Published Jul 23, 2019
Because they’re fragrance-free, biodegradable, and rugged enough to clean eye boogers, dirt, and even a smeary tush, we recommend Pogi’s Pet Supplies Deodorizing Wipes as the best cat wipes on the market.
In case your cat needs a wipe that caters to specific needs, we’ve also selected the best antiseptic wipes, ear wipes, and more.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Cat Wipes for Dander and Dirt
Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Pogi's Pet Supplies Deodorizing Wipes for Dogs & Cats
- The wipes have just the right moisture balance
- Large size for effective full-body cleaning
- Contains ingredients to support skin and coat health
Earthbath Hypo-Allergenic Grooming Wipes for Cats
- Free of any fragrances that might irritate your cat
- Non-irritating, safe formula
- Contains nourishing ingredients for soft, healthy skin
Mr. Tom’s Magic Towel
- Safe and stress-free way to bathe your cat
- Expands and lathers in water
- pH-balanced to protect your cat’s skin
Burt's Bees Dander Reducing Wipes with Colloidal Oat Flour & Aloe Vera for Cats
- Well-designed package reseals well and keeps the wipes moist
- Helps to reduce flakiness, itching, and dander
- Has a soft, natural honey fragrance that won’t irritate your cat
PetPost Cat Ear Wipes with Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera
- Cats seem to like the soothing ingredients
- Helps to relieve itchiness and irritation
- Affordable
Great Pets Body and Eye Tear Stain Remover Wipes
- Made with high-quality materials and a pina colada scent
- Thick enough to withstand a little scrubbing
- Infused with aloe vera and oatmeal to soothe irritated skin
PetMD Chlorhexidine Antiseptic Wipes
- A good choice for skin infections
- Gentle, non-stinging formula
- Contains aloe and glycerin to soothe and moisturize
In order for a product to make it onto this list, it had to fit our standards of cat wipe excellence.
It must be gentle on the skin and safe for your cat to lick after a wipedown. It can’t be soggy or dry out too fast. Each wipe should be easy to pull out of the dispenser without dragging another one along with it. And of course, it has to get great reviews from the people who use it.
Top 7 Best Cat Wipes on the Market Reviewed
All of the following products are top-rated, safe, and effective cat wipes that help to make grooming a little bit easier for both you and your cat.
#1 Overall Best Cat Wipes: Pogi’s Pet Supplies Deodorizing Wipes for Dogs & Cats
These big, soft wipes stay moist for a long time, are safe and non-irritating, and get great customer reviews. The wipes are made from biodegradable bamboo material and pass Oeko Tex standards. Oeko Tex is a European textile industry organization known for its stringent safety and health standards.
Each wipe is infused with aloe vera, vitamin E, and Hawaiian Awapuhi, ingredients that help to nourish the skin and coat. They’re thick, moist, and big enough for any job. At 8” x 9”, these wipes can easily clean your cat’s entire body or focus on a smaller area.
Most reviewers say that the wipes represent a good mid-point between soggy and dry. Some customers criticize the wipes’ packaging, saying that the resealable opening doesn’t stay sealed. Another said it was hard to pull out the wipes.
What We Liked:
- Large size for effective full-body cleaning
- The wipes have just the right moisture balance
- Contains ingredients to support skin and coat health
- Free of irritating additives
What We Didn’t Like:
- The wipes tend to dry out in the package
#2 Best Cat Wipes—Runner Up: Earthbath Hypo-Allergenic Grooming Wipes for Cats
These Earthbath wipes are made specifically for cats and contain a blend of Hawaiian Awapuhi extract, soothing aloe vera, and vitamin E, all of which help to remove dander and keep your cat’s skin healthy. These ingredients are gentle and safe for cats, even if they lick themselves after a wipe-down. The wipes are unscented, so you don’t have to worry about them irritating your cat’s skin.
Instead of being folded into a flexible package that refuses to stay closed and lets all the moisture out in between cleanings, these wipes come in a plastic box. Though it sounds like a great idea, the box gets mixed reviews.
In theory, it should stay shut until you open it again, but several reviewers say that the top doesn’t stay closed, letting air in to dry out the wipes. One cat guardian going by Westcar said they wrap a rubber band around the box to keep the lid from popping open.
At 8” x 7”, these wipes are generously-sized and big enough for most jobs.
What We Liked:
- Free of any fragrances that might irritate your cat
- Non-irritating, safe formula
- Contains nourishing ingredients for soft, healthy skin
- Big enough for full-body cleaning
What We Didn’t Like:
- The lid tends to pop open, letting the wipes dry out
- Some reviewers said that the wipes had a rough texture
#3 Best For Serious Messes: Mr. Tom’s Magic Towel
If your cat needs a deeper cleanse than a standard pet wipe can provide, try Mr. Tom’s Magic Towel. These compressed shampoo towels moisten easily with water to create the kind of rich shampoo lather you need to give your cat a thorough bath.
Mr. Tom’s Magic Towel is formulated with non-toxic ingredients and is pH-balanced to protect your cat’s sensitive skin. The towels are free from sulfates, parabens, dyes, and alcohol, and they are not tested on animals. Plus, you can feel good about using them because they are eco-friendly and biodegradable. The towels are even infused with a subtle lavender fragrance.
If you’re skeptical that a moist towel can really give your cat a thorough cleanse, prepare to be surprised.
We tested Mr. Tom’s Magic Towel with our cats and found it to be effective, and we’ve gotten positive feedback from our readers, too! It’s a travel-friendly solution and perfect for cats who hate getting bathed but need a thorough clean.
These compressed towels expand to 9.8” x 11.8” when wet.
What We Liked:
- Safe and stress-free way to bathe your cat
- Expands and lathers in water
- pH-balanced to protect your cat’s skin
- Large enough to clean your cat’s whole body
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some dislike the lavender fragrance
#4 Best Dander Reducing Cat Wipes: Burt’s Bees Dander Reducing Wipes with Colloidal Oat Flour & Aloe Vera for Cats
These wipes have a soothing, pH-balanced formula that’s designed to reduce flaking, itchiness, and dandruff. The wipes contain colloidal oat flour and aloe vera to condition and moisturize your cat’s skin.
With no artificial fragrances, dyes, or other harmful ingredients, these wipes are both non-irritating and safe for your cat. The wipes have a natural honey scent that most reviewers like.
The wipes come in a flexible pouch that reseals easily and keeps the wipes moist. The wipes get very positive reviews, with most customers saying they smell good, have just the right moisture balance, and help to reduce their cats’ dander.
What We Liked:
- Well-designed package reseals well and keeps the wipes moist
- Helps to reduce flakiness, itching, and dander
- Has a soft, natural honey fragrance that won’t irritate your cat
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some of the most expensive cat wipes you can buy
#5 Best Cat Ear Cleaning Wipes: PetPost Cat Ear Wipes with Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera
If your cat has recurring ear infections, wax buildup, or mites, these wipes can help to calm irritation and keep her ears clean.
The cotton pads contain disodium coco-glucoside citrate, a mild surfactant that helps to clear wax and buildup, aloe as a soothing agent, coconut oil as a mild antibacterial, and phenoxyethanol as a germicide and preservative. In addition to active ingredients, the pads contain a synthetic fragrance, which could irritate some cats and people.
Most reviewers say that the pads helped to relieve their cats’ ear infections and irritation. Chewy user Ninekittiesstrong says they “…decided to give them a try when two of my kitties began shaking their heads.
They wouldn’t let me near their ears before and didn’t like these the very first time. Now my oldest sits and waits for me. He loves it and begins purring the second I start wiping.
He had a lot of gunk at first but we’re doing it once a week now and his ears are much cleaner. The other kitty tolerates it but I won’t go so far as to say she likes it. They smell nice and work great.”
A few reviewers say that the pads are a little over-saturated. Most don’t think the wetness is a dealbreaker, but one reviewer said the wipes left residue on their cat’s ears.
What We Liked:
- Cats seem to like the soothing ingredients
- Helps to relieve itchiness and irritation
- Affordable
What We Didn’t Like:
- Won’t solve an ear infection or mite infestation
- Contains an added fragrance
#6 Best for Tear Stains: Great Pets Body and Eye Tear Stain Remover Wipes
Eye infections are very common in cats but so is a condition that creates eye discharge but has nothing to do with an infection: epiphora. Epiphora is characterized by excessive tear production that typically manifests as dampness around the eyes and reddish-brown staining.
Tear stains are more noticeable in light-colored cats and they’re more common in certain breeds like Persians, Himalayans, and other short-faced cats. It’s generally not dangerous to your cat’s health, but it can be unsightly. One of the simplest ways to remove cat tear stains is with pet wipes like these.
Best Pets’ body and eye tear stain remover wipes are formulated with aloe vera and oatmeal to soothe the skin while cleansing. They’re thick enough to get the job done and made from high-quality materials which makes them easy to use.
Some customers found the wipes a little too sudsy for their liking, and it’s worth noting that these wipes do contain some added fragrance. For the most part, however, cat owners don’t seem to mind the scent, and many have found that the wipes helped with their cat’s tear stains.
What We Liked:
- Made with high-quality materials and a pina colada scent
- Thick enough to withstand a little scrubbing
- Infused with aloe vera and oatmeal to soothe irritated skin
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains some added fragrance
- May be a little too wet and sudsy for some applications
#7 Best Antiseptic Wipes for Cats: PetMD Chlorhexidine Antiseptic Wipes
Antiseptic wipes aren’t the right choice for every situation, but if your cat has a skin infection, they’re exactly what you need to get things under control. These wipes contain chlorhexidine and ketoconazole, trusted antiseptics that can help to alleviate ringworm, hot spots, yeast infections, and even acne.
In addition to active ingredients, the wipes contain a little aloe and glycerin to soothe and moisturize your cat’s skin.
Most reviews are positive, but some users complain that the wipes are too thin and small to cover large problem areas. These wipes are scented, so they might irritate some cats.
What We Liked:
- A good choice for skin infections
- Gentle, non-stinging formula
- Contains aloe and glycerin to soothe and moisturize
What We Didn’t Like:
- Wipes are small and fragile
- Not appropriate for cats with open wounds
- Scented formula may irritate some cats
Cat Wipes vs. Baby Wipes—Does Your Cat Really Need Special Wipes?
The biggest differences between baby wipes and cat wipes are scent, additives, and cost.
In most cases, baby wipes are just as effective as cat wipes and a little bit cheaper. A pack of unscented baby wipes works as well as most cat wipes on the market. They’re perfect for removing gunk around your cat’s eyes, removing dirt on her coat, or wiping down dirty paws after a trip outside.
Because people will pay more for anything that has the word “pet” on it, most baby wipes cost slightly less than equal or inferior products sold for cats.
For example, bloom BABY’s unscented water-based baby wipes are some of the most expensive wipes on the market. If you buy them on Amazon, the cost breaks down to $0.04 per wipe. Pogi’s Pet Supplies Deodorizing Wipes—our top pick for the best cat wipes—cost over twice as much at $0.09 per wipe.
Is the Pogi’s wipe a better product or even better-suited to cats? Both the bloom BABY wipes and the Pogi’s Pet Supplies wipes are simple, safe products that, well, wipe things. There is no species-specific formulation setting one apart from the other. It’s a matter of preference and price.
Some baby wipes contain pH balancers, antimicrobials, moisturizers, and sometimes, fragrances, that cats don’t need or benefit from.
If you’re going to use wipes on a regular basis, you might want to pick up a container of cat-specific wipes. Humans have more acidic skin than cats do and most baby wipes contain citric acid to keep baby’s skin pH balance in check. Overusing baby wipes could disrupt your cat’s natural balance.
Certain wipes are better for cats with more nuanced needs. If you need to clean a hot spot, remove dander, or nourish your cat’s coat, pet-specific products are ideal.
Hi Mallory, Thank you for the blog post. I will your recommended “Pogi’s Pet Supplies Deodorizing Wipes”. It has been a concern of mine that my cats tend to play a lot, and often times they get dirty. Not dirty enough for them to go straight to the shower. So finding the best wipe to use, that is pet friendly and not toxic to them is just awesome.
Hello there, Cats Meowing! Thanks for your feedback—it’s good to hear that you found the article helpful.
– Mallory
I’m surprised you included so many products containing aloe, as it is toxic to cats
The toxic part of the aloe is the latex, not the gel held within the leaves. These products only contain aloe vera gel, which is safe for cats.