Can I wash my cat with ordinary shampoo? Doing this is undesirable. After all, the skin of a cat and a person is different. It is no coincidence that special detergents designed for pets have been created. These zoo shampoos are made taking into account all the characteristics of the coat and skin of animals. The constant use of human hygiene products can lead to a deterioration in the appearance of a furry pet. But there are times when the animal needs to be washed urgently, and there is no special detergent at hand. Can I wash my cat with ordinary shampoo or soap? This can only be done in exceptional cases and very rarely. In this case, you can use far from any shampoo or soap for people.
Why is it undesirable to use human shampoo?
In cats and humans, the acidity (pH) of the skin is different. In addition, the composition of animal hair and human hair is not identical. That is why the question: "Is it possible to wash a cat with ordinary shampoo for people?" veterinarians usually give a negative answer. Using human detergents can cause deterioration in coat quality, skin irritation and dandruff.
In addition, human shampoos often contain aromatic substances. Their smell may seem unpleasant to cats. Often, animals begin to mark territory in order to get rid of someone else's aroma.
Of course, if you wash the cat with ordinary shampoo or soap once, it will not cause harm. But to do this constantly and systematically is impossible.
When to urgently wash a cat
Cats are able to take care of their cleanliness themselves. They lick their wool several times a day, such behavior is embedded in them by nature. However, there are times when your pet needs additional water treatments. Sometimes an animal needs to be washed urgently. Then the owner and the question arises: "Is it possible to bathe the cat with ordinary shampoo?".
Urgent water procedures are necessary in the following cases:
- Pets are thoroughly washed before the show. However, such situations are rare. Owners of thoroughbred cats, as a rule, pre-purchase everything necessary for preparing a pet for the event.
- If the animal’s hair is very dirty, and the pet cannot clean it on its own.
- If a toxic substance has got on the cat’s hair, it must be urgently removed.
- Longhair breeds of cats during molting require frequent washing. Otherwise, self-licking can lead to the ingress of hair into the stomach and indigestion.
- If the animal has parasites in its coat. But in this case, human shampoos will not help. Special veterinary products for the removal of fleas and ticks are needed.
Which shampoo to choose
How to use regular shampoo? Can a cat be washed with any human hair product? For animals, only baby shampoo is suitable. Such a tool has the following advantages:
- Children's shampoos do not contain dangerous allergens.
- Shampoos for babies do not have a strong and pungent odor.
- Children's shampoos do not contain coloring substances that can cause poisoning of the pet.
Is it possible to wash a cat with an ordinary conditioner shampoo? This is highly undesirable. Conditioned products adversely affect the condition of the pet’s coat. It is better to choose a shampoo designed for young children under 3 years old. It is the safest for animals.
How to choose soap for a cat
So, we found out that it is allowed to wash a cat only occasionally with ordinary human shampoo. Can I use soap for water procedures? This should also be done only in exceptional cases. Soap for people aggressively affects the coat and skin of the pet.
For water procedures, you can use baby liquid soap. It is most harmless. You need to pay attention to its smell. A suitable detergent should not have a pronounced strong aroma. It must be remembered that cats are very sensitive to odors.
Some cat owners use laundry soap for washing. However, doing this is highly undesirable. This soap contains a lot of alkali and can cause skin irritation and itching. In addition, the cat can lick the remnants of detergent from the hair, and this is fraught with problems with the stomach. Soap pads can only be washed with laundry soap when the cat comes from the street.
It is also widely believed that tar soap helps to remove fleas. This detergent really kills parasites. However, it aggressively affects the skin and coat and has a pungent odor. Nowadays, there are many modern means to eliminate parasites. These special shampoos are more effective and safer than tar soap.
How to wash an animal
How to wash a cat with ordinary human shampoo? Is it possible to apply undiluted detergent to the wool? Even the most gentle baby shampoo must be diluted with water before use. It cannot be applied undiluted to the coat.
You need to dissolve 1 tablespoon of baby shampoo in 1 liter of water. This composition is applied to the wool and clean it of impurities. It is important to rinse off the foam very carefully. For this, the wool is washed three times with clean water.
Cats are known to dislike the bathing process. This is due to the fact that when wet, the animal freezes. Therefore, immediately after washing, the animal should be wiped and covered with a towel. Do not dry the hair with a hairdryer, its sound can greatly scare the pet. The cat must dry naturally. Towels need to be changed as they get wet.
When water procedures are contraindicated
Is it always possible to wash a cat with ordinary shampoo? Sometimes water treatment is contraindicated for pets, even with the use of cat detergents. You can not bathe an animal in the following cases:
- If the cat is pregnant or feeds the cubs. During this period, animals are prone to colds. In addition, excess stress is contraindicated for a pregnant pet.
- Do not wash old animals. In older cats, the nervous system is particularly vulnerable.
- Do not wash cats that have had surgery.
Water procedures should also be avoided if the room is too cold. Bathing is allowed at an air temperature in the room of at least +22 degrees.
Washing a cat with human hygiene products is possible only in exceptional cases. It is better to stock up with enough cat shampoos in advance, which are made taking into account all the characteristics of the coat and skin of the animal.