No, you shouldn’t use Dove on your cat. Dove soap isn’t meant for cats, and it’s always advisable to use a cat shampoo.
The main reason why Dove soap isn’t recommended for cats it’s due to the pH levels of the soap and how they affect the cat’s skin.
Cats have a pH range of between 6.2 and 7.2.This is a bit high, compared to humans’ skin which has a pH range of 5.2 to 6.2.
In simple terms, the human skin is acidic than that of cats and as a result, you shouldn’t use any human soaps such as Dove on your cat.
Although you can use this soap to wash your cat in an emergency situation, you’ll probably bring them more harm.
Human soaps tend to get rid of the cat’s coat natural oil and in the long run, your cat will have dry and irritated skin. The dryness will make your cat feel uncomfortable and it might cause more serious skin problems.
Another reason as to why you should avoid the soap is because it has chemicals which can potentially harm your cat in case they ingest it. Some of the chemicals used in the manufacturing process include foaming agents and these are highly dangerous.
Therefore, it’s only wise you stick to cat shampoo whenever you want to wash your cat.
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Are There Benefits of Washing My Cat with Dove Soap?
Although pet owners are usually hesitant to wash their cats, it has a number of benefits. It keeps their coat clean and shiny and prevents many skin conditions.
Though you should instead opt for shampoos designed specifically cats.
Using Dove soap in small doses can be a way of protecting your cat from allergies and skin conditions caused by cat dander. What’s more, washing your cat will help eliminate any unwanted odour by neutralising terrible odours on their fur.
However, don’t use this soap regularly because of the side effects I mentioned earlier in this guide.
Again though, you should instead opt for shampoos designed specifically cats.
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Is Dove Soap Safe For Cats or Is Dove Soap Toxic To Cats?
Most kinds of soap are toxic to cats because they have been designed for cleaning human skin rather than cats’.
Soap can strip the natural oils from your cat’s skin and these are important as they both nourish and protect the skin.
If their skin gets dry, cats can suffer from flaky, irritated skin.
Human soap containing essential oils is particularly toxic to cats and can cause breathing difficulties.
Interestingly, dog shampoo is also equally unsuitable for your kitty
In the case of an emergency when you need to clean your cat quickly, you can use Dove soap, baby soap or any other soap that is gentle and non-perfumed.
These soaps are more neutral or have an alkaline pH which is better-suited to your cat’s skin, but these are still not ideal.
This should be only used as a very last resort!
Ideally, you should ask a vet before applying anything on your cat that is meant to be used for humans
Invest In Proper Cat Shampoo
If you find that your cat is regularly managing to get himself in a mess, it is well worth investing in some proper cat shampoo to have at the ready!
The ideal and safest type of soap to use on your cat is one that has been specially designed for cats.
The special formulation will have the correct pH balance for your cat’s skin to ensure that it is not dried or damaged.
These products are available either as a conditioning shampoo or as a bar of soap.
If your cat is suffering with fleas, you can buy a special cat shampoo that will help you get rid of the fleas.
These shampoos contain insecticides and are quite strong, so should not be used on kittens, pregnant cats or nursing cats.
Here’s a pretty cool shampoo that has good ratings on Amazon
It’s called..
Burts Bees For Pets Hypoallergenic Shampoo
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What Else Can You Wash Cats With?
If your cat really does not enjoy being washed with water, your local pet shop will have a couple of great alternatives “ pre- moistened cat wipes, which are like baby wipes for felines and water-free shampoo which is a feline version of a dry shampoo.
You simply sprinkle this on your cat’s coat, leave it for a few minutes and then gently brush or comb it out – the biggest challenge is keeping your cat in one place to do this successfully!
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What To Use Instead Of Cat Shampoo In An Emergency
If you need to give your cat a bath but don’t have cat shampoo/ soap, the next best alternative is baby shampoo.
If you have a gentle liquid hand wash soap for your family, you can mix this with some glycerine to minimize its drying effects on your cat’s skin.
Make Your Own Emergency Cat Shampoo
If you have time, you can make this cat shampoo to use on your kitty
1 teacup of washing up liquid
1 teacup of apple cider vinegar
4 cups of warm water
5-6 drops of Catnip oil
Gently mix all these ingredients well and use to gently shampoo your furbaby – hopefully the catnip will help them to keep calm throughout the procedure!
A question that a cat parent may be thinking is
Do cats need to have a bath?
I mean they do spend 30% of their lifetime cleaning themselves!
Technically, cats keep themselves remarkably clean, but sometimes if they are long-haired their coat can become matted or pelted.
In this situation washing their hair with a good conditioning cat shampoo can make a big difference.
It is best to only do this every 4-6 weeks.
When you have washed your cat, towel dry them quickly and do not let them outside until they are completely dry.
If your cat allows it, use a warm hairdryer to help dry their hair.
Hopefully, you will not need to give your cat a bath very often.
In the case of emergency, Dove soap, baby shampoo and other products can be used, but far better to have a bottle of cat shampoo in store…just in case.
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Washing your Cat Safely with Dove Soap
Most people avoid washing their cats because they think it’s a dangerous task, but it’s surprisingly an easy task. An important thing to remember whenever you wash your cat is to use a mild soap or even better, one designed specifically for cats.
Dove soap is formulated for human skin which has higher pH levels unlike cats. It’s a rough soap on cats and it can potentially cause irritation and skin conditions when used regularly on a cat.
You should also remember not to get any soap into the cat’s mouth, nose or eyes.
If you have to use Dove soap on your cat in an emergency, use the following formula:
• A cup of Dove soap
• Four cups of warm water
The purpose of the water is to dilute the soap in a manner that reduces its pH. By doing this, you’ll reduce the chances of your cat experiencing any discomfort or side effects.
You’ll be able to clean your cat without worrying about what will happen next. As for the washing, start by wetting their fur using warm water, then lather it up using the soap, while avoid the parts mentioned above.
Once the fur is evenly lathered, rinse the cat with warm water and ensure all the soap is gone. Lastly, dry them and give them a chance to shake off excess water.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to safely and effectively clean your cat using Dove soap.
To summarise what I’ve discussed in this guide, you shouldn’t use Dove soap on your cat because:
• Cats have higher pH levels and the soap is not designed for that
• It’ll get rid of the cat’s natural oils
• It makes the cat’s skin dry and irritated
• It has chemicals that can be harmful if the cat ingests them
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Last update on 2023-05-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API