Can You Use Cat Shampoo on a Dog? Vet-Verified Safety & Effectiveness

If you use cat shampoo on your dog a few times, it probably won’t cause much of a problem. However, if you do it frequently, you risk irritating your pet’s skin. There's a difference between dog and cat skin, so you shouldn't use their shampoos interchangeably.

If you don’t have anything else at home, you can use cat shampoo on your dog, it’s far better than human shampoo, but you cannot use it constantly, as it's slightly different from dog shampoo. Let’s look at each type so you have a complete understanding of what you’re dealing with.

Dog Shampoo vs. Cat Shampoo

Dog skin and cat skin are different and have slightly different needs, which causes their shampoos to be different too. For instance, different animals have different skin pH ranges. You don’t want the shampoo that you use on your pet to be too far away from their range, or you risk irritating the skin. It is difficult for skin to achieve its proper pH after being completely washed in a shampoo that has the incorrect pH balance. It can become dry, itchy, and unhealthy.

Luckily, cats and dogs have a similar skin pH range, but it's quite different from that of people. Humans have a skin pH range of 5 to 61. Cats and dogs are around 6.2 to 7.2. Cat shampoo should not mess with your dog’s skin pH range too much, but human shampoo absolutely will.

That said, cat shampoo is a bit different from dog shampoo, even if the pH is the same. For instance, cats have notoriously sensitive skin. Therefore, their shampoos are made to be extremely gentle. It doesn’t do a super good job at cleaning for this reason, but this gentleness is absolutely necessary when you’re dealing with a cat.

Conversely, dogs have more durable skin, so they can handle more cleaning agents in their shampoo. Dog shampoo can be made as gentle as cat shampoo, but it typically isn’t.

If you wash your dog with cat shampoo, it probably will not work quite as well. You’ll likely need to utilize more of the product to get your dog clean. In fact, it may not work at all on dogs with double-layered coats, as they need a particularly strong shampoo to penetrate the layers of their coat.

• Related Read: Best Dog Shampoos: Reviews & Top Picks

What Happens if You Use Cat Shampoo on a Dog?

If you use cat shampoo on your dog once, you probably won’t notice much of a difference. The cat shampoo will likely not work quite as well, but it will work enough for a single bath unless your dog happens to be extremely dirty.

That said, if you use it for an extended period, you may notice that it is not working at all. Some dogs need baths more often than others. If your dog is the type that doesn’t need to be cleaned often, you probably won’t have an issue never switching back to a dog shampoo (though this is still not recommended). However, if your dog needs to be bathed regularly, cat shampoo just won’t work.

You should not notice any skin irritation or similar problems from the cat shampoo, though. In fact, dogs with sensitive skin do rather well with cat shampoo, as it is made to be extremely gentle. Therefore, using cat shampoo on your pup isn’t going to result in extremely dry skin or irritation. However, you may notice that they’re still a bit dirty!

That said, regarding products marketed for both dogs and cats, it is ok to use those multi-species products on either dogs or cats every single time.

Our Favorite Products

Selecting the right shampoo and conditioner makes the world of a difference when grooming your pup. Our favorite products are the duo by Hepper. The Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is formulated with aloe and oatmeal to soothe skin and hydrate the coat. The Pet Conditioner works at eliminating tangles and taming frizz and static. Both products are pH-balanced and formulated with pet-friendly ingredients, free of harsh soaps, chemicals, and dyes. Give this duo a try to heal and nourish your dog's coat, and leave them with an irresistible just-left-the-spa cucumber and aloe scent. 

At Dogster, 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 pet company!

What DIY Options Can You Use Instead?

If you find yourself out of dog shampoo, you’re probably looking for other options. While you can use cat shampoo on your dog, if they are particularly dirty, you can use a variety of other items to help maintain their coat until you can run out and get some dog shampoo.

For instance, you can utilize Dawn dish soap in many cases. However, this soap is not at the correct pH, so it cannot be used for an extended period. Still, it can be a decent option for those in need of a quick DIY cleaner.

You can also use diluted apple cider vinegar. This is a great cleaner, but it does need to be watered down substantially so it does not irritate your dog’s coat. Of course, it will make your dog smell like vinegar, so this isn’t absolutely the best option. Still, if you don’t have anything else, this may be one of the few things that you can work with. Do not utilize vinegar for an extended period, though; otherwise, you will dry out your dog’s skin.

Both of these methods can work as a one-time emergency product if you are out of shampoo, the stores are closed, and your dog returns home after rolling in who knows what. But do not make them a habit, as better products are available on the market.

If you need guidance on finding the correct products for your dog's grooming needs, we suggest you speak to a vet.

Final Thoughts

So, what’s the verdict? Can you use cat shampoo on a dog? Using cat shampoo on a dog is often not a bad idea, especially if your dog doesn’t have a double coat. However, it is not nearly as effective as some other options. Cats have sensitive skin, so their shampoo has to be made with that in mind.

Cat shampoos are safe for dogs although not as effective as dog shampoos, but if your dog has extremely sensitive skin, then you may be able to switch to a gentle cat shampoo (with your vet's approval). There are also other options that you can use in a pinch, such as diluted apple cider vinegar and Dawn dish soap, but these are not as good as using shampoo specifically designed for your pet and should be considered only in unique circumstances.

See Also:

• Can You Use a Human Conditioner on Dogs?

• Can You Use Human Shampoo on Dogs?

Featured Image By: SGM, Shutterstock