With their thick, double coats, Maine Coons are fluffy and adorable. They’re also one of the cat breeds most likely to shed and suffer from matted fur when their grooming requirements aren’t met. Giving them regular baths is one of the easiest ways to help control their shedding, tend to dry skin, and keep your feline’s coat shiny and smooth.
To help you choose the best shampoo for your Maine Coon’s spa treatment, we put together these reviews of dry and normal shampoos for sensitive skin. There are also a few medicated varieties for felines that need extra help keeping their fur healthy.
This Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is the best overall shampoo for Maine Coons. It contains colloidal oatmeal, which helps to soothe dry, itchy skin and nourish your cat’s coat. It also has a pH-balanced formula to ensure that the shampoo works at its best without irritating your Maine Coon’s skin. Another great thing about this shampoo is that it’s safe for dogs also, so it’s a great option for multi-pet homes.
It’s easy to apply and massage this shampoo through a Maine Coon’s thick coat. It rinses off pretty easily so that your Maine Coon doesn’t have to sit in the tub for too long. You’ll be left with a fresh and pleasant cucumber and aloe scent.
This shampoo doesn’t have an accompanying conditioner with the same scent. It isn’t too much of an issue for most cases as the shampoo formula contains moisturizing ingredients However, if you’re living in a particularly dry climate, you may need to purchase a separate odorless conditioner to help keep your cat’s skin moisturized and its coat static-free.
Pros
Contains colloidal oatmeal to soothe skin
pH-balanced formula
Safe to use on cats and dogs
Fresh cucumber and aloe scent
Cons
Doesn’t have conditioner with same scent
2. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog & Cat Shampoo — Best Value
Soap, paraben, and phosphate-free, Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog & Cat Shampoo is suitable for cats 6 weeks and older. The formula includes oatmeal and aloe vera to hydrate, moisturize, soothe, and heal dry and irritated skin. Along with being gentle on sensitive skin, the vanilla and almond scent helps neutralize odors and keep your cat smelling clean. This all-around treatment can help reduce your Maine Coon’s shedding.
Sold in bottles of 16 ounces or 1 gallon, Earthbath is the best shampoo for Maine Coon cats for the money.
Some users have complained about the bad smell of this shampoo lingering on their pets for several days.
Pros
16-ounce or 1-gallon bottles
Moisturizes skin
Neutralizes odor
Soap-free
Gentle on sensitive skin
Paraben and phosphate-free
Vanilla and almond scent
Safe for cats 6 weeks and older
Cons
Some owners dislike the odor
3. Purina Pro Plan LiveClear Cat Shampoo — Premium Choice
Purina Pro Plan LiveClear Rinse-Free Cat Shampoo is a pH-balanced, rinse-free shampoo designed to reduce allergens in cat hair and dander. For Maine Coons, with their double coats and heavy shedding, LiveClear can help alleviate their owner’s allergies.
The cleansing foam is distributed with an easy-to-use pump dispenser. Hypoallergenic and 99.8% natural, the formula doesn’t cause your feline’s sensitive skin to flare up and is safe for use on kittens.
8.5 ounces is the biggest bottle size available, and compared to similar options, this one is expensive. To achieve the best results, it’s recommended that you pair it with Purina Pro Plan LiveClear dry cat food.
Pros
pH balanced
Pump dispenser
Rinse-free
Hypoallergenic
Cleansing foam
99.8% natural
Safe for kittens
Reduces allergens in cat hair and dander
Cons
Only available in small bottles
Recommended to be partnered with LiveClear dry food
4. TropiClean Hypoallergenic Kitten Shampoo — Best for Kittens
The TropiClean Hypo-Allergenic Puppy & Kitten Shampoo is formulated for cats 12 weeks and older. It contains aloe, vitamin E, oatmeal, and coconut to soothe sensitive skin while moisturizing and softening your kitten’s fur. Unlike other shampoos, TropiClean doesn’t strip the natural oils from your cat’s fur, ensuring that it stays healthy and reducing shedding. Adult cats with sensitive skin can also benefit from this option.
Sold in three bottle sizes — 20 ounces, 1 gallon, and 2.5 gallons — the larger options can be purchased in bundles of two to last even longer for multi-pet households.
Unfortunately, TropiClean shampoo bottles often break open during the shipping process, losing most of the contents.
Formulated using ingredients recommended by veterinarians, the Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hypoallergenic Shampoo is fragrance-free and designed to be gentle on sensitive skin. Using a tearless formula to avoid irritating your cat’s eyes, this hypoallergenic shampoo is another great shampoo for Maine Coon cats.
Along with the medicated formula, this option has lactic acid and vitamin E to moisturize your feline’s skin. It is also designed to leave topical flea and tick treatments alone so your cat can still be protected against fleas without having to take another dose.
Available in two sizes — 16 ounces or 1 gallon — this shampoo will last for several washes, even for multi-pet households.
Due to the medicated nature of this shampoo, it’s recommended for use on adult cats and dogs only and is unsuitable for kittens.
Made with 99.8% natural ingredients — including buttermilk, honey, and beeswax — Burt’s Bees Kitten Shampoo is safe for use on both kittens and older cats. The recipe is free from common allergens, like parabens, sulfates, and colorants, to ensure that it doesn’t irritate your cat’s sensitive skin.
Designed to be gentle on your kitten’s eyes, the formula is pH balanced and softens your kitten’s fur.
Although Burt’s Bees shampoo is formulated with kittens in mind, your cat should be at least 6 months old before you use this shampoo on them. Some users have also mentioned that the consistency is too watery to properly lather and doesn’t clean their cat well.
If you haven’t bathed your Maine Coon before, the Vet’s Best Waterless Cat Bath might help because it is a rinse-free solution. Formulated by veterinarians, this foaming dry shampoo contains aloe vera, neem oil, oatmeal, and vitamin E to hydrate and soothe dry and irritated skin. The recipe contains a simple fragrance designed to calm your cat and keep them smelling clean for a long time. It also doesn’t hinder the effects of topical flea treatments.
Vet’s Best can be used on kittens, provided that they’re at least 12 weeks old. Some users have complained about the fragrance being too strong and lingering. It’s also only available in small, 4-ounce bottles and won’t last long if used regularly.
Pros
Calming fragrance
Foam shampoo
No-rinse
Doesn’t affect topical flea treatments
Formulated by veterinarians
Cons
Cats must be 12 weeks and older
Strong smell
Only available in small bottles
8. Ark Naturals Don’t Rinse Me Waterless Dog & Cat Shampoo
The Ark Naturals Don’t Rinse Me Waterless Shampoo uses natural ingredients — balsam, cedarwood, rosemary, and orange oils — to help you keep your cat smelling clean without needing to resort to bathing. As a dry shampoo, this option doesn’t require water for Maine Coons that aren’t used to being bathed, and it works to moisturize their fur to reduce shedding.
It’s formulated for both cats and dogs and is suitable for multi-pet households.
Due to the lack of a lather, this dry shampoo is better for “spot cleaning” and doesn’t wash your cat as well as some other shampoos available. It can also leave a sticky residue on your hands and your cat’s fur, and the bottle can leak during the shipping process.
Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Cats is 99.8% natural and pH balanced and made with a completely cruelty-free process. Using apple and honey, this shampoo nourishes and hydrates fur to reduce dry, flaky skin and cat dander to soothe your allergies and your feline’s sensitive skin.
As a rinse-free shampoo, Burt’s Bees is recommended for spot cleaning rather than a full bathing session. Due to this, it’s too weak to contend with strong odors. It also has a slightly sticky consistency, and the tackiness lingers on your hands and your cat’s fur.
While the spray bottle design is simple to use, many cats are scared of being sprayed and may dislike this option.
Pros
Nourishes fur
pH balanced
99.8% natural
Rinse-free
Reduces dry, flaky skin and cat dander
Cons
Recommended for spot cleaning rather than a full bath
To soothe itchy skin from bug bites or dryness caused by sensitivity, Ark Naturals Neem Protect Dog & Cat Shampoo is recommended by veterinarians and uses coconut and neem oils to reduce dermatitis. The reliance on natural ingredients means there are fewer common allergens to aggravate your cat’s sensitive skin, and there’s no sodium laurel sulfate, so this shampoo doesn’t strip the natural oils in your cat’s fur.
While this shampoo uses neem oil to soothe irritated skin, some owners have found that it doesn’t stop bugs from biting their cats, despite the strong artificial fragrance. Ark Naturals works best when left on your cat’s fur for at least 5 minutes before rinsing, which can be difficult for Maine Coons that dislike bath time. The watery consistency can also be a hassle to work into their thick, double coat.
Pros
Reduces dermatitis
Soothes itchy skin
Natural ingredients
Recommended by veterinarians
Doesn’t contain sodium laurel sulfate
Cons
Doesn’t repel mosquitos or other bugs
Watery consistency can be a hassle with thick double coats
The TropiClean Waterless Dander Reducing Cat Shampoo uses coconut, oatmeal, and cucumber to moisturize your cat’s skin and reduce dander caused by their grooming habits. It works to reduce unpleasant odors and doesn’t require the use of water, so your cat can escape bath time for a little while.
It’s gentle on sensitive skin and doesn’t affect topical flea treatments, so your feline can continue to benefit from protection against itchy bugs while still being clean.
As a dry shampoo, TropiClean is designed more as a stop-gap measure between baths rather than as a replacement for bathing. It may not be as effective at cleaning your Maine Coon’s fur as other shampoos that require rinsing. The pump dispenser has also been known to break when used, while the bottle itself can leak during the shipping process. Some users also dislike the strong smell.
Pros
Rinse-free
Reduces odor
Moisturizes skin
Reduces dander
Doesn’t affect topical flea treatments
Pump dispenser
Cons
Designed for use between baths, not as a replacement
The pump dispenser only works for a short time
Shipping can cause the bottle to leak
Strong smell
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Cat Shampoo for Maine Coons
Water and cats are well-known opposites. They don’t mix well, and bath time can lead to more than a few scratches and a miffed kitty. For Maine Coons, which can greatly benefit from a good shampooing now and then, there are a few things to keep in mind, particularly regarding how you can choose a shampoo for your furry friend.
Image Credit: Nynke van Holten, Shutterstock
Why Shampoo a Maine Coon?
The most important thing to remember about Maine Coons when it comes to their grooming requirements is the thickness of their fur. They have two coats, an undercoat and a topcoat that despite popular belief, doesn’t mat easily due to the silky texture.
Regular grooming sessions with a comb help remove dead cells and hair and spread natural oils throughout your Maine Coon’s fur. While bathing isn’t recommended frequently, for felines that suffer from greasy fur, an occasional bathing session can help manage their coat health.
Depending on the shampoo that you use, shampooing your feline every once in a while enables you to rejuvenate their coat without stripping it of its natural oils. Maine Coons don’t need to be bathed that often, only when they’re particularly grimy and smelly. A good shampoo can also help alleviate some of the symptoms of irritated and dry skin.
How to Choose a Shampoo for Your Maine Coon
Maine Coons, like other cat breeds, are susceptible to many skincare issues. If your feline has allergies or suffers from dry and sensitive skin, stick to hypoallergenic shampoos. A brand that uses natural ingredients, like coconut and oatmeal, will help moisturize your cat’s skin and keep their fur silky. Also, natural shampoos won’t remove the healthy oils from your Maine Coon’s coat.
For cats that are particular about getting soap in their eyes, there are soap-free options too. These are often tearless, causing little to no irritation to your feline if any of the product happens to get in their eyes. As a bonus, most soap-free shampoos don’t wash away topical flea treatments.
If your cat hates water, there are rinse-free options. While dry shampoos aren’t as effective as a dedicated bath time routine, they can help keep your Maine Coon clean, either between baths or as a way to get stubborn grime off their fur.
Image Credit: Olleg, Shutterstock
Can I Use Human Shampoo on My Maine Coon?
Using human shampoo on any cat is a bad idea. Cat shampoo is specially formulated with cats in mind and doesn’t use ingredients that may harm your feline. It’s also pH balanced to suit your cat. Their skin is less acidic than ours is, and using an acidic shampoo, like in many human brands, will damage their skin.
Human shampoo can also contain compounds that will irritate your feline’s skin. Not only will this cause them discomfort, but it’ll also wash away the natural oils that your cat needs in their fur.
The same can be said for a shampoo designed specifically for dogs. As a rule of thumb, if the shampoo doesn’t mention anything about cats on the label or instructions, don’t use it to bathe your feline.
Final Thoughts
The best overall shampoo for Maine Coons is the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. It combines a pH balanced formula with oatmeal to soothe and heal dry skin. The Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo is an affordable alternative that’s soap-free and uses oatmeal and aloe vera to keep your Maine Coon’s fur in top shape.
These reviews are our 10 best shampoos for Maine Coon cats. Hopefully, they helped you find a brand that you can trust to keep your feline clean and healthy.
