The best medicated cat shampoo you can buy

Earthbath All-Natural Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo contains natural moisturizers like colloidal oatmeal and aloe to soothe dry, itchy skin with coconut-based cleansers to clean and deodorize.

Your cat's skin is covered by a protective layer of fur, but it can be just as sensitive as your own skin. Cats can develop skin allergies to anything from dust and pollen to parasites, food ingredients, and even certain types of fabric.

The most common symptoms of skin allergies in cats are itching, scratching, dry or flaky skin, hair loss, skin odor, and scabs or red patches. The longer your cat's skin allergies go untreated, the worse these symptoms will get, and your cat may also develop secondary bacterial or fungal infections.

Our top pick for the best medicated cat shampoo for skin allergies is Earthbath All-Natural Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo. Made entirely with natural ingredients, this formula is 100% biodegradable and free from soap, sulfates, and parabens.

It contains natural moisturizing agents like colloidal oatmeal and aloe to soothe your cat's dry, itchy skin with coconut-based cleansers to clean and deodorize his coat. This formula comes in a light, refreshing vanilla and almond scent or you can purchase the formula fragrance-free.

Pros: All-natural ingredients, scented or fragrance-free, 100% biodegradable, free from soap and sulfates, concentrated formula, relieves dryness and itching

Cons: Some customers disliked the scented formula

Buy Earthbath All-Natural Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo on Amazon for $14.25

With three powerful active ingredients, PetMD Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Shampoo offers antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-seborrheic properties to relieve itching, scaling, and greasiness in your cat's coat.

When your cat's skin is scratched or cut, there is an increased risk of infection. Primary bacterial skin infections are fairly uncommon in cats, but they can develop when the skin is already injured due to intense scratching due to allergies or other skin problems.

Symptoms of bacterial skin infections in cats include itching, crusted skin, hair loss, pustules, and raised lesions. Depending on the underlying cause of the infection, your veterinarian may recommend oral antibiotics with topical medication or medicated shampoo to address physical symptoms.

Our top pick for the best medicated shampoo for bacterial skin infections is PetMD Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Shampoo. This shampoo features three active ingredients: benzoyl peroxide for its antibacterial and anti-seborrheic action, sulphur for its antiseptic properties, and salicylic acid to lower skin pH.

Free from soap and parabens, this shampoo contains skin moisturizers, deodorizers, and degreasers to remove scales and excess oils from the coat, leaving your cat smelling fresh and clean.

Pros: Three powerful active ingredients, relieves itching and scaling, cleans and degreases the coat, antibacterial and antiseptic properties, soap- and paraben-free

Cons: Some users found the scent too strong, may require repeated applications at first

Buy PetMD Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Shampoo on Amazon for $19.95

Featuring chlorhexidine and ketoconazole as the active ingredients, Curaseb Chlorhexidine Medicated Shampoo tackles a variety of skin problems including yeast infections, ringworm, and pyoderma.

You may not realize it, but Malassezia pachydermatis yeast cells are naturally present on your cat's skin at any given time. Yeast cells tend to occur in small numbers in the ears, around the anus, and in the vaginas of female cats.

When the immune system becomes weakened, those yeast cells can multiply rapidly, causing skin symptoms such as redness, inflammation, itching, and scaling. Yeast infections may also lead to increased oil production in the skin and patches of hair loss or hyperpigmentation.

The ultimate goal of treating a yeast infection is to reduce the number of yeast cells and resolve physical symptoms of the infection. Our pick for the best medicated cat shampoo for yeast infections is Curaseb Chlorhexidine Medicated Shampoo.

This shampoo features several powerful active ingredients, including chlorhexidine and ketoconazole, to treat a broad spectrum of fungal, bacterial, and yeast infections. It also cleans and deodorizes your cat's skin and coat, leaving behind a refreshing cucumber melon scent.

Pros: Chlorhexidine and ketoconazole active ingredients, works against yeast and bacteria, cleans and deodorizes the skin, made in the USA, free from soap and parabens

Cons: May not lather as much as some shampoos, ink on the bottle tends to bleed, contains some artificial fragrance

Buy Curaseb Chlorhexidine Medicated Shampoo on Amazon for $15.95

Not only does Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor kill fleas and ticks on contact, but it contains an insect growth regulator to prevent eggs and larvae from developing for a full 30 days of continuous protection.

Cats are less likely to get Lyme disease than dogs, but they are still susceptible to other tick-borne diseases like cytauxzoonosis. A heavy tick infestation can also lead to blood loss severe enough to cause anemia, particularly in kittens.

Fleas are more of a nuisance than an immediate threat to your cat's health, but they cause intense itching and scratching. If your cat scratches too much, he could damage the skin and open himself to a secondary bacterial infection or other skin problems.

The best way to protect your cat against fleas and ticks is with a topical preventive or flea collar. If your cat already has a flea or tick problem, however, you'll need to bathe him with medicated shampoo to kill the existing fleas or ticks as well as their eggs and larvae.

Our top pick for the best medicated cat shampoo for fleas and ticks is Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor. This shampoo contains active ingredients to kill fleas, ticks, and lice as well as an insect growth regulator to kill eggs and larvae. It also contains natural ingredients to soothe itchy, irritated skin like aloe, lanolin, oatmeal, and coconut extract.

Pros: Works quickly to kill fleas and ticks, contains insect growth regulator to protect against reinfestation for 30 days, cleans and deodorizes the skin and coat, affordable price

Cons: Chemical ingredients may irritate sensitive skin, strong smell may bother some cats, not for kittens under 12 weeks old

Buy Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor on Amazon for $9.79