All cats produce dander, but some cats produce more than others. If you or someone in your house suffers from cat allergies, reducing the amount of uncomfortable dander your cat produces is the first step to finding relief. While bathing your cat might not be the most pleasant experience, it may be necessary to reduce dander. We reviewed several cat shampoos for dander in this list of the top options. Some are traditional shampoos, while others are waterless shampoos and sprays. With something for everyone and every cat, you will surely find one to control your cat’s dander.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2024
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Best Overall
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Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo |
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Budget Buy
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Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath |
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Earthbath Shed Control Cat Shampoo |
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Burt’s Bees Dander Reducing Cat Spray |
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Vetnique Labs Medicated Cat Shampoo |
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The 11 Best Cat Shampoos for Dander
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo — Best Overall
| Lifestage: | Adult, kitten, senior |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
| Grooming Feature: | Soothing, soap-free, deodorizing |
Cat dander can be a thing of the past with Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. This shampoo was carefully created with all skin types in mind and uses only natural ingredients to help aid in dry and irritated skin. Dander is gently lifted away with a soft lather, leaving your cat with a fluffy, nourished coat.
With a pet-safe ingredient list free of soaps, dyes, and sulfates, you can carefully treat your cat’s dander without exposing them to harsh additives. The best part about this shampoo is that you can continue to use it once your cat’s skin heals to prevent future irritation and outbreaks.
Overall, we think this is the best shampoo to treat cat dander 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!
2. Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath — Budget Buy
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Product Form: | Dry shampoo |
| Grooming Feature: | Waterless, no-rinse |
This easy-to-use, waterless, no-rinse foam, Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath is the best cat shampoo for dander for the money. It contains vitamin E, neem oil, aloe vera, and oatmeal to help soothe dry skin while leaving their fur soft and clean. Since it’s a leave-on dry shampoo, you won’t have to suffer through bathing your cat, and it gives off a relaxing fragrance to relieve anxiety caused by grooming sessions. Its low price tag and high effectiveness make this product a good value.
Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath can only be used on cats 12 weeks of age or older. This product works great for relieving skin itch and reducing dander, but it is not the best choice for removing dirt and grime from your cat’s fur. If you need to remove dirt, you will want to pair it with Vet’s Best Cat Shampoo for the best results.
3. Earthbath Shed Control Tea & Awapuhi Cat Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
| Grooming Feature: | Soap-free |
Earthbath Shed Control Green Tea & Awapuhi Shampoo contains antioxidants and moisturizers to nourish and revitalize your cat’s skin and coat. It does a great job at controlling excessive shedding and dander and relieving dry, itchy skin. This product is 100% biodegradable and leaves your cat smelling clean and fresh.
Earthbath products are popular for their cruelty-free, all-natural ingredients but come with a higher price tag than many other cat shampoos. This product is not safe for kittens under 6 weeks of age, but it is gentle enough to use any time after that. The jury is still out on whether this shampoo reduces shedding as much as it says, but it does a great job of reducing dander and dandruff. Its efficacy, combined with its eco-friendly ingredients, makes it worth the extra money.
4. Burt’s Bees Dander Reducing Cat Spray
| Lifestage: | Kittens, adults |
| Product Form: | Spray |
| Grooming Feature: | Cruelty-free |
Burt’s Bees Dander Reducing Cat Spray reduces cat dander, dry skin, and flaking without putting your cat into the bath. It’s pH-balanced for cat skin and contains no artificial ingredients. For young kittens who get anxious around water, this is a way to get their dander under control without traumatizing them. Since it’s made from gentle ingredients, it’s safe for a kitten’s sensitive skin and coat.
There aren’t any downsides worth noting about the product itself, though it is important to be careful where you spray it on your cat. Any surface that comes in contact with the spray becomes slippery, and the product isn’t water-soluble, so it’s not easy to wipe off. But since the product makes a considerable difference in the amount of cat dander produced, it is a small inconvenience to carefully apply it to your cat outdoors or with them standing on a towel.
5. Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Medicated Cat Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Adult, kitten, senior |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
| Grooming Feature: | Medicated, soap-free, deodorizing |
Another cat shampoo for dander is Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Medicated Cat Shampoo. Designed as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal shampoo, it helps treat skin issues and provides soothing relief for your cat. Itchy, dry skin sheds more, leading to more dander particles around your house. Chlorhexidine and ketoconazole treat this problem.
Vetnique Labs Dermabliss is safe for cats of any age. Even though it’s medicated, it is gentle enough to use on kittens or cats with sensitive skin. It is also hypoallergenic if your cat has allergies to certain soaps.
6. Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Cats
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Product Form: | Dry shampoo |
| Grooming Feature: | Waterless, rinse-free |
The fact that Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Cats is a dry shampoo that doesn’t require rinsing is a huge plus for most cat owners. Since it’s made by Burt’s Bees, you can be certain that it contains gentle ingredients with no artificial additives. This dry shampoo for cats is easy to apply. Simply spray your cat and rub it like any other shampoo. Then, towel-dry your kitty.
This dry shampoo does a great job of spot cleaning and freshening your cat’s coat. It’s a good skin moisturizer and naturally reduces dander. As with most dry shampoos for cats, though, it won’t work if your cat is visibly soiled or covered in mud or dirt. In that case, you may have to use water to bathe your cat. Since they are scent-free, Burt’s Bees products are ideal for those sensitive to fragrances and perfumes.
7. Petkin Germ Removal Vanilla Antibacterial Cat Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Kitten, adult, senior |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing, detangling |
Petkin Germ Removal Antibacterial Shampoo removes dirt, grime, and smells and is antibacterial so that it will remove germs. Aloe and vitamin E are added to ensure your cat maintains healthy skin and fur. As a bonus, this product contains a detangler. If you have a long-haired cat, this will save you the frustration of combing out mats after a bath.
The only negative about this product is its vanilla scent. If you are bathing your cat due to allergies, you may find yourself just as bothered by the smell of this shampoo.
8. Arm & Hammer Dander & Odor Control Cat Reducing Foam
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Product Form: | Foam |
| Grooming Feature: | Dander and odor control, waterless |
Arm & Hammer Dander & Odor Control Cat Reducing Foam is designed to remove irritating smells and pesky dander. It contains all-natural ingredients that moisturize your cat’s skin and leaves behind a pleasant blueberry and pomegranate smell. The addition of baking soda means it neutralizes odors at the source instead of covering them up. The foam is easy to apply and rub in, reducing dander instantly.
The biggest complaint about this product is the smell. It’s fruity so that it won’t be loved by everyone. But if you can get over the smell, we highly recommend this product for cat owners with allergies. It significantly reduces allergens from your cat’s fur. While you’ll need to apply the product regularly, it’s a decent solution for anyone who needs relief. Most people see a significant reduction in their allergy symptoms after just one use, and it only takes a small amount to be effective.
9. TropiClean Waterless Dander Reducing Cat Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Adult, senior |
| Product Form: | Dry shampoo |
| Grooming Feature: | No-rinse |
TropiClean Waterless Dander Reducing Cat Shampoo controls dander using a waterless, no-rinse formula. This product contains a gentle coconut cleanser to clean and reduce odors while reducing allergy-triggering dander. It is gentle enough to use regularly, and no sticky or oily residue is left behind. It also does a great job of reducing odors and dander.
While your cat probably won’t love the coconut smell of TropiClean Cat Shampoo, it isn’t strong. The foam spray bottle isn’t high-quality, though, so you may find that it ceases to work after a few times.
10. Soos Pets Classic Deep Cleansing Dog & Cat Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
| Grooming Feature: | Antioxidant, antiseptic, antibacterial |
Dead Sea minerals, coconut oil, lemon extract, orange oil, and honey round out the ingredient list in Soos Pets Classic Deep Cleansing Dog & Cat Shampoo. It helps hydrate your cat’s skin and leaves them with a soft, snuggly coat that smells like citrus fruit. The natural ingredients help wash away dander without stripping your cat’s coat of its natural oils.
The biggest downside of this cat shampoo is the smell. It works well, but the strong citrus scent that it leaves behind may be offensive to cats and humans alike.
11. Allerpet Cat Dander Remover
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
| Grooming Feature: | Waterless |
Allerpet Cat Dander Remover is a waterless product, but it comes in a liquid bottle rather than a spray or foam bottle. Like regular shampoo, you wipe it on, rub it in, and dry off your cat. It reduces dander loads by about 50% if you apply it weekly, but the best results are seen with applications every 3–4 days.
Allerpet Cat Dander Remover does a good enough job of reducing the amount of cat dander in your home, but it’s slightly difficult to apply. The product is a thin liquid that will run off your cat if you put too much on them. It has to be rubbed in small amounts, which can be difficult and time-consuming.
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat Soap Dispenser
Cat Shampoos to Help Humans
The most frequent reason for needing to shampoo a cat has nothing to do with the cat’s needs — it’s to benefit their human owners. For this reason, many cat shampoos are designed to reduce the amount of dander or dead skin cells that a cat sheds. Since dander triggers allergic reactions in humans, shampooing your cat reduces the chance of you having a reaction.
The good news is that there are tons of dander-reducing products available that won’t require sticking your cat in the bathtub regularly. Cats are naturally clean animals, so you can usually find a dry shampoo or waterless formula to reduce both dander and the frequency of bathing.
What to Watch For
Unfortunately, a bottle labeled as “pet shampoo” doesn’t necessarily make it safe to use on your cat. Many pet shampoos are formulated for dogs but not cats, so read the label carefully. Many essential oils are included in dog shampoos, which can poison your cat. Since cats groom themselves frequently, they will ingest things that you put on their skin and coat. So, it’s important to check ingredients carefully and ensure that the product that you are using is safe for use on cats.
While these things smell nice, they can be toxic to cats.
Conclusion
The best overall cat shampoo for cat dander is Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. This is a gentle shampoo that soothes any skin conditions your cat may suffer from while reducing the amount of dander that they produce. The budget buy option that is best for the money is Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath. This no-rinse foam is highly effective at dander removal and is available at an affordable price.
There are several options available to reduce cat dander, so pick the one that’s best for you. A regular cat shampoo may work if you have a rare cat that doesn’t mind baths. However, if bathing causes extreme anxiety for your kitty, opt for a waterless option. You can get your cat clean, relieve skin itch, and reduce your allergy symptoms without ever putting your cat in the tub.
See Also:
- 10 Best Hypoallergenic Cat Shampoos – Reviews & Top Picks
- 10 Best Cat Soap Dispensers: Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: 135pixels, Shutterstock
