10 Best Cat Conditioners in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Cats spend a great deal of their day grooming themselves, but there may come a time when your kitty isn’t able to tackle all their cleaning duties alone. Whether your kitty is physically unable to groom themselves or struggling with an irritating skin condition, you may need to invest in a quality cat shampoo and conditioner to help them out.

The best cat conditioners are pH-balanced and designed specifically with pets in mind. Unfortunately, not all options on the market are ideal or even safe for your feline friend, so it’s not always as easy as picking the first product you see on the shelf. Read on to find our reviews on the ten best cat conditioners on the market and to learn more about what to look for as you shop for the best, most suitable product for your kitty.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Hepper Pet Conditioner and Moisturizer	Vet-approved formula Nice, long-lasting scent Very affordable price tag	Check Price
Budget Buy		PetAg Fresh 'N Clean Tropical Fresh Oatmeal 'N Baking Soda Conditioner	Good price point Deodorizing formula Leaves coat shiny and soft	Check Price
		TropiClean Kiwi & Cocoa Butter Dog & Cat Conditioner	Acts as a detangler Long-lasting tropical scent Made with natural ingredients	Check Price
Best for Kittens		Kenchii Pets Professional Grooming Spray	Easy to use Safe for kittens Scent is not overpowering	Check Price
		Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog & Cat Conditioner	Works as a detangler Moisturizing and soothing Made with food-grade extracts	Check Price

The 10 Best Cat Conditioners

The Hepper Pet Conditioner and Moisturizer is an affordably priced, nourishing, and revitalizing option for your cat and is worth considering if they have itchy or dry skin. This vet-approved formula is free of any potentially damaging and irritating chemicals like parabens and sulfates, which can further irritate skin issues. The coconut-based formula is pH-balanced with ingredients like cucumber and aloe to promote coat health and deeply nourish. The spill-proof bottle has a disk-top cap to make dispensing the right amount of product easy when you’re in the middle of bathing a wiggly kitty. This conditioner is small-batch manufactured in the United States and has a nice scent that lasts.

Despite the fact that this product appears to only be available to people residing in the US at the time of writing, we believe this is the best overall cat conditioner.

At Pet Keen, 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!

If this difficult economy has made it challenging for you to justify spending money on your kitty, know that you don’t need to spend a fortune on top-notch conditioners. The PetAg Fresh ‘N Clean Tropical Fresh Oatmeal ‘N Baking Soda Conditioner provides the best cat conditioner for the money. This affordable product has a soothing blend of oatmeal, aloe vera, and vitamin E to cleanse your cat’s coat and skin, leaving it soft and shiny. Its deodorizing formula is infused with proteins to boost the overall health of your pet’s coat, and its fresh, tropical scent is long-lasting (up to two weeks!), which may be too overpowering for people with scent sensitivities.

If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck and don’t mind spending a few extra dollars, the TropiClean Kiwi & Cocoa Butter Dog & Cat Conditioner is worth considering. Though this is quite a bit pricier on paper than other conditioners we’re reviewing today, you’re getting a long-lasting one-gallon bottle. This formula is designed to moisturize your cat’s skin and coat and detangle those pesky mats. Its tropical kiwi and cocoa butter scent is lovely and long-lasting, though it can be overwhelming for some pet owners. The formula consists of natural ingredients like cocoa butter and vitamin E to give your kitty a soft and silky coat. There are no parabens, dyes, or soaps present in the formula, so it’s something you can feel good about using on your beloved pet.

The formula may be too drying for some cats.

If you’re searching for a cat conditioner for your kitten, the Kenchii Pets Professional Grooming Spray is worth considering. This professional-quality product is more of a detangling spray than a conditioner, which may make it easier to use as you don’t have to bathe your kitty to spray them with this detangler. The spray is nourishing and conditioning to keep your kitten’s coat clean and smelling fresh. It’s made with all-natural ingredients and contains no parabens or alcohol. The scent is “Happy Kitten,” Kenchii’s “signature scent.” This doesn’t tell us much about what to expect regarding the smell of the spray, though other reviews suggest it has a gentle and refreshing scent.

Though the product description says it is safe for kittens, it doesn’t provide an exact age. We generally don’t recommend bathing a kitten until they’re at least eight weeks old, though some people prefer waiting until that 12-week mark.

The Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog & Cat Conditioner is a safe formula that’s 100% biodegradable and paraben-free. It’s made with food-grade vanilla and almond extracts to help detangle and enrich your cat’s coat. It is safe to use this on kittens 6 weeks old on up. The formula features natural ingredients like oatmeal and aloe to moisturize and soothe skin that’s become dry or flaky. The vanilla and almond scent is hit or miss.

This conditioner can be dispensed through the bottle cap, but please note that the bottle material is so thick that it can be difficult to squeeze for some people.

The Virbac Epi-Soothe Pet Cream Rinse is, as the name would suggest, a soothing formula designed specifically for pets with dry, sensitive skin. It can work to restore your cat’s natural skin oils, making tough-to-manage coats easier to control and adding a nice, healthy shine. It’s also great for cats with itchy skin. This formula will reduce static electricity, which can be an issue for people living in low-humidity environments. However, it has a floral scent that can be overpowering for some folks, and it’s quite pricy for the size of the bottle.

Pawtitas’ Organic Sheabutter & Oatmeal Cat Shampoo & Conditioner is designed to clean and refresh your cat’s coat and skin. As you can tell from its name, this is a 2-in-1 formula that acts as both a shampoo and conditioner, providing more bang for your buck. This USA-made formula consists of natural and organic ingredients and no parabens or chemicals. It can detangle fur while adding moisture and deodorizing, leaving a soft and easy-to-manage coat in its wake. Unlike some of the other options we’ve reviewed, there isn’t much of a fragrance, which may be a huge selling point for cat owners with scent sensitivities.

The Zymox Enzymatic Dogs & Cat Leave-on Conditioner is an enzymatic itch-relief therapy for cats with dry, itchy, and irritated skin. It’s designed to add a protective barrier against skin inflammations resulting from bacterial and fungal microorganisms. The formula is made with all-natural ingredients, so it’s safe for use on cats of all ages and sizes. As it is a leave-in style conditioner, you don’t need to rinse it off (though you can if you find it works better that way). This USA-made conditioner has a unique blend of proteins, enzymes, and vitamin D3 to be skin soothing and coat softening.

This product is scented, though a particular scent is not listed. It appears to be hit or miss with consumers; some love the smell, while others say it’s far too strong. The formula may be too harsh for cats with particularly dry skin.

The Frisco Shed Control Dog & Cat Conditioner is an affordable product designed to promote healthy shedding levels. It contains natural ingredients like oat protein, jojoba oil, and vitamins to help nourish your cat’s coat. With continued use, this conditioner will help cats who shed excessively release their loose hair and strengthen their undercoat. It’s made without dyes or parabens and has aloe vera to add moisture and nourishment to your kitty’s skin and coat.

The sweet nectar scent can be overpowering for some people. Additionally, the formula may be drying and static-inducing for some cats.

The TrizCHLOR 4 Spray Conditioner for Dogs, Cats & Horses is a bit different than some of the other products we’ve reviewed so far as it’s designed not so much for conditioning the skin and fur but for addressing infections and hot spots. This medicated antimicrobial spray kills fungi, bacteria, and viruses on the skin and is particularly effective versus Staphylococcal infections. It contains betadine to soothe your cat’s skin, and because it doesn’t have alcohol, it is non-irritating. The smell is nice and not overpowering.

The formula is very sticky, which can be difficult for cats with certain fur types and lengths.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Cat Conditioner

When researching the best conditioner for your cat, there are two things to remember: the ingredients used in the formula and the special features each offers.

Ingredients

It’s always a good idea to check the ingredients in anything you’re offering your pet, be it food, treats, or topical treatments like conditioners. Cats can be highly reactive to certain chemicals and natural compounds, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with safe and unsafe ingredients.

The best ingredients to look for in cat conditioners are moisturizing, nourishing, and deodorizing.

Special Features

If your kitty struggles with skin or coat conditions, you’ll want a conditioner that can address their problems. For example, if they have dry skin, you should find a product with ingredients designed to nourish and moisturize. If they have hot spots or itchy skin, you’ll want a medicated conditioner with ingredients to relieve itch. If they’re particularly stinky, a deodorizing conditioner will be helpful in combating their overpowering scent.

Note: We recommend speaking with your veterinarian before taking your cat’s grooming into your hands. They may have recommendations for products best suited for your pet’s skin and coat conditions.

Should You Use a Cat Conditioner?

Cats are fastidious groomers and generally don’t need baths, as they tackle most of their grooming needs on their own. However, there are some extenuating circumstances where you may need to step in to give them a hand. Some cats may not be great at cleaning themselves due to their age, size, or underlying medical conditions.

It’s important to contact your veterinarian if you notice sudden changes in your cat’s grooming behaviors to rule out any potential medical issues making it difficult for them to stay on top of their cleaning duties.

Cats with certain skin issues, like fungal infections or allergies, may also benefit from getting shampooed and conditioned occasionally.

Conclusion

Cats are naturally clean animals, but if your little buddy needs a bit of help in the grooming department, a good shampoo and conditioner is of utmost importance.

Hepper’s Pet Conditioner and Moisturizer is our top pick for its nourishing, vet-approved formula. Budget-savvy owners will like PetAg’s Fresh ‘N Clean Conditioner as its high-quality, protein-infused formula leaves their pets’ coats shiny and soft at an affordable price. If you’re ready to splurge on a conditioner that’ll give you the most bang for your buck, the 1-gallon TropiClean Kiwi & Cocoa Butter Dog & Cat Conditioner will do the trick.

Hopefully, our reviews have helped shed light on the best options for your budget and your kitty.

Featured Image Credit: eeechos, Shutterstock