Persian cats are extremely popular in the United States because of their long fur and friendly personality. However, the long hair can get dirty and tangled on occasion, and you might need to give it an occasional bath. If you need to bathe your cat but aren’t sure what shampoo you should use, you have come to the right place. We have chosen several different brands to review for you, and we’ll give you the pros and cons of each one and let you know how well it worked on our cat. We’ve even included a short buyer’s guide to help you spot a quality brand if you continue shopping.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
Made in the USA
Has a pleasant aloe vera and cucumber scent
pH-balanced
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Best Value
Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo
pH balanced
It contains apple and honey
No sulfates
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Premium Choice
Earthbath Shed Control Cat Shampoo
Cruelty-free
Pleasant smell
Antioxidants
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John Paul Pet Tearless Shampoo
Tearless formula
Conditions and moisturizes
Almond oil fragrance
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FURminator deShedding Rinse Free
No water
Contains omega fats
No chemical dyes
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The 8 Best Shampoos for Persian Cats
- Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
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Size: 16 ounce
Type: Wet shampoo
Our 1st-place best overall pick of shampoos for Persian cats is Hepper’s Colloid Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. Not only is this oatmeal-based shampoo made in the USA, but it is also pH-balanced for pets. It’s made with all-natural ingredients and helps soothe dry, irritated skin that can make your feline itchy and miserable.
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Size: 16 ounce
Type: Wet shampoo
This formula doesn’t contain soap, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes, DEA, or gluten. Your little Persian will be happy to jump in the tub and come out clean and fresh because of the pleasant scent of cucumbers and aloe vera in this oatmeal shampoo.
You can be sure this shampoo will clean and moisturize your Persian’s lovely coat and prevent it from itching and scratching after the bath. The only drawbacks we could find with Hepper’s Colloid Oatmeal were that some pet owners did not like the smell of the cucumbers, and others wished it produced more lather.
However, if you’re looking for a shampoo to keep your Persian kitty clean, fresh-smelling, and itch-free, this is the right shampoo for you, in our opinion. Who knows? Maybe your Persian will come to love bath time as much as you do!
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
Made in the USA
Has a pleasant aloe vera and cucumber scent
pH-balanced
Soothes dry, irritated, or sensitive skin
Contains no chemicals to irritate the skin
Cons
Some pet owners didn’t like the smell
Some users reported the shampoo not lathering as much as it should
Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Cats is our pick as the best shampoo for Persian cats for the money. Its waterless formula is easier to get your cats to sit through, and it contains apple and honey ingredients for healthy skin and soft fur, and there are no chemical colorants or sulfates.
Made in the USA
Has a pleasant aloe vera and cucumber scent
pH-balanced
Soothes dry, irritated, or sensitive skin
Contains no chemicals to irritate the skin
- Made in the USA
- Has a pleasant aloe vera and cucumber scent
- pH-balanced
- Soothes dry, irritated, or sensitive skin
- Contains no chemicals to irritate the skin
Some pet owners didn’t like the smell
Some users reported the shampoo not lathering as much as it should
- Some pet owners didn’t like the smell
- Some users reported the shampoo not lathering as much as it should
Size: 10 ounces
Type: Dry shampoo
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We liked the low cost of Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo but felt that it wasn’t very strong. We had to wash our pets several times to get them clean, so it’s more of a freshener than a deep cleaner. It also might sting the eyes of your pet, so you will need to use caution when applying it.
Pros
pH balanced
It contains apple and honey
No sulfates or colorants
Cons
Not very strong
Can sting eyes
Earthbath Shed Control Green Tea & Awapuhi Dog & Cat Shampoo is our premium choice shampoo for Persian cats. It contains moisturizers as well as antioxidants that will help keep the skin and coat healthy. The ingredients are all certified cruelty-free, and it has a pleasant smell. We also found that it left our cats feeling soft and cuddly.
pH balanced
It contains apple and honey
No sulfates or colorants
- pH balanced
- It contains apple and honey
- No sulfates or colorants
Not very strong
Can sting eyes
- Not very strong
- Can sting eyes
Size: 16 ounces
Type: Wet shampoo
The Earthbath Shampoo works extremely well and will get even caked-on dirt off your pet. We can only complain that despite its claims to reduce shedding, our cats continued to shed just as much after using it as before.
Pros
Antioxidants and moisturizers
Pleasant smell
Cruelty-free
Cons
Didn’t control shedding
John Paul Pet Tearless Shampoo for Puppies & Kittens is our pick as the best shampoo for Persian kittens. It features a tearless formula that won’t sting your pet’s eyes. It conditions and moisturizes the skin with thirteen different conditioning agents, including aloe, chamomile, and panthenol, and it has a soft, pleasant fragrance produced by almond oil.
Antioxidants and moisturizers
Pleasant smell
Cruelty-free
- Antioxidants and moisturizers
- Pleasant smell
- Cruelty-free
Didn’t control shedding
- Didn’t control shedding
The downside to John Paul Pet Tearless Shampoo is that it’s not very strong, which is partly what makes it great for kittens, but once it gets a little bigger, you will go through the bottle quickly or need something strong.
Pros
Tearless formula
Conditions and moisturizes
Almond oil fragrance
Cons
Not very strong
The FURminator FUR deShedding Rinse Free Foaming Cat Shampoo is another great shampoo for Persian cats. This easy-to-use shampoo has a handy pump that makes it easy to apply to your pet, and it doesn’t require any water to apply or rinse away, so your cat Is more likely to remain calm. There are no chemical dyes, and it has omega fats and hydrolyzed plant proteins that will help strengthen and nourish the skin.
Tearless formula
Conditions and moisturizes
Almond oil fragrance
- Tearless formula
- Conditions and moisturizes
- Almond oil fragrance
Not very strong
- Not very strong
Size: 8.5 ounce
Type: Dry shampoo
We found the FURminator shampoo worked well, but it had a strong smell that many people might not enjoy.
Pros
No water
Contains omega fats
No chemical dyes
Cons
Strong smell
- Frisco Oatmeal Shampoo with Aloe for Cats, Almond Scent
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Size: 20 ounces
Type: Wet shampoo
Frisco Oatmeal Shampoo with Aloe for Dogs & Cats comes in multiple sizes, including a two-gallon pack, so you will have enough for all of your pets. It’s pH balanced, and it won’t irritate your pet’s skin. Oatmeal protein will nourish the skin and hair to keep it soft and healthy. It creates a strong lather that is easy to work into the fur.
No water
Contains omega fats
No chemical dyes
- No water
- Contains omega fats
- No chemical dyes
Strong smell
- Strong smell
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Size: 20 ounces
Type: Wet shampoo
The downside to Frisco Oatmeal Shampoo is that it doesn’t clean very well despite the lather and usually requires a repeat bath.
Pros
pH balanced
No chemical dyes
Oat protein
Cons
Not very strong
TropiClean OxyMed Medicated Oatmeal Dog & Cat Treatment Rinse features a medication that will help reduce itching that often occurs due to dry skin. Colloidal oatmeal, aloe, tea tree oil, and vitamin E help soothe the skin and provide anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains omega fats that can help strengthen the coat, while other ingredients exfoliate the skin.
pH balanced
No chemical dyes
Oat protein
- pH balanced
- No chemical dyes
- Oat protein
We found TropiClean OxyMed to work well, but afterward, it leaves a bad odor that smells almost like spoiled milk.
Pros
Medicated
Exfoliates
Omega fats
Cons
It has a bad smell
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic & Antifungal Shampoo helps kill germs along with mold and mildew that can build up in the fur or your Persian cat. It contains no parabens and leaves your pet with a fresh scent. It also has aloe ingredients to soothe the skin and protect it from harsh weather.
Medicated
Exfoliates
Omega fats
- Medicated
- Exfoliates
- Omega fats
It has a bad smell
- It has a bad smell
What we didn’t like about Veterinary Formula was that it contains artificial dyes that can trigger allergies in some cats. We also found that it wasn’t very strong, and we usually needed to reapply it several times to get all of the fur clean.
Pros
Contains aloe
It helps soothe irritated skin
Cons
It wasn’t very strong
Artificial dyes
Contains aloe
It helps soothe irritated skin
- Contains aloe
- It helps soothe irritated skin
It wasn’t very strong
Artificial dyes
- It wasn’t very strong
- Artificial dyes
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Shampoos for Persian Cats
Wet Shampoo
As you are shopping around for your next shampoo, you are likely to notice that there are two main kinds, standard and dry. The standard shampoo is the same as what we use, and it requires a small amount of water to create a lather and more water to rinse it away. These shampoos are less expensive and much easier to find in your local grocery store.
Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoos are unique in that they don’t require you to use any water. You work the product into the fur, wait a few minutes for it to dry, and brush it out. Since you don’t need to dip your cat into warm water, it’s usually a lot easier to get the job done. The downside to dry shampoos is that they can get expensive and difficult to find in your local store.
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Ingredients
While there are frequent ingredients in shampoo that we don’t know, we recommend selecting brands that contain omega fats because they can help strengthen the cat’s fur. Other ingredients like aloe vera can also help soothe the skin, especially if it’s dry and irritated. We recommend avoiding artificial colors because some cats can have an allergic reaction to them. Parabens are a type of chemical preservative that we recommend avoiding because some cats can react negatively.
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Fragrance
The fragrance is another ingredient that many shampoos have because we want our pets to smell nice when we finish bathing them. However, many scents can bother your cat, and there was plenty that we didn’t like either. We tried to point out any foul-smelling brands on our list, but you might need to do some experimenting to find something both you and the cat alike.
How Often Should I Bathe My Persian Cat?
We recommend bathing your Persian cat only when necessary, especially if you use a traditional shampoo that can wash away the skin’s natural oils, drying it out. It can take a long time before the skin can replenish the oils naturally. You should not need to bathe your cat more than once per month unless you live in a muddy area and your cat likes to go outside, and if you can wait longer than that, it would be a smart choice.
Conclusion
When choosing your next cat shampoo, we highly recommend our pick as the best overall. The Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo uses a pH balanced formula and is made of all natural ingredients. It has no artificial colors or dyes, soaps or other harsh chemicals. Another smart choice is our pick as the best value. Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Cats is another shampoo that is easy to use and doesn’t require water, just apply it and brush it out a few minutes later. It’s pH balanced and contains apple and honey for soft, healthy skin and fur.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over this guide and found a few brands you would like to try. If we have helped you get your vat clean, please share this guide to the best shampoo for Persian cats on Facebook and Twitter.
Another interesting read:
- 8 Best Kitten Shampoos– Reviews & Top Picks!
- 5 DIY Cat Shampoos — Homemade Solutions You Can Make Today
Featured Image Credit: Bussakorn Ewesakul, Shutterstock
