Living with a cat means accepting finding hair all over the house, on our furniture, and on our clothes.
Obviously, some breeds of cats, especially those with long hair, are more prone to hair loss. However, all cats undergo a seasonal molt because it is a natural way to get rid of the layer of dead hair that has built up over the seasons. Nevertheless, it is true that this process can be maddening, especially if you live in a small apartment with three gigantic Maine Coons!1
Thus, if your kitty is one of the breeds that sheds a lot of hair, you can:
Brush your cat regularly and/or take it to a professional groomer.
Get a cat shampoo specially formulated for shedding.
Alternate the two previous methods.
Whatever you decide to do, we can guide you to the best choice of shampoo for your kitty’s needs. To do this, we evaluated various popular options which we ranked according to the following factors:
- Brush your cat regularly and/or take it to a professional groomer.
- Get a cat shampoo specially formulated for shedding.
- Alternate the two previous methods.
Top ingredients
Efficiency
Scent
Price
- Top ingredients
- Efficiency
- Scent
- Price
A Glance at our Top Picks (2023 Update)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
Removes loose fur with gentle lather
Nourishes and promotes healthy skin
All natural ingredients
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Best Value
FURminator deShedding Cat Shampoo
Can be used on a dry cat
No parabens or chemical dyes
Works well to reduce excess shedding
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Premium Choice
PetEx Ultra Premium Pet Care Shampoo
Neutralize bad odors
Alcohol and parabens free
Fresh and not overpowering scent
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Best for Kittens
Burt’s Bees Tearless Kitten Shampoo
No paraben, sulfates, or colorants
Offered in fragrance-free or herbal scent
pH balanced that takes care of a kitten’s sensitive skin
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Earthbath Shed Control Cat Shampoo
Human-grade shampoo
pH balanced for sensitive cat skin
Safe to use on dogs and other small pets
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The 9 Best Cat Shampoos for Shedding
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
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Top ingredients: Oatmeal Extract, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal
Life stage: All life stages
Grooming feature: Shedding control, dander
Our favorite cat shampoo to aid excessive shedding is the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. This gentle, all natural formula works by creating a soft lather that is easily worked into cat fur, lifting loose or excess strands and rinsing them away, leaving a fresh, fluffy and rejuvenated coat! While not all cats enjoy a true bath, you can rest easy knowing this shampoo is made without the use of harsh additives such as soap, dyes or sulfates, and leaves a mild aloe and cucumber scent that won’t be offensive to your cats sensitive nose.
Overall, this is our favorite cat shampoo to help combat shedding available in today’s 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
Formulated to soothe dry, irritated skin
pH balanced for sensitive cats
All-natural
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
Cons
Not all cats will enjoy a scented wet shampoo
This FURminator deShedding Rinse Free Foaming Cat Shampoo is a wonderful option for cats that turn into ferocious beasts at bath time! Indeed, there is no need to get your cat wet before using this product: it works like human dry shampoo but comes in a foam form instead of an aerosol powder.
Formulated to soothe dry, irritated skin
pH balanced for sensitive cats
All-natural
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
- Formulated to soothe dry, irritated skin
- pH balanced for sensitive cats
- All-natural
- Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
Not all cats will enjoy a scented wet shampoo
- Not all cats will enjoy a scented wet shampoo
Top ingredients: Water, mild surfactants, hydrolyzed wheat, and oat proteins
Life stage: Cats and kittens over 6 weeks old
Grooming feature: Dry shampoo
Check Price on Chewy
Just gently massage the foam into the cat’s coat and brush off the excess product! It’s a simple, quick, and budget-friendly option that works surprisingly well for controlling excess shedding. However, be aware that it can make your cat’s fur a bit sticky, and the scent is quite strong. But overall, it’s a product loved by many cat owners whose pet aggressively refuses to get wet!
Pros
Can be used on a dry cat
Works well to reduce excess shedding
Foam formula is better tolerated by cats who hate being sprayed
No parabens or chemical dyes
Cons
Strong smell
Tends to make cat fur a bit sticky
- PetEx Ultra Premium Pet Care Shampoo – Premium Choice
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Top ingredients: Water, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, Maris Sal (Dead Sea)
Life stage: Adults
Grooming feature: Anti-shedding, sensitive skin
PetEx Ultra Premium Pet Care Shampoo with Dead Sea Minerals is the perfect remedy for dry, itchy skin. Sure, “perfect” is a big word, but this eucalyptus-scented shampoo’s innovative formula actually makes your cat’s coat shinier and silkier. Is it really because of the “millions of years old” Dead Sea minerals that are included in the formula? Hard to say, as there are no clinical studies to prove these claims.
Can be used on a dry cat
Works well to reduce excess shedding
Foam formula is better tolerated by cats who hate being sprayed
No parabens or chemical dyes
- Can be used on a dry cat
- Works well to reduce excess shedding
- Foam formula is better tolerated by cats who hate being sprayed
- No parabens or chemical dyes
Strong smell
Tends to make cat fur a bit sticky
- Strong smell
- Tends to make cat fur a bit sticky
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Top ingredients: Water, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, Maris Sal (Dead Sea)
Life stage: Adults
Grooming feature: Anti-shedding, sensitive skin
That said, this shampoo contains several essential oils that soften your pet’s coat and is alcohol-free (therefore less drying of the skin), which is another point in its favor. In fact, a few cat owners have noticed some reduction in the amount of hair shedding after trying this shampoo. Either way, if you’re willing to dip into your wallet, the intoxicating smell of this product is sure to win you over.
Pros
Alcohol and parabens free
Fresh and not overpowering scent
Neutralize bad odors
Innovative formula made with dead sea minerals for sensitive skin
Cons
High price for a medium-sized shampoo bottle
Besides its super cute name, Burt’s Bees Tearless Kitten Shampoo is a great option for sensitive kittens. It is a gentle shampoo without parabens, colorants, or sulfates, with a balanced pH that respects the sensitive skin of baby cats. However, it is not specifically designed to limit hair loss, although it is rather rare for small kittens to shed a lot. Be careful though, even though it contains “tearless” in its name, you must avoid any contact with your kitten’s eyes. Why include it in our list? Quite simply because if used properly, it will leave a fresh smell on your mini feline’s coat and make its fur soft as silk. In addition, its moisturizing formula effectively reduces itchy skin.
Alcohol and parabens free
Fresh and not overpowering scent
Neutralize bad odors
Innovative formula made with dead sea minerals for sensitive skin
- Alcohol and parabens free
- Fresh and not overpowering scent
- Neutralize bad odors
- Innovative formula made with dead sea minerals for sensitive skin
High price for a medium-sized shampoo bottle
- High price for a medium-sized shampoo bottle
Top ingredients: Water, coco glucoside, glyceral oleate
Life stage: Kittens
Grooming feature: Moisturizing
Pros
pH balanced that takes care of a kitten’s sensitive skin
Offered in fragrance-free or herbal scent
No paraben, sulfates, or colorants
Cons
A bit watery and doesn’t lather much
Not as “tearless” as the name suggests
Looking for an eco-friendly, great-smelling cat shampoo that helps control dander and shedding? Earthbath Shed Control Green Tea & Awapuhi Dog & Cat Shampoo is another product we have reviewed and deserves a spot on our list. In addition to being effective in reducing excessive hair loss in your kitties, it can also be used safely on your other small pets. The pH-balanced formula, containing aloe vera and shea butter, does not irritate or dry out the sensitive skin of cats and dogs. As a bonus, this shampoo leaves the coat silky, non-sticky, and gives off a fresh tea leaf scent. Plus, you don’t need to spend a fortune to try it out on your cat. On the other hand, since you must leave this shampoo on the coat for a few minutes, your cat may have difficulty keeping quiet for so long.
pH balanced that takes care of a kitten’s sensitive skin
Offered in fragrance-free or herbal scent
No paraben, sulfates, or colorants
- pH balanced that takes care of a kitten’s sensitive skin
- Offered in fragrance-free or herbal scent
- No paraben, sulfates, or colorants
A bit watery and doesn’t lather much
Not as “tearless” as the name suggests
- A bit watery and doesn’t lather much
- Not as “tearless” as the name suggests
Pros
Human-grade shampoo
pH balanced for sensitive cat skin
Safe to use on dogs and other small pets
Animal cruelty-free and biodegradable
Fragrance-free
Affordable
Cons
Must be left on fur for a few minutes to be effective
Top Performance Shed Patrol Dog & Cat Shampoo contains aloe vera, wheat germ oil protein, and vitamins A, D, and E to moisturize and condition your cat’s skin and coat. The consistency of this product is excellent, allowing you to use just what you need to thoroughly clean your pet. It effectively removes the layer of dead hair, but not all cat owners have noticed a difference in their pet’s hair loss.
Human-grade shampoo
pH balanced for sensitive cat skin
Safe to use on dogs and other small pets
Animal cruelty-free and biodegradable
Fragrance-free
Affordable
- Human-grade shampoo
- pH balanced for sensitive cat skin
- Safe to use on dogs and other small pets
- Animal cruelty-free and biodegradable
- Fragrance-free
- Affordable
Must be left on fur for a few minutes to be effective
- Must be left on fur for a few minutes to be effective
Top ingredients: Purified water, sodium coco sulfate, lauryl glucoside
Life stage: Adults
Grooming feature: Moisturizing
Also, the exotic mandarin scent is a little too intense for some owners but will appeal to others. Unfortunately for some, this is the only fragrance available for this shampoo.
Pros
Aloe vera and vitamin E help soothe dry skin
Professional groomers use it to reduce excessive shedding in cats
Great consistency
Cons
Heavy mandarin scent
Some cat owners haven’t noticed much change in their cat’s shedding
TropiClean Lime & Coconut Deshedding Dog & Cat Shampoo is advertised as being made from “naturally derived ingredients”. These fancy words mean that most of the ingredients (98.3% to be exact) are derived from natural raw materials or are adapted from natural vegetable or mineral raw materials. For example, the ingredient “sodium chloride” is naturally derived from mined salt. The remaining 1.7% are mild surfactants, preservatives, and fragrances.
Aloe vera and vitamin E help soothe dry skin
Professional groomers use it to reduce excessive shedding in cats
Great consistency
- Aloe vera and vitamin E help soothe dry skin
- Professional groomers use it to reduce excessive shedding in cats
- Great consistency
Heavy mandarin scent
Some cat owners haven’t noticed much change in their cat’s shedding
- Heavy mandarin scent
- Some cat owners haven’t noticed much change in their cat’s shedding
Top ingredients: Purified water, mild coconut cleanser, sodium chloride
Life stage: Adults
Grooming feature: Soap-free, cruelty-free
But beyond its eco-friendly packaging and its fragrance that perfumes your cat’s fur with a tropical smell, does this deshedding shampoo fulfill its promises? Yes and no. It does exfoliate and nourishes well your pet’s skin, thanks to the coconut extract and oats, so this helps reduce itching for cats with a lot of dander. It is however a little less efficient for control shedding, but it depends on the cats. You could get the conditioner of the same brand to make your kitty’s coat even silkier and shinier, but this will have little effect on hair loss if your cat is in a period of intense molting.
Pros
Exfoliates and nourishes cat’s skin to reduce itching and remove dead hair
Can with used with flea and tick treatments
Amazing smell
Made with 98.3% natural ingredients
Cons
A bit pricey
Doesn’t work well on all cats
Can leave some cats with a greasy coat
Perfect Coat Shed Control Tropical Mist Dog & Cat Shampoo is made with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and antioxidants to keep your pet’s skin well hydrated. So, this heavenly-smelling shampoo can be a great tool for controlling excessive hair loss, but don’t expect miracles. Rather, it is designed to help remove the layer of dead hair that covers the skin of double-coated pets. Also, the ingredient list may not appeal to purists, as there are very few natural ingredients.
Exfoliates and nourishes cat’s skin to reduce itching and remove dead hair
Can with used with flea and tick treatments
Amazing smell
Made with 98.3% natural ingredients
- Exfoliates and nourishes cat’s skin to reduce itching and remove dead hair
- Can with used with flea and tick treatments
- Amazing smell
- Made with 98.3% natural ingredients
A bit pricey
Doesn’t work well on all cats
Can leave some cats with a greasy coat
- A bit pricey
- Doesn’t work well on all cats
- Can leave some cats with a greasy coat
Top ingredients: Water, mild surfactants blend, sodium chloride
Life stage: Adults
Grooming feature: Suitable for cats and dogs
Pros
Easy-to-rinse formula that won’t stick to your pet’s coat
Made with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids for optimal skin hydration
Great tropical scent
Cons
Very watery
Smell doesn’t last very long
Contains a lot of surfactants and preservatives
- Shed-X Shed Control Shampoo for Cats
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Top ingredients: Purified water, proprietary Surfactant Blend, acrylates copolymer
Life stage: Adults
Grooming feature: Dry shampoo
Shed-X Shed Control Shampoo for Cats comes in a small, economical size that’s perfect if you only have a small cat that doesn’t require regular baths. Because despite its low price, you will have to use a lot of product each time you bathe your pet since it does not lather very well. We still included this product in our list as it is effective in reducing dander and dry skin in cats, although it does not work miracles in shedding control.
Easy-to-rinse formula that won’t stick to your pet’s coat
Made with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids for optimal skin hydration
Great tropical scent
- Easy-to-rinse formula that won’t stick to your pet’s coat
- Made with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids for optimal skin hydration
- Great tropical scent
Very watery
Smell doesn’t last very long
Contains a lot of surfactants and preservatives
- Very watery
- Smell doesn’t last very long
- Contains a lot of surfactants and preservatives
Top ingredients: Purified water, proprietary Surfactant Blend, acrylates copolymer
Life stage: Adults
Grooming feature: Dry shampoo
Pros
Reduces dry and flaky skin
Light and pleasant smell
Budget-friendly
Cons
Helps control dander but does not reduce shedding in all cats
Doesn’t foam well so you need to use a lot of product
Reduces dry and flaky skin
Light and pleasant smell
Budget-friendly
- Reduces dry and flaky skin
- Light and pleasant smell
- Budget-friendly
Helps control dander but does not reduce shedding in all cats
Doesn’t foam well so you need to use a lot of product
- Helps control dander but does not reduce shedding in all cats
- Doesn’t foam well so you need to use a lot of product
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Shampoo for Shedding
Why Do Some Cats Shed More Than Others?
In order to make the best choice of shampoo for your cat’s needs, you must first consider all of the factors at play. The skin of every mammal is the external physical barrier protecting the organism against polluting, chemical and microbial agents. Maintaining healthy skin allows it to maintain suppleness, moderate shedding, and a lustrous coat. However, in some cats, specific factors can cause excess shedding, dandruff, and a drier, duller coat:
Your Cat Never Goes Outside
First, know that it is normal for a cat to lose its hair. Shedding occurs mainly at the change of seasons. On the other hand, indoor cats suffer very little from these temperature changes, which means that they have a molt that takes place throughout the year, but with a greater period in spring and autumn. Regular maintenance should be done using a brush or comb to remove dead hair. The frequency can vary greatly, ranging from daily brushing to weekly brushing, depending on the needs of each little feline.
Your Cat Lacks Essential Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids, also called omega-3, can greatly help the quality of the coat through their anti-inflammatory properties and their beneficial effect on skin hydration. Your cat does not naturally produce these fatty acids and must obtain them from his diet. A low-quality food will not provide a source of good quality fatty acids or contain enough of them to help maintain a good skin barrier. The dry home environment caused by winter heating can also be the cause of dry skin and dandruff. Incorporating fatty acid supplements into your cat’s diet can make a noticeable change in skin hydration, coat quality, and excessive shedding.
Your Cat Has a Skin Problem
A skin problem in cats can be caused by illness; parasites, skin fungus, food or environmental allergies, infections, tumors, etc. Do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian in case of doubt to obtain an accurate diagnosis and receive recommendations adapted to your four-legged friend’s condition and skin type.
Conclusion
Although shedding is normal in cats, especially long-haired breeds, excessive shedding is enough to drive any cat lover crazy. But before you swap your furry friend for a lizard or any other hairless animal, try one of the cat shampoos (we totally fell in love with Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo) from our list. Although they are not a magic bullet, they can help control hair loss by moisturizing your cat’s skin well.
However, keep in mind that these shampoos are not a substitute for good brushing, proper nutrition, sufficient hydration, and a trip to the vet to rule out any underlying disease.
Featured Image Credit: mariyaermolaeva, Shutterstock
