Degreasing the Beast: Why Maine Coons Need Special Shampoo#

You just bathed your Maine Coon. You dried him. And yet, his fur is separating into stringy, greasy clumps. He looks like he needs a wash immediately after his wash.

This is because you used the wrong shampoo.

Maine Coons are “Grease Cats.” Their ancestors needed heavy, oily coats to repel water in the snow. Today, that oil (sebum) builds up, especially on the Stud Tail area and behind the ears.

Standard “Oatmeal” or “Gentle” pet shampoos are water-based. They slide right off the grease. To clean a Maine Coon, you need to understand chemistry.

The 3-Step Show Bath#

If you want that fluffy, cloud-like coat you see in photos, you need the “Show Bath” protocol.

Step 1: The Degreaser (Apply DRY) This is the secret. You must apply the degreaser to dry fur. If you wet the fur first, the water creates a barrier, and the degreaser can’t grab the oil.

• Product: Groomer’s Goop (a non-toxic paste) is the industry standard.
• Method: Rub the paste generously into the tail base, behind the ears, and along the spine. Massage it right down to the skin. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

Groomer's Goop Degreaser

The secret weapon. Apply this paste to dry fur before the bath to dissolve stubborn stud tail grease.

Check Price on Amazon →

Step 2: The Rinse and Strip Rinse out the goop. Then, wash with a “Stripping Shampoo” (like a citrus or dish-soap based wash). This removes the residue of the degreaser.

Step 3: The Texturizer (Volume) Now that the hair is squeaky clean, it might be flat. Use a texturizing or volumizing shampoo to fluff it back up. Avoid heavy conditioners, which just add oil back in.

How Often?#

Do not degrease too often, or you will strip the skin and cause dandruff.

• Show Cats: Bathed weekly.
• Pet Cats: Once every 4-8 weeks is usually sufficient.

Spot Cleaning#

If you don’t want to do a full bath, you can “spot degrease” the tail.

• Apply Goop to the tail.
• Rinse the tail only in the sink.
• Dry.

This keeps the grease from transferring to your furniture without the trauma of a full bath.

Conclusion#

If your cat feels tacky or looks stringy, it isn’t dirt—it’s oil. No amount of brushing will fix it. You have to dissolve it. Get the Goop, apply it dry, and reveal the fluff hidden underneath.

Resources & Further Reading#

• Cat Grooming School. (2023). Understanding Sebum and Degreasing.
• CFA. (n.d.). Grooming the Maine Coon for Exhibition.