Dog Flea Shampoo on Cats

If you have one pet with fleas, others in your home could become infested. Although dog flea shampoo can help remove fleas from your dog, it should not be used on your cats.

  1. Dog Flea Shampoos

    • Dog flea shampoos contain insecticidal chemicals that kill the fleas on a dog's coat. The shampoo also washes away any flea dirt on the dog. The shampoo needs to stay on the dog for about 15 minutes to be effective, according to "The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook."

    Risks

    • Dog flea shampoos contain insecticides in greater concentration then are found in flea treatments for cats. A cat washed in dog flea shampoo could be made ill through an overdose of the chemicals. Some dog flea treatments are permethrin-based. This chemical is safe for dogs, but toxic for cats.

    Considerations

    • Even regular dog shampoos can be too harsh for a cat's skin. If you need to treat a cat for fleas, your veterinarian can recommend feline-specific products that will kill the fleas and be safe for your cat, according "The Cat Handbook."