Homemade Cat Shampoo

Cats are naturally fastidious groomers and any cat shampoo that you use will need to take this into account. If you use a shampoo with unnatural ingredients, your cat may be swallowing those ingredients the next time she gives herself a bath. So, often a homemade shampoo with natural ingredients is best.

Dry Homemade Cat Shampoo

As any cat owner knows, most cats dislike water. As short-haired cats rarely need a vigorous water bath, you can get away with using a dry shampoo on your cat most of the time. However, it is difficult to really clean a long-haired cat in this way.

Dry shampoos can be made from several different ingredients. You can use baking soda, oats, corn meal or bran, or a combination. These are excellent for absorbing excess oils and dirt and baking soda will also act as a deodorizer.

To dry shampoo0 your cat:

1. Take her outside or into an area that is easy to clean. Bear in mind that it is a dry powder and if your cat is unhappy the powder could be thrown into the air, and get onto your clothes, or in your eyes or nose. If you are concerned, you can wear a dust mask.
2. You should brush out your cat with a grooming brush to remove any dirt and loose hair before you start, particularly if she is a semi long-haired cat. If you get your cat used to this routine when she is a kitten, she will learn to appreciate the attention.
3. Rub your dry shampoo mixture into your cat's fur. Be careful to rub it everywhere, including places like armpits and the top of your cat's head, but don't get it in her eyes. You want to make sure the mixture gets right in to the skin.
4. Let the mixture sit on your cat's fur for about 5 minutes.
5. Brush out your cat's fur again. If some dry shampoo remains, rub her down with a dry towel to remove it.

Wet Homemade Cat Shampoo

You can make a wet shampoo for your cat at home as well. Long haired cats especially need some extra help with grooming, and need regular baths.

Be careful about adding essential oils to the shampoo as cats have a much more difficult time processing essential oils than other animals, due to the way their livers function. If you must add essential oils, dilute them appropriately and thoroughly wash them off.

A wet shampoo can be made for your cat by combining one cup of white or apple cider vinegar, one cup of a gentle liquid soap, and four cups of water. You can use this mixture as you would use a normal cat shampoo. Remember to rinse thoroughly after you have finished. If you regularly shampoo your cat from when it is a kitten, it will submit much more willingly as an adult.

A homemade shampoo is gentler, better for the environment and may also be cheaper than a store bought shampoo. Using simple, readily available ingredients you can keep your cat clean and smelling good all the time.