Our beautiful fury felines are mischievous and playful, but that might be the reason why they are loved by many. U.S. Pet Ownership& Demographics research states that 25.4% of U.S. households keep cats as pets.
It’s not a wonder that many people keep cats in their households. Cats take care of us by providing companionship and, in some cases, emotional support. Another reason cats have a special place in our hearts is that they are meticulous regarding personal hygiene. Although our feline friends know how to clean up after themselves, we need to apply that extra touch of grooming to ensure they remain healthy, clean, and happy as well.
Finding the best shampoo formulated specifically for cats that won’t harm or do the task to perfection can be pretty overwhelming. That brings us to the question you might be asking yourself: can I use Palmolive to wash my cat? Read on to find out more.
What is Palmolive?
Palmolive is a powerful detergent formulated to cut grease on dishes, and it is incorporated with a potent cleansing agent. Palmolive has a pleasant scent which comes in handy when battling nasty aromas leaving a lovely scent after usage.
As a detergent, Palmolive is effective without many but just enough ingredients for a fresh wash. This detergent is imbued with cleaning agents that successfully remove excess oils, the Inactive and active ingredients like ammonium C12-15 Pareth sulfate, magnesium sulfate, poloxamer124, S.D. Alcohol 3-A, fragrance, and preservatives are the ingredients that make up Palmolive detergent.
Note: Remember to check the ingredients handling any detergents. Some people have sensitive skin that might be harmed when handling detergents. The Palmolive brand makes various types of soaps with slightly different ingredients to enhance color and aromas.
Using Palmolive on cats
Palmolive is a versatile detergent that is applicable in many life situations. Apart from its dishwashing application, it is useful when washing pet coats. Cats, among other furry pets, sometimes naturally release excess oils for a healthy coat and to make their coats look slick. Over long periods the release of excess oils makes the strands of cat hair tangle, making your cat’s coat look more shaggy. If left for a long time without a wash, the oils collect and dry, leaving your cat’s coat with a foul odor.
The active ingredients in Palmolive enable the detergent to wash away the oils on your cat’s skin, leaving your cat fresh. Just as Palmolive is good for a wash, it can be harmful to your cat if used in an excessive amount. When constantly used, Palmolive strips away the natural oils secreted by your cat for a healthy coat. Frequent use will damage your cat’s fur, leaving it dry and vulnerable to more breakage.
Palmolive soap can wreck fleas’ exoskeleton, which means it can be a measure of flea prevention or even extermination before you consider trying normal flea treatment.
How to wash your cat using Palmolive detergent?
The first step to washing your cat is to have everything you need for the job arranged at arm’s length. This will make it easier for you to reach for whatever you need while still holding since some cats may try to run away; not all cats love water.
Prepare warm water that is not too hot; use your fingers to feel the temperature of the water before amassing your cat. Add about two to four inches of water to your tub or the preferred bath item, i.e., a large sink or basin. Place a mat on the bottom of the tub for your cat to stand on; cats may panic if they don’t feel there is a comfortable solid ground they can easily stand on.
Before you begin, brush your cats’ fur, cats constantly shed their fur all year long. The shaded fur isn’t good for your plumbing since it will clog your tub, and also it makes it harder to clean your cat properly. Place your cat in water, ensuring you don’t fully amass your cat and drown it, wet the fur until it’s perfectly soggy.
Once your cat is wet enough, squeeze out a sizeable amount of Palmolive detergent into your hand and apply it to your cat’s fur. Repeat this process until your cat is soapy enough, then gently rub in the soap in a massage-like manner. Ensure you reach deep to fill your cats’ skin and wash until you feel your cat is clean.
Prepare a separate tub of water with the same quantities as the first trial. Completely rinse out the palm detergent from your cat’s fur to ensure no residue remains. Compared to cat shampoo, Palmolive detergent is harsh on our feline companions. Once you are done with the rinsing, use a clean towel to dry out your cat’s fur.
Your cat will now be ready for brushing or styling. If you follow this procedure correctly, your cat will be left feeling clean and fresh. Palmolive aroma is effective in removing foul odor; this also includes skunk smell. In case of a skunk smell, you will need to add a spoon of vinegar to the first bath to neutralize the stink effectively.
Caution: Don’t pick Palmolive antibacterial detergent when you wash your cat. This will kill all bacteria, of which some bacteria are helpful to the health of cats.
Other alternatives that you can consider
Preferably it is advisable to use a shampoo specifically made for cats. There are some good cat shampoo brands in the market like Pro Pet Organic shampoo and conditioner, Strawfield Pets Chlorhexidine Shampoo, Vets Best Waterless Cat Bath, and more. Cat shampoo is formulated with properties that nourish the skin and healthy growth of your cats’ coats.
However, it is understandable that you might not acquire cat shampoo; well, don’t worry. Down below are a few methods you can use as alternatives to cat shampoo.
- Ordinary shampoo: Using shampoo for other common furry pets is also doable. Most common shampoos are made with the same type of ingredients. This makes them almost universal. However, it’s advisable to check the ingredients for any harmful properties before using them on your cat. Seeking a vet’s consultation is also helpful to determine which shampoos apply to your cat.
- Baby shampoo: This shampoo is the closest alternative to a cat shampoo. Babies are very sensitive; shampoos formulated for babies are carefully tailored to soothe their skin. A lot of harsh properties are avoided when making baby shampoo, and the P.H. level is considerably low. Cat’s skin is also sensitive; therefore, baby shampoo is perfect for cats.
- Natural soap: Mother nature is always kind to her children. Soap made from natural ingredients like fats, oils, plants, and butter. The lack of harsh chemicals makes it safe for use on cats. The downside to using natural soaps is they are expensive to purchase.
- Wipes: Using wipes is easy and beneficial to cats that find a hard time dealing with water. The method is quick, and the wipes don’t make your cat soggy, just a little bit dump. However, this method will not ensure your cat is 100% clean, and it is good for freshening up your cat and cleaning the top part of the coat. Be it will not rid your cat of fleas if there are any.
- Castile soap: Castile soap is a good stand-in cat shampoo made out of olive oil. Castile soap has naturally hydrating properties making it suitable for felines with dry skin. Although it is gentle on cat skin, ensure you rinse your cats’ fur properly to wash out all the residue so that your cat doesn’t get irritated.
- Baking soda: Baking soda can act as a good cat shampoo even though it will not wash out all the dirt. This alternative is only suitable for freshening up your cat, and it can also work as an excellent deodorizer in that it neutralizes bad odor. Sprinkle some baking soda on your cat’s coat and gently massage the base of your cat’s fur by rubbing in the baking soda. Using baking soda might leave cats with dark coats looking a little bit lighter.
Conclusion
When it concerns our cats, we need to go above and beyond to ensure their health and safety. Maintaining cats’ hygiene ensures that it remains healthy, clean and fresh. Reading this article should answer the question: Can I use Palmolive to wash my cat? Yes, you can use Palmolive as a shampoo to wash your cat. However, as clearly defined above, Palmolive is not considered the only option for cat shampoo. It would be best if you used Palmolive sparingly to avoid harming your cat and allowing it to have a healthy coat.
Since our furry friends take care of us emotionally, we must return the favor by providing a perfect hygiene routine and a variety of healthy food alternatives. Think of it as giving back to the community as well.
