for specific advice.
Conclusion
We know that it can be overwhelming to pick out the right product after reading so many great reviews. But the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is our top pick for a reason. If you’re on a tight budget, the Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Shampoo is a great choice too.
The important thing is that you get the right shampoo sooner rather than later, so when you need it, you’re not stuck using something less than ideal.
Featured Image Credit: mariyaermolaeva, Shutterstock
