I Fostered 6 Cats Last Year, and This $10 Waterless Cat Shampoo Makes Bathing a Breeze

I’ll be honest: washing the cat is probably the last thing in the world I want to do in my spare time. Anyone who has tried to bathe a cat knows how challenging it can be. Even the sweetest temperamental kitty might accidentally scratch her human while trying to claw her way out of the water.

But what if washing your cat could be simple? That’s what Burt’s Bees for Cats Waterless Shampoo is all about – and I’ll be the first to admit that I was skeptical that any product could make bathing a cat painless. The spray shampoo promises to clean the cat’s fur without rinsing. The pH-balanced formula is sulfate- and paraben-free and full of shine-enhancing nutrients like honey and apple extract.

I tried this waterless shampoo on my two-year-old rescue cat, Misa, and the results surprised me. Keep reading for my full review of Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Cats.

Burt’s Bees waterless shampoo for cats

They will chew

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Size: 10 oz. | Key ingredients: apple extract, honey, glycerin | Intended for: All cats and kittens

As we tested

There was only one way to find out if Burt’s Bees for Cats Waterless Shampoo was doing what it said it would: I put on a thick t-shirt to cover my hands in case of impending claws and armed myself with my cat’s favorite treats to put me at ease before I started. cleaning process. Following the directions on the bottle, I sprayed the product directly onto my cat’s back. She immediately ran away at the sound of the bottle, but a few seconds later I managed to call her back with the promise of treats.

In my second attempt at shampooing my cat’s fur, I decided to spray the product on a washcloth instead of directly on her back, and then rubbed the damp cloth over her back in gentle strokes that mimicked the petting motions she normally likes. Although she didn’t purr with approval, my cat did let me apply the product to her coat while she nibbled on her treats. When her coat looked slightly damp, I again followed the package directions and worked the product through her fur.

the results

There were a few things I looked for while testing this waterless cat shampoo:

• Ease of Application: Spraying the product directly on my cat’s fur scared her, but spraying it on a towel first and then rubbing the product into her fur worked fine. The towel method wasn’t as easy as spraying the product directly on the cat, but overall the process was incredibly easy.
• Scent: The product promises to get rid of pet odors without the need for a traditional bath, and I found the waterless shampoo absolutely delivered on its promises. The spray left my cat’s fur smelling fresh with a slight hint of honey and, although my cat’s fur didn’t stink at first, the light, sweet scent was a pleasant addition.
• Coat Appearance: After brushing the product through my cat’s medium length coat, her coat had a great shine that looked healthy and smooth. Her coat looked and it was softer after just one use of Burt’s Bees shampoo and I didn’t have to expose it to water in the process.

All in all, my journey with cat shampoo has been more than successful – it’s been really enjoyable. My beautiful cat’s coat was left shinier and softer than ever before and didn’t require me to soak it in water. All in all, the process was shockingly painless. As cute as my feline best friend is, her claws can leave a mark, so the fact that I haven’t been scratched at all is quite a feat. And, while my cat ran away at the sound of the spray bottle, this probably won’t be the case for all cats, so the application process might be even easier for less timid cats.

People / Cai Cramer

Advantages:

• Leave-in shampoo is easy to apply and doesn’t require you to put your cat in the tub (because neither will enjoy that).
• The formula includes apple extract to care for the cat’s skin and honey to shine the coat.
• It has a light fragrance that is not overpowering (even for someone very sensitive to scents like me).

Against:

• The sound of the spray bottle made my cat run away, so I couldn’t spray the product directly on her fur.

What to consider when buying cat shampoo

Formula

Not all cat shampoos are created equal or applied in the same way. Unlike traditional shampoos, Burt’s Bees waterless shampoo for cats does not need to be rinsed after application. Other formulas may require your cat’s fur to be wet before application and require rinsing after you lather the product on your pet’s coat. Traditional shampoo formulas are better for achieving a deep clean, but for lighter touch-ups between grooming visits or baths, waterless shampoos are an easier way to clean and shine your cat’s fur.

Ingredients

It is important to check the ingredients of any product you plan to apply to your cat’s skin. This Burt’s Bees shampoo uses apple extract for skin care and honey for shine, but other commonly used ingredients to look out for are glycerin to hydrate the skin and oatmeal and aloe to soothe.

Some chemicals can be potentially harmful or cause allergic reactions, so it’s a good idea to check with your vet before applying anything new to your pet’s skin if you have any concerns.

People / Cai Cramer

Consider other cat shampoos

John Paul Pet Oatmea Shampoo: If you’re looking for a foaming cat shampoo, we love this John Paul Pets. We use it regularly on our cat with anal gland problems and find the formula works well to remove unpleasant odors without irritating the skin. The gentle formula requires rinsing, so we only use this product when absolutely necessary (like when our cat has an accident or rolls around in something messy).

Is cat shampoo worth it?

If you’re looking for a way to hydrate your cat’s skin and fur while eliminating odor, then cat shampoo is absolutely worth the money. Our favorite cat shampoo from Burt’s Bees is less than $11 for 10 oz. bottle, and I only needed a few sprays to completely cover my cat’s fur with waterless shampoo. Cats are natural groomers, so washing your cat may not be a very necessary task unless your cat gets into something messy or licks itself a lot.

I was more than skeptical about cat shampoo — I was afraid to try it. But after using it just once and seeing the great coating results, I would definitely recommend this shampoo as an easy-to-use solution to cleaning your cat without a bath.

Why trust PEOPLE?

People / Cai Cramer

As a shopping writer and devoted cat lover, Cai Cramer often tests the best and hottest new pet products. Cai has been fostering cats for two years and currently has a two-year-old rescue cat named Miso. Miso is curious, cuddly and picky — so you can trust her taste when it comes to the best treats, toys, litter, scratching posts and other cat-friendly products.

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Source: HIS Education