Are Baby Wipes Safe for Cats – Grooming & Cleaning

Though cats are self-groomers, they sometimes need a little help keeping clean, especially in the back end. Sometimes cats get messy from a day of rough play, or they naturally shed a lot. This may have you wondering the best way to help your cats stay clean when they can’t do it themselves. Baby wipes may have come to your attention, but are baby wipes safe for cats?

Baby wipes are not safe for cats. They contain harmful chemicals such as Trisclosan, Aloe, and Propylene Glycol  that is poisonous to cats. Baby wipes can also burn your cats skin and cause severe health issues if ingested. 

Wow, not fun right? While baby wipes may seem like an inexpensive alternative, they are actually the worst thing you could ever use on your cat. There are many ingredients in baby wipes that, while they are safe and gentle for your baby, are not safe for your feline companion. Because cats lick themselves to bathe themselves, there is a risk of your cat ingesting some of these chemicals, which could put them at risk for poisoning.

What Ingredients In Baby Wipes Make Them Unsafe To Use On Cats

Baby wipes contain several ingredients that are harmful if ingested.

Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical that can be poisonous. Antibacterial products should not be applied to living tissue. Instead, antiseptics are disinfectants that are safe to apply to living tissue.

They also contain preservatives such as bronopol and DMDM hydantoin that break down and release formaldehyde. Ingestion of formaldehyde can cause serious health problems and even death.

Fragrances, perfumes, and aloe can also cause problems for your cat. Fragrances and perfumes can often contain chemicals that can damage the neurological and endocrine system if ingested. Aloe and many essential oils such as tea tree and lavender are toxic for cats as well.

They also may contain other endocrine and nervous system disrupters such as Triclosan, Phthalates, Phenoxyethanol, and Parabens. Then there are often simple skin irritants such as Polyethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol. What’s particularly dangerous is that all of these can cause serious rashes for your cat. Now, imagine them digesting this and that ingredient is inside of them. It’s just not a good situation and something you as a pet owner need to be mindful of. 

Many baby wipes also contain certain soaps and detergents which are either not appropriate for cats or are harmful if ingested. Soaps can also be dangerous for your cats skin too. Cats and other pets have to maintain certain ph levels. So if they have too much of this wiped away, it can be harmful to them in the long run. 

What Wipes Are Safe For Cats

While baby wipes aren’t safe for cats, some wipes are specially tailored for cats and pets. These wipes are usually natural and fragrance-free. 

Below are some examples of customer favorites:

• Pogi’s Grooming Wipes – These wipes are hypoallergenic and gentle to use on your cat. With a gentle rub you can quickly remove hard to clean stains. Cats love something comfortable on their skin, so it’s important to get a set of wipes like this where you don’t have to approach the skin roughly. 
• Glandex Pet Wipes Cleansing and Deodorizing Anal Gland – These are wipes that can be used anywhere, but they specifically cater to your kitty’s backside. The backside is the most sensitive area for cats, so having wipes that are designed for that area is crucial. 
• Earthbath All-Natural Grooming wipes – These wipes are hypoallergenic and gently wipe away odor-causing particles and dirt. It’s an all-around good pet wipe to use for cats. 

These wipes are made with natural and organic ingredients. Remember, chemicals is the issue here with baby wipes, so these wipes are made free of those harmful ingredients. 

Are Flushable Wipes Safe For Cats

Flushable wipes are not safe for cats. While flushable wipes may be safe for human use, they are not appropriate for cleaning cats. Humans and cats have different pH levels, and flushable wipes can be too acid for cats.

These wipes also often contain preservatives, fragrances, and chemicals that are similarly found in baby wipes. As I mentioned above, because cats bathe themselves by licking themselves, they will be at risk of ingesting these harmful and toxic chemicals which the wipes will leave behind in the form of residue.

Do Baby Wipes Hurt Cats

The baby wipe itself will not hurt your cat, meaning its texture, or even the action of wiping your cat with the wipe, if you are gentle. However, the harm for your cat comes in what is contained in the wipes. 

Just imagine if you were to use baby wipes in your owns eyes. It would probably burn right? It works the same with cats too. 

There are chemicals in the wipes, which can be skin irritants for your cat, especially around its bottom, which is a more sensitive area. Also, baby wipes can hurt cats in the form of poisoning when the chemicals are ingested as your cat self-grooms.

Cats are picky and will lick themselves even after you bathe them, so it’s the same with the wipes too. This is why it’s important to get a set of wipes that don’t contain those chemicals so it is not ingested. 

Are Clorox Wipes Safe for Cats?

Clorox wipes are not safe for cats. This a huge no-no when cleaning your cat and you’re asking for major burns and toxins getting into their system if you use them. 

Clorox wipes are not meant to be used to groom and are, instead, meant to be a household cleaner. It would help if you never used a household cleaner on your cat. If it isn’t safe to wipe your own bottom with, it is not safe to wipe your cat’s bottom or even clean its fur.

Clorox wipes contain chemicals that can cause chemical burns and even poisoning, which can result in death. As previously mentioned, disinfectants are not safe to use on living tissue. Disinfecting chemicals such as phenols are incredibly toxic for cats.

In general if you use Clorox wipes in the home, make sure the entire area of what you wipe is dry before letting your pets around it. Cats are especially curious, and the last thing you want them to do is lick the area around where you just wiped. 

Do I Need To Clean My Kitten’s Bottom

While it isn’t an absolute requirement for kitten ownership, kittens may need a little help with keeping their bottoms clean. Accidents happen in the litter box, and if your pet goes outdoors, chances are their bottom is dirtier than an indoor cat.  

Those with younger kittens will likely need to help them stay clean as they learn their bodies. Kittens are just learning potty habits and aren’t as adept as adult felines at proper potty habits or grooming habits. They are still learning to wait until they are completely finished going potty before leaving the litter box. In addition, they are also still learning to cover their mess completely.

While even adults cats may still need a little help in the back end from time to time, you will find that kittens are a little messier. 

This will especially be true if the kittens are long-haired as feces may have more of a tendency to get stuck in longer fur.

What is the importance of keeping your cat’s bottom clean, you might ask? A dirty cat bottom can carry fecal matter around and deposit it around your house. 

Think about all the places your cat goes and sits; the carpet your baby crawls on, your couch, your bed, or even your table or counter. This is extremely unsanitary, as fecal matter can cause many health problems, from respiratory issues to severe infections.

Not only are these fecal particles unhealthy for humans, but having a dirty bottom is also a sanitary issue for your kitten. 

Also, if your kitten is longhaired, it will eventually mat, causing bacterial and skin issues for your cat.

What are Alternative Ways To Clean My Cat

Though baby wipes, flushable wipes, and Clorox wipes are not appropriate methods to help your cat stay clean, there are many safe alternatives.

One alternative we have already talked about is pet wipes. If you are on the go or want the convenience of a wipe, there are many safe pet wipes available on the market. Pet wipes are usually all-natural and free of fragrances. You want something that is going to be safe if ingested.

Another simple alternative is to use a warm damp washcloth to wipe away dirt and debris around your cat’s bottom. Make sure you use a soft cloth and test the temperature of the water on a sensitive area of your skin, such as your forearm, to make sure not to hurt or burn your cat’s skin. Using a fine-toothed comb around this area as you are doing this can help to loosen up some of that debris.

If you are feeling adventurous or have someone to help you, you can also bathe your cat. Try using only a small tub of water, so your cat is not submerged. Make sure the water is lukewarm. Gently scoop handfuls of water over your cat while someone else holds them. Do not scoop water over their head. For their back end, use a washcloth. Towel dry them and keep them warm when finished.

If you have a long-haired cat, brush it regularly. 

Something else to consider is keeping the area around your cat’s bottom trimmed. This minimizes the amount of debris that could become stuck to its fur.

Sterile eyewash can be used to clean your cat’s eyes and the discharge that can form around them from the tear ducts.

In the end, you do want to make sure that your cat is staying clean for his or her health and yours.