Hempz Petz Cat Shampoo & Conditioner Review (Tested 2024)

Quick Verdict

After six weeks of real baths with my two cats, the Hempz Petz Cat Shampoo & Conditioner earns its place on my shelf — but with one significant caveat. The 2-in-1 formula genuinely delivers on moisture, the citrus scent is genuinely pleasant rather than medicinal, and at 17 oz the bottle outlasts most competitors. If you have a long-haired cat who tolerates baths, or a cat with dry, flaky skin, this is worth trying. If your cat despises strong smells or has documented skin sensitivities, skip this one and look for a fragrance-free alternative. I'd give it a 4.2 out of 5 — a solid performer that doesn't quite justify the dog-focused deshedding marketing it carries.

What Is the Hempz Petz Cat Shampoo & Conditioner?

Let me set the scene. It was a rainy Saturday, my tabby Luna had somehow gotten her paws into the cooking oil under the sink — don't ask me how she opened the child-lock cabinet — and she needed a bath immediately. I had the Hempz Petz 2-in-1 sitting in my grooming drawer, bought originally because it was next-day Prime, and I figured this was its moment.

The bottle describes itself as a "2-in-1 Herbal Shampoo & Conditioner for Cats" enriched with 100% pure hemp seed oil, Shea Butter, and what Hempz calls their "Miracle Oil Blend." It is 100% vegan, free of parabens and gluten, and made in the USA. The scent is a Creamy Orange & Red Raspberry — which sounds more like a smoothie than a pet product, but works surprisingly well.

Here's the thing nobody tells you from the product listing: this bottle is clearly designed to cross-sell across the dog and cat aisle. The deshedding benefit and the "frequently shedding dogs" language on the packaging suggest the formulation skews toward canine grooming realities. That does not make it bad for cats — but it does mean your expectations should be calibrated accordingly.

Key Features

• 2-in-1 formula combines shampoo and conditioner in a single bathing step
• Enriched with 100% pure hemp seed oil and Shea Butter for coat moisturising
• Creamy Orange & Red Raspberry citrus scent — bright, sweet, long-lasting
• 100% vegan formula free of parabens, gluten and harsh sulfates
• 17 oz flip-top bottle — generous size compared to most cat shampoos
• Manufactured in the USA with Hempz's signature Miracle Oil Blend
• Suitable for regular use on cats with normal to dry skin

Hands-On Review

On wash day number one with Luna, I worked the shampoo through her fur and immediately noticed the lather was rich without being soapy — it rinsed clean in about two minutes, which is faster than any oatmeal-based cat shampoo I have used. That alone made me raise an eyebrow. By the time I got to my second cat, Mochi — a senior with a history of dry skin — I was genuinely curious.

What surprised me was the conditioning action. I did not use a separate conditioner. I worked the shampoo through, let it sit for roughly ninety seconds as directed, then rinsed. When I towelled Mochi dry, his fur felt sleeker than it had after previous baths where I had used a dedicated conditioner. The hemp seed oil does the heavy lifting here — it is not a gimmick. I could feel the difference in texture the next day as well, when his coat had a soft, non-greasy sheen rather than the slightly brittle feel he usually has between baths.

The citrus scent is the element I was most nervous about. Cats have far more sensitive noses than we do, and some formulated fragrances can make them recoil or over-groom after a bath. Luna, who tolerates baths but does not love them, did not seem agitated by the smell. Mochi, who is more anxious generally, sniffed once and then settled. I would call the scent noticeable but not aggressive — more like a freshly peeled orange than synthetic air freshener.

Three weeks later, I bathed both cats again. By this point I was testing the deshedding claim. I will be honest: neither cat shed dramatically less after this shampoo. If you have a heavy-shedding long-haired breed like a Maine Coon or Ragdoll, you may see more benefit from the moisturising action over time, but the deshedding marketing is clearly written with dogs in mind. For my short-haired tabbies, the improvement in coat softness was far more noticeable than any reduction in shedding.

The flip-top cap worked well when held upright, though I did notice a small drip after the second use when I stored the bottle on its side in the shower caddy. Nothing catastrophic — just enough to make the outside of the bottle slightly tacky. Wiping it down between uses solved that problem.

Who Should Buy It?

• Cat owners with dry-skinned cats — the hemp seed oil and Shea Butter combination genuinely improves coat texture and reduces flakiness after two to three uses.
• People who want a single-bath grooming routine — the 2-in-1 design saves time, and the conditioning action is real enough that a separate conditioner is unnecessary.
• Vegan and ingredient-conscious shoppers — the paraben-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free配方 will appeal if you read labels before you buy.
• Multi-pet households with both cats and dogs — the shared formulation means one bottle covers both species, though apply it more cautiously on small or senior cats.

Skip this if your cat has diagnosed skin sensitivities, a history of contact dermatitis, or an absolute intolerance for any fragrance in their environment. Also skip if you are looking specifically for a deshedding shampoo — the marketed dog version of this product is a better fit for that need.

Alternatives Worth Considering

• Burt's Bees for Cats Hypoallergenic Shampoo — a safer choice for cats with known skin issues, fragrance-free and made with familiar, gentle ingredients. Less conditioning action than the Hempz, but lower risk of reaction.
• Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Cat Shampoo — the gold standard for sensitive-skin cats. The oatmeal base is tried-and-true and the aloe adds a different kind of moisture without the citrus fragrance. A better first-bath option for anxious or reactive cats.
• TropiClean Oxy Pure Medicated Cat Shampoo — if your primary concern is coat health and you want something closer to a professional-grade formula without a prescription. More targeted at specific skin conditions than general moisturising.

FAQ

Final Verdict

The Hempz Petz Cat Shampoo & Conditioner is a genuinely good product that suffers slightly from marketing that does not quite know which pet it is speaking to. Taken on its own terms — a moisturising, pleasant-smelling, easy-to-use 2-in-1 for cats — it delivers. My cats came out of their baths with softer fur, less visible dry skin, and a clean scent that did not send them running for the nearest hiding spot. The hemp seed oil is doing real work in this formula, and the absence of parabens and harsh sulfates means I felt comfortable using it on my senior cat with compromised skin.