9 Best Cat Shampoos for Shedding in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

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 eliminate the layer of dead hair 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 take it to a professional groomer. You can also get a cat shampoo specially formulated for shedding.

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: top ingredients, efficiency, scent, and price.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo	Removes loose fur with gentle lather Nourishes and promotes healthy skin All natural ingredients	Check Price
Budget Buy		FURminator deShedding Cat Shampoo	Can be used on a dry cat No parabens or chemical dyes Works well to reduce excess shedding	Check Price
		PetEx Ultra Premium Pet Care Shampoo	Neutralize bad odors Alcohol and parabens free Fresh and not overpowering scent	Check Price
		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	Check Price
		Earthbath Shed Control Cat Shampoo	Human-grade shampoo pH balanced for sensitive cat skin Safe to use on dogs and other small pets	Check Price

The 9 Best Cat Shampoos for Shedding

Our favorite cat shampoo to aid excessive shedding is the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. This gentle, all-natural formula creates a soft lather 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 harsh additives such as soap, dyes, or sulfates and leaves a mild aloe and cucumber scent that won’t be offensive to your cat’s sensitive nose.

Overall, this is our favorite cat shampoo available in today’s market to help combat shedding!

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!

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.

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 is a product loved by many cat owners whose pets aggressively refuse to get wet!

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 the innovative formula of this eucalyptus-scented shampoo actually makes your cat’s coat shinier and silkier. Is it because of the “millions of years old” Dead Sea minerals included in the formula? Hard to say, as there are no clinical studies to prove these claims.

That said, this shampoo contains several essential oils that soften your pet’s coat and are 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.

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 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.

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 and 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the 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.

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.

Related Read: 10 Best Cat Shampoos for Odor Control

Featured Image Credit: mariyaermolaeva, Shutterstock