Sometimes cats can be little rascals who get themselves into big messes. I know my cats have knocked over dishes, containers and have even stuck their faces into dirty nooks that they shouldn’t have been in in the first place.
Although I’m not a huge fan of giving cats baths regularly, there are certain times where a bath is a must. This is especially true of cats who have soiled themselves or as mentioned have gotten themselves into sticky situations. So, what can you do other than wash them? Nothing.
I remember the first time my cat, Beau, got himself dirty. His white paws were covered in gunk and no matter how hard he tried to clean himself, it just wouldn’t go away. So I, like you, took to the internet and tried to find the best way to get my cat clean.
I quickly learned that not every type of soap or detergent would be a good idea to wash your cats with. This is due to the fact that many soaps and detergents are actually much too harsh on a cat’s skin and can actually get them sick if they digest or lick any off their fur. That being said, there was also a lot of information turning up about Dawn Dish Soap, especially on their campaign to clean animals after the oil spill cleanup that took place a few years back.
So, let’s break things down and discuss whether or not it is safe to give your cat a bath in dawn dish soap, which kind is best to wash your cat with if it can kill fleas and any precautions you will want to take while washing your cat in Dawn Dish Soap.
IS DAWN DISH SOAP TOXIC TO CATS?
At this time, the only version of Dawn Dish Soap that is considered non-toxic and safe to cats is the original, unscented version of the product.
DOES DAWN DISH SOAP WORK EFFECTIVELY ON FLEAS?
Yes, it actually does! It’s also recommended to use Dawn Dish Soap instead of over the counter flea medications that can be bought at pet stores.
The scary thing is, a lot of flea collars and medications that are over the counter are actually too powerful for cats. Many have been known to burn the skin and cause longterm health problems for cats. So, if you’re thinking about buying one for your cat, I highly recommend speaking to your vet first about it.
WHY DOES DAWN DISH SOAP WORK ON FLEAS?
Dawn has surfactants in it which reduces water tension. What exactly does that mean? Well, it means that fleas will sink and drown in any water that has Dawn Dish Soap in it.
So, why doesn’t regular washing drown fleas? It’s actually fairly simple. Fleas have a layer of wax that protects their respiratory system and doesn’t allow water to enter the body. Well, it just so happens that Dawn Dish Soap permeates this layer of wax, thus causing the flea to drown.
HOW MUCH DAWN DISH SOAP SHOULD I USE ON MY CAT?
If your cat has fleas you do not actually have to give your cat a submerged bath in dawn dish soap to kill them.
Instead, fill a basin with warm water and put in a healthy amount of Dawn Dish Soap. Begin by taking a flea comb and dipping it into the basin. Thoroughly comb through your cat’s hair, each time placing the fleas that are caught into the basin.
This process may have to be repeated a few times depending on whether or not the fleas bred.
If your cat needs a bath but doesn’t have fleas always start off small with a pea-sized droplet of the soap. A little does go a very long way with this soap and won’t want to overdo it to ensure that no suds are left on your cat’s fur.
While the soap is considered non-toxic it does tend to dry out the skin if left in the fur for too long. It may also cause irritation or even rashes if the skin is left to dry out.
SO WILL ANY DISH SOAP KILL FLEAS?
While I’m sure that other dish soaps have the capability of melting the layer of wax on fleas, many are not safe for cats. Again, this has to do with the ingredients found in the dish soaps.
On top of that, many soaps have fragrances that are too strong for cats. This may cause an unsettling experience for the cat and may even trigger allergies.
Shockingly, Dawn Dish Soap is so effective at killing fleas that it even kills the eggs. Oftentimes you’ll find that flea products are effective at killing one or the other. Most commonly products are unable to kill eggs and will only kill adult fleas.
IS DAWN DISH SOAP ACCEPTABLE FOR LONG TERM USE?
Absolutely not. Even the original Dawn Dish Soap will cause complications if used on a cat too frequently or is used for prolonged periods of time.
Dish soap does a mighty fine cleaning grease and oil from dishes which means it also does an equally great job removing them from cats. Longterm use has been known to give cats skin problems such as rashes or even hair loss. That being said, cleaning your cat with Dawn Dish Soap every once in a while (ie. in emergencies) should not be a worry.
In short, dish soap of any kind is too acidic for cats as it is meant for human use. Our pH sits between 5.2 to 5.5 and cats sit between 7.0 to 8.0, though it is not uncommon for their acidity to sit even more basic.
If you are looking for something to wash your cat with longterm because they get dirty frequently or just need extra TLC I would check out some of these products.
CONCLUSION
Although Dawn Dish Soap can come in handy for killing fleas, I wouldn’t recommend using it frequently or longterm on your cat. Instead, I would choose to get a gentler soap or a cat-specific shampoo to ensure the wellbeing of your cat.
If you have already tried Dawn Dish Soap on your cat and they still have fleas I strongly recommend talking to a vet about dealing with the fleas as many over the counter flea medications and sprays are too harsh for cats and can actually be fatal to kittens.
Please note that a cat does not need to be regularly washed as they commonly do a good job cleaning themselves. If your cat regularly looks unkempt or it seems like they are not cleaning themselves consider speaking to your vet as your cat may be experiencing an underlying health issue.
So pet parents, I’m curious… what do you use to clean your cat? Have you ever used Dawn Dish Soap to get rid of fleas? Did it work effectively for you? Let me know in the comments below!
I’m in the UK and we don’t have “Dawn”. The brand I use is Fairy Liquid Platinum. I’ve been fighting a losing battle with fleas, none of the spot-ons have been sufficiently effective and I don’t trust flea collars at all, too many negative, even fatal reactions seem to be reported. My cat was getting in a bad way with overgrooming to the point of bleeding.
In desperation I decided to try washing up liquid (what you call “dish soap”) and after a somewhat momentous struggle with a very sceptical cat resulting in a number of wounds to myself, he finally gave in and just death stared me as I washed him. This was a few days ago and the effect was amazing and instant. It killed the fleas, it killed the eggs (which I easily combed out of his wet fur) and he is peaceful and no longer scratching. His appetite is back. He doesn’t seem to have suffered any ill effects. I applied the liquid “neat”, lathered it then rinsed off with the shower head, keeping clear of his eyes and mouth.
Obviously this isn’t a scientific test and I wouldn’t dunk him in the stuff every day, but it’s the only thing that has worked. And by worked, I don’t mean “fewer fleas”, I mean, “actually got rid of the fleas”.
Our cat has been scratching more than usual. We have her on Revolution for fleas and its always worked. She has never had fleas and I don ‘t believe she does now. We see nothing and no bites. She also had a flea bath at the groomers and they saw nothing. Unfortunately we start to get a crawly feeling on our bodies when we pet her now. Also if she has sat on the couch we get the crawlies from the couch. She has been an indoor and outdoor cat with a cat door. We have just recently kept her in all the time but the problem is still there.
Do you think Dawn may help if it is some sort of other creature bothering her (and us)?
Hi Connie, unfortunately this is a super shot at the dark, but given what you are saying I’m also not certain your cat has fleas as fleas and their bites would be fairly noticeable. I’m wondering, and again this is a shot in the dark, if you or your cat has some other form of insect or bug/mite infestation such as scabies, which is usually more internal (though most mites usually comes with the side of allergies such as bumps, rashes, etc). Sometimes these mites don’t have any visual side effects for the first few weeks if not months, though as they continue to reproduce it becomes fairly apparent. I know that there are a number of different mites cats that can transmit to humans and vice versa, so that may be something to look into.
As for Dawn, it’s always worth a shot, though I can’t say that it’s effective for most other creatures, especially those which burrow under the skin. I’d definitely recommend giving a shout to your vet to see if they have any idea of any seasonal bugs, insects or mites that have been reported as of late because there tends to be a larger quantity of reports made to them during specific seasons.
Is there anything safe to put on your carpets for fleas I don’t have access to moving my cats out to bomb the house
Hey Darleen, unfortunately I don’t know know of any products that would be classified as “safe for carpets.” I know diatomaceous earth is often used for insect repellant/a safe insect killer around cats, though I can’t say from personal experience if it’s very effective in regards to fleas or if it will ruin your carpet.
Dawn is the best for fleas I leave it on for about ten minutes on my dogs and cats then come it and then rinse them the cats I take a dish towel a little one or a sponge they like it thank you God Bless You be safe
Got a cat and it had a couple of fleas on his legs. Have him a bath in Dawn last night & it seemed to do the trick. But today he scratched a little bit under his chin.. Could it still be fleas?? Have been combing him with a flea comb & nothing so we aren’t sure!! Also put Cheristin on him last night. But I’m still a little freaked out every time he scratches himself.. Should I still be worried??
Hey Cat, there’s always a chance that there’s a remaining flea, but I would keep a close eye in general.
Since your little one is new to your home, it’s going to be harder to tell whether or not your cat still has fleas just based on watching him scratch himself. Cats do a whole lot of scratching throughout the day, just like we do, so there’s a chance that he’s just a bit itchy. Take note of how often he scratches and where’s he’s scratching and if you’re still worried take him to the vet.
Hope that helps you.
Thanks for the info!!
How to get rid of fleas on cats. Dawn dish soap original unscented. Never knew this. We use Seresto flea collar that our vet recommends. Buy it from them too. Tried a Seresto collar from a store but didn’t work as well. I do know that not all flea liquids aren’t good for cats. We found out the hard way and found out it couldn’t be used. My tip is always read directions and ingredients on bottle. Also read if says its toxic or not.
That’s a great point RE: reading directions and ingredients on bottles. It’s also pretty crazy how two collars from the same brand work differently and have different potencies. But you’re right, always a good idea to go with what your vet recommends.
Oh my word! When we first adopted Angel and Chuck, they were covered in fleas…and had worms! I went out and purchased some cat shampoo, and we gave them a couple of baths. I cried when the water turned pink from the blood those fleas were sucking out of our cats! Off to the vet, since the baths didn’t work much. As much as I dislike using the nasty once-a-month flea/tick treatments, I use it on The PO’M, because he seems to have a flea-bite allergy. And only regular doses work to keep him from scratching himself to death. Since those baths in the early days, we’ve not had to clean any cat, more than a bit of a butt-wash, which was done with soft clothes and soap. But, now I know about Dawn Original, thanks to you!
Hey friends! I’m so sorry to hear that you had such an intense experience with fleas. It’s insane how much those little guys hurt and wreak havoc on our cats. I’m really grateful that when we brought Beau in he didn’t have them, and truthfully I’m a bit surprised. Glad to give you some extra info and also glad to hear that these days you only have to do a bit of butt washing. Definitely have a bit of that going on every so often in our household.