All cats have fur but some may have from one to three types of different coats, plus their distinctive whiskers. Whiskers are considered to be cat hair by biologists and they are usually long and thick with several tactile hairs extending from the sides of the muzzle. Moreover, some whiskers can extend from above the eyes, the cheeks and even legs.
They are very sensitive and play a vital role in cat’s ability to find their way around in complete darkness. Furthermore, cats coat consists of guard hairs. A top coat is what normally determines the color of the cats coat. Also, the top coat also keep the cat dry be repelling the water. Also, cats have an undercoat that is sometimes called simply “Down”.
It is a much softer and fluffier fur that provides warmth in the colder months. The undercoat usually mats out if the cat is not properly groomed. An awn hair normally forms the basic coat and might be longer than the guard hair layer as in Manx breed, or shorter as with Persian cats.
How to Care for Cats Fur At Home?
Veterinarians suggest cat owners check their pets coat bi-weekly for signs of flea infection, bumps, bald patches that could be a sign of Demodex blood infection and any common wounds or scratches. Moreover, cat’s fur is a great gauge of its overall health condition and should always look glossy but not dirty, dull or oily.
To maintain clean and healthy coat, try to bathe your cat once every couple of weeks, and look for signs of any tangles or dandruff flakes. Secondly, always talk to your cat calmly when bathing him and try to be patient and caring in the process as water usually frightens cats a lot. Groom him only when he is relaxed and calm, cats normally relax after feeding or exercise time.
Thirdly, regularly brush the coat so as to avoid tangles and keep it glossy. Short-haired breeds such as American Shorthairs, Bengals and Abyssinians have a very short coat and normally do not require much attention to keep in pristine condition.
Remember, to brush more often long-haired breeds such as Persians, Balinese and Himalayan. Otherwise, their top coats will mat out plus you will have a hard time brushing out the tangles.
Top 3 – Best Cat Shampoos
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Curaseb Shampoo |
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Douxo Mousse |
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Dechra Pet Shampoo |
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Here Are the Best Cat Shampoos Review 2020
- Curaseb Anti-bacterial 4% Chlorhexidine Shampoo
- Douxo Chlorhexidine PS + Climbazole Mousse
- Dechra Miconahex + Triz Cat Shampoo
- Strawfield Pets Chlorhexidine Shampoo
- PetMD Antiseptic and Anti-fungal Medicated Shampoo
- PetMD Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Cat Shampoo
- Douxo Chlorhexidine PS + Climbazole Shampoo
- Curaseb Antifungal & Antibacterial Cat Shampoo
- BotaniVet Certified Organic Manuka Honey Cat Shampoo
- Bio-Groom Protein Lanolin Sulfate-Free Cat Shampoo
1. Curaseb Anti-bacterial 4% Chlorhexidine Shampoo
Curaseb shampoo helps prevent the growth of many common bacteria and other harmful microorganisms on your cat’s skin and fur. This shampoo’s main active ingredient is Chlorhexidine Gluconate that is known to be super effective against bacterial and fungal infections.
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Plus, the shampoo works great in deodorizing the gently cleaning the skin and the fur while leaving slight blueberry scent that will not irritate the cat. The cat shampoo has been tested and found to be gentle enough to be used on kittens and sick cats without causing any allergic reactions.
Also Read: Best Cat Foods for Older Cats
2. Douxo Chlorhexidine PS + Climbazole Mousse
Douxo Mousse is a great remedy for itchy and acne prone skin as it is made mainly from natural ingredients that work to calm and moisturize the skin. The Chloroxedine is known to drastically reduce skin inflammations that occur as a result of bad diet, flea infections and demodex bug migration.
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The mousse has optimal consistency and most customers have reported it being easy to use and apply on the fur and skin as it is not too runny and will not soil the furniture. Cats were reported to stop itching in less than 2 weeks and fur was reported to grow back in about 4 weeks in the affected spots.
3. Dechra Miconahex + Triz Cat Shampoo
A medicated shampoo developed by Dechra Pet Laboratories that works as a topical shampoo to help ease microbial, bacterial and fungal infection on cats and dogs. Plus, it contains ceramides that helps aid in repairing, moisturizing and restoring damaged skin cells and hair follicles.
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Dechra Miconahex shampoo is manufactured in the United States and has been tested for harmful chemicals that can be absorbed by the skin and accumulate in the liver thereby slowly damaging it.
The results have shown that Dechra Miconahex shampoo does not contain any harmful chemicals. As a result the FDA has certified it as safe to be used on pregnant cats as well as kittens older than 6 weeks.
4. Strawfield Pets Chlorhexidine Shampoo
Strawfield shampoo can be used to bath and treat wounds that occur as a result of skin dermatitis, acne, and any fungal or bacterial infections in cats. Also, it works great to treat yeast infections, demodex mange and ringworm patches on the skin and ears. Moreover, this shampoo works great in eliminating pet odors and gently cleans the skin and the fur from dirt, dust and grease.
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Furthermore, veterinarians often recommend this shampoo for cats with skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff rash and general seborrhea. Plus, it can be used to clean ears as a leave-on lotion to reduce the itching in the ears and prevent wax build-up. The NASC has inspected and tested the shampoo in 2010 to find that it fully adheres to all federal guidelines.
5. PetMD Antiseptic and Anti-fungal Medicated Shampoo
PetMD shampoo was specifically designed to help ease the symptoms of bacterial infections such and fungal infections such as yeast and mange. Also, it works to ease itchiness after insect bites and ringworms plus it helps kill bacteria in skin folds, underarm and the groin area. Moreover, lanolin works to moisturize the skin and helps restore its natural acid mantle barrier.
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PetMD shampoo has two active ingredients, Chloroxidine and Ketoconazole that work together to restore fur growth in areas that were affected the most by the infection. However, some customers did report that the shampoo can sting the eyes of the cat and cause chemical burns if left on for more than 10 minutes.
Also Read: Best Beautiful and Affordable Cat Trees for Large Cats
6. PetMD Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Cat Shampoo
PetMD Benzoyl Peroxide was specifically developed with leading veterinarians to fight the itchiness and scaling from Demodex infection, insect bites and allergic dermatitis. It combines moisturing, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that help ease the redness and calm the skin.
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This helps your cat stay calm and sleep through the night peacefully. Moreover, it does not contain soap, parabens or other harmful chemicals that can worsen skin dermatitis in cats. Plus, it is manufactured in the US in a federal regulated manufacturing facility with constant quality control monitoring.
7. Douxo Chlorhexidine PS + Climbazole Shampoo
Douxo has developed this shampoo with an antiseptic foaming agent that makes application very easy and mess-free. Moreover, other active ingredients help moisture the skin and prevent further irritation that can occur as a result of pyoderma. Plus, this cat shampoo can be used to treat flea dermatitis and demodex mange, including in ears.
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However, in order for the shampoo to work you would have to generously apply it all over the cats body and then wait for at least 10 minutes before rinsing it. This will ensure that the active ingredients had time to work on the problem areas. But do rinse it off well and never leave it on as that cause serious chemical burns.
8. Curaseb Antifungal & Antibacterial Cat Shampoo
Curaseb has developed this shampoo for pets with common skin infections that are caused by fungi, bacteria, yeast and general microbes. Also, veterinarians suggest bathing your cat with this shampoo if your cat is fighting a pyoderma or has ringworm.
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The cat shampoo has several active ingredients, Chlorhexidine and Ketoconazole, among them. These two ingredients are known to ease and fight itchiness, redness, and blisters. Moreover, the shampoo is very gentle and can be used on kittens that are older than 12 weeks. It gently cleans the fur and the skin thereby eliminating bad odors, greasiness and dust.
9. BotaniVet Certified Organic Manuka Honey Cat Shampoo
BotaniVet Shampoo has been certified as 100% organic and made only from natural ingredients in the United States. It does not include any harmful chemical ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, and harsh preservatives.
It is non-toxic and can be used on kittens as young as 4 weeks plus it contains Manuka honey extract that has natural and strong antibacterial properties. The Manuka honey extract is derived from farmers in small villages in the forests of New Zealand.
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The soaping substances are made naturally from a mix of coconut, olive and almond oil. Moreover, the shampoo is enhanced with aloe vera and lanolin for hydrating properties. Furthermore, the packaging is made from recyclable plastic that is also biodegradable with time while the printing is done using only chemical-free inks.
Also Read: The Best Smelling Dog Shampoo
10. Bio-Groom Protein Lanolin Sulfate-Free Cat Shampoo
Bio Derm Shampoo is made only from safe ingredients and is enhanced with many natural extracts that have antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is safe to use on cats and kittens even with monthly tick spot-on treatments.
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Plus, users have reported that their cat’s fur was glossy and the shampoo did not irritate their eyes. However, the cat shampoo can be hard to foam up and has a very strong peppermint scent that does dissipate after some time.
Why Bathe Your Cat?
Even though cats are capable of cleaning themselves and normally maintain their fur perfectly clean, some situations do require your involvement. Cats have a tendency to rub themselves on a lot of objects indoors and outdoors, sometimes this can cause their fur to become very sticky, greasy and smelly.
Other times, your cat might need regular bath to help him fight skin conditions such as flea dermatitis, yeast infection that occurs due to high fur moisture and general dandruff problem. Always check your cat for signs of chemical paint, honey or glue, toxic pollen from plants and of course motor oil. These substances can be harmful to your pet and you should not allow them to be licked in any circumstances.
Moreover, cats that go outdoor on regular basis can bring back home all sorts of nasty stuff such as other pets feces, mud, sand, and leftover food that their fur can pick up. Plus, cats that have a problem with being overweight might find it difficult to keep their fur in pristine conditions as they are no longer very flexible.
Conclusion
Take your cat to a trustable veterinarian on regular basis to ensure good health of their teeth, ears and fur. Bath them regularly in antiseptic and antifungal shampoo to avoid unpleasant skin infections such as yeast, demodex mange and dandruff rash. Educate yourself about the breed you have so as to get a good idea about how to take good care of their health and fur.
Long haired breeds such as Persian cats need brushing sessions at least twice a week and a weekly bath with softening fur conditioner to avoid painful tangles. Short haired breeds such as Abyssians might need only monthly brushing and regular spot cleaning using a damp cloth or a wet wipe.