We would like to send you notifications on the latest Product Review Club offers.

0.5/5
1 review
Wahl No Rinse Waterless Shampoo for Cats (Coconut Lime Verbena) Reviews
#14 in Pet Products

    Reviews and Ratings


    Amazing - 0
    Good - 0
    Average - 0
    Poor - 0
    0.5/5
    Value / Valeur

    Quality / Qualité

    Effectiveness / Efficacité

    Recommended? Fugheddaboutit!
    September 05, 2022

    TOXIC ingredient concern!! Cat runs away from scent

    So, this comes out like a foam mousse. I pumped some into my hand to apply to my cat’s coat, but my cat stopped about three feet from me and then ran into the other room. She wouldn’t let me near her. I washed my hands and was able to carry her back to the kitchen; while restraining her, I applied a small amount to the back of her shoulders and attempted to rub it through her coat. FYI, it doesn’t lather or distribute well past the top surface. To use this effectively as a shampoo, it would require many pumps of product, which means more exposure to whatever is in this. I checked the area once it dried and it seemed to have a filmy residue, plus a strong scent. Fun fact: citrus and several food/health items are incredibly toxic to cats. Common toxins around the home include citrus, peppermint, tea tree, many essential oils, aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, Cloves, grape seed oil, caffeine, lilies, pothos, Chinese evergreen, aloe Vera etc. this product includes aloe vera and unspecified fragrance that could include lime or lemon verbena oil (toxic).
    This is the letter I wrote on Wahl’s contact web form but the site gave an error each time I submitted:
    ***
    Why do you have a “coconut lime verbena” no rinse waterless shampoo for cats when verbena (and citrus of any kind) is toxic to cats and can not be eliminated in the liver?? As this shampoo is waterless and not rinsed off, dried residue will certainly be ingested by the cat (as it grooms by licking its coat). The fragrance choices seem irresponsible, as research would reveal some oils (or hydrosols, preferable to oils) are much safer… rosemary, cedar, chamomile etc. If the fragrance is artificial and has been thoroughly examined and found to not contain any of the feline hepatotoxic compounds (phenyls, terpenes, benzene ring forming etc), then it would be wise to indicate the specific ingredients used (and safety findings) right on the ingredients section of the product label. The product I have in my hand simply lists “fragrance”, and neither coconut or lime verbena can be found in the list. The vague term doesn’t help a pet owner check for toxic ingredients, and the front label suggests that “lime verbena” is in the product (toxic). Your website indicates lemon verbena is in the product, right on the product page advertising. I believe aloe Vera is also toxic to cats, and it is a listed ingredient.
    Before there’s any defensive argument claiming “the amount of the supposedly toxic ingredient is so minuscule in proportion to the final product, it is very unlikely to cause any adverse health effects; toxicity occurs at higher doses than what is in the product”, or something along those lines… let me provide a tidbit of information:
    Unlike humans, and even dogs, cats lack the enzyme necessary to break down these compounds. So instead of being “hard on the liver”, these toxic compounds can not be excreted and are stored in the body. Each exposure is stored, with a cumulative effect. Over time, all of the “insignificant, minuscule, diluted amounts” of these toxins will add up and reach a level that is indeed seriously toxic, causing health problems, liver failure, and death.
    Like heavy metal poisoning in people, repeated exposure to insignificant concentrations can cause chronic poisoning, becoming more toxic with each low-level dose. It’s why regulations and limits on acceptable/safe levels of toxins like lead exist. To reduce long-term accumulation levels, we monitor tap water for lead, replace old plumbing, and change materials used in cookware, paints, housewares, pencils, cosmetics, dentistry etc.
    The toxins accumulate in the same fashion for cats, who don’t get to choose their food, treats or care products, nor get to read the labels and research ingredients.
    Get it together or stick to human hair products.
    ***

    I will attempt to send this again to Wahl… in the meantime I will not use this product.
    I believe dogs can safely break down these ingredients, so perhaps Wahl took their formula for dogs and decided to also market it for cats, not aware that cats and dogs are different in regard to toxins and sensitivities… and forgetting that cats constantly lick themselves to groom - dogs don’t.

    If these ingredients are checked and found to be dog-safe, I may see if any friends would like to take it for their canine pals. Otherwise, it’s garbage.

    Flag as Spam

    These reviews are the subjective opinions of ChickAdvisor members and not of ChickAdvisor Inc.