Is lavender waterless cat shampoo safe? Will it hurt my cat?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As long as your cat doesn't eat/drink an excessive amount of this shampoo, she should be just fine. And as long as you didn't get any into her eyes, she should be OK. In the future, it is not recommended to use human shampoos on animals - there are special animal shampoos that are not as irritating if gotten into the eyes, and nontoxic if consumed. I recommend monitoring for any vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, or any neurologic signs such as tremors or seizures. These could indicate a toxicity. If she is squinting her eyes, this could mean you got shampoo in her eyes and caused damage to her corneas. If you see any of these signs, she should be seen by a veterinarian right away. I hope this is helpful!

I did research the name, and I could not find any information about it being toxic to cats. I suspect that if it was causing problems, it would have come up on my veterinary database. However, I am not a big fan of essential oils in cats. They do not tolerate them as well as dogs do. So, I would not use it again in my cats to be on the safe side. I think that they are going to be just fine. If they did start to show irritation - you will need to bathe in Dawn dish soap to get the oil off. I don't expect it at all, but just wanted to let you know what to use if they did get irritated. Good luck! Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I wouldn't have any concerns about contacting this small amount of lavender oil. Cats can be sensitive to essential oils that are diffused in the air or used topically on the cat, but contact with a small amount shouldn't be a concern.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This appears to be one of the better ones I’ve seen. Other than the last ingredient (dye- probably in minuscule amounts since its last on the list), this product appears to be made entirely from plant extracts and I would indeed call it “natural”.

I would be cautious using this around your cat. Since the shampoo isn't something that will remain on your hair since you rinse it out, the chance of exposure is low, but cats are particularly sensitive to peppermint oil. Even breathing the aroma of peppermint oil can cause shortness of breath and increased heart rate. Again, since you're rinsing it out and it's a very small amount in the shampoo, I feel the chance of there being a problem is small, but I would be careful, maybe changing the time your wash your hair to earlier in the day so the scent will have dissipated by bedtime. Rosemary can also be toxic to cats though I haven't been able to find any further information about how toxic it may be.

Hi, you can use the dry shampoo as long as it’s formulated for cats. If not, you can use plain water but rather than trying to dip him or soak him, you can try just using a wet cloth and rub it around his body. Hope this helps,

A one-time bath using a sensitive skin or gentle wash designed for people likely won't harm your cat, but it may still be a good idea to check any specific ingredients in it for toxicity. You can find lists of toxic plants/substances on sites such as here: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control Signs of toxicity to look out for may include minor symptoms such as drooling, foaming at the mouth, seizure, disorientation, dilation of pupils, vomiting or diarrhea. If you do see any signs that may indicate a possible toxicity or find an ingredient that is toxic to your pets in it, it is best to contact your local veterinarian for treatment.