Fleas are a pet’s greatest enemy. When I say pets, I mean cats and dogs. For the sake of cat owners, I’ll be dedicating this article to home remedies for fleas on cats.
Why Home Remedies?
There are many ways to tackle flea infestation.
Popular methods used on cats include commercial flea sprays, powders, and flea collars. While these can also prove to be effective, they may cause your cat some unpleasant reactions.
A home remedy tackles the same problem, the major difference being that the flea treatment is specific to the unique situation of your cat.
Below, I will list out some of its advantages.
Advantages Of Home Remedies For Fleas On Cats
Here are some good reasons why you may prefer a home remedy to an over-the-counter solution.
- Your Treatment Is Customized To Your Cat’s Tolerances
Who knows your cat better than you do? No one. Taking this into consideration, you will have a better idea of what kind of flea treatment you should administer to your cat, according to its likes and dislikes.
Your cat may not like certain substances included in a flea powder or spray. Unfortunately, these products are not made with your cat’s specific needs in mind.
Using home remedies to treat fleas will give you the chance to apply treatment using only substances and methods your cat can tolerate.
- They Could Cost Less
Flea treatment products are relatively more expensive when compared to using home remedies.
Quality flea sprays and powders don’t come cheap, and you may need to use them continuously to treat the fleas. Consider the accumulated costs.
- They Are Purely Organic
Home treatments are usually done with non-toxic organic materials that will not harm your cat or the environment.
A commercial flea spray for instance, if left carelessly around the house could be dangerous around children, as they can spray it into their mouths and ingest the content.
Cat Flea Home Treatment Remedies You Can Try
There are several home remedies you can use to rid your cats of fleas. These mainly involve the use of organic products and substances.
Remember to first have a conversation with your veterinarian regarding your plan to disinfest your cats of fleas. Your vet will give you some valuable advice on the substances you can and cannot use.
Try these remedies
Cedar Chips
In case you didn’t know, fleas detest the smell of cedar chips, your cat may not like it either, but it would be more tolerant than the fleas.
To use cedar chips to repel fleas, spread some cedar chips around the area where your cat sleeps and spends the most time.
You can also spread some cedar chips around your garden floor to chase the fleas away and keep them from latching on to your cats.
Besides cedar chips, you can also use cedar oil to repel fleas. Apply some cedar oil on your cat’s fur to keep fleas away, you can also rub some cedar oil on your cat’s collar.
Lemons
Citric acid is very effective against fleas it kills them moments after they make contact with it.
Lemons are citrus fruits that have a high citric acid content. You can squeeze some lemon juice and apply it to the fur of your cat.
You can also make a lemon solution using boiling water. Cut a few pieces of lemon into a pot of water and boil it until it steams. Allow it to cool off and pour it into a spray bottle and spray all over your cat’s fur.
As you spray, you can use your other hand to spread the fur apart so the lemon solution can sink in deeper and get to the skin.
You can also spray the solution around your cat’s sleeping area for better results.
Repeat this process each day until the fleas are completely gone.
Most cats hate water, so using a solution could be tasking. There’s a way around this though, you can simply dip a comb into the solution and gently comb your cat’s fur.
Start from the top of its head and work your way slowly to the back and tail area. You should also comb around the belly area, by each side, and under the belly.
To keep your cat calm as you comb, you can pet it and call out its name. Doing this will keep it relaxed during combing.
Keep in mind that there could be leftover fleas on your cat’s bedding. After you have treated your cat with the lemon solution, you can wash the bedding using the same solution.
Dip the bedding into some soapy water and add an adequate amount of pure lemon juice into it. Allow it to soak for some time before pulling it out to dry.
You should also shake the bedding off thoroughly before you spread it and as you remove it from the line.
A deep soak will also drown the fleas, so it’s a good approach.
Use Spices
Oregano oil is another substance you can use to fight fleas. You can mix a teaspoon of oregano oil with 3 to 4 teaspoons of olive oil and apply it across your cat’s fur.
Concentrate your application around the areas of your cat’s body where the fleas love hanging out the most. These areas include your cat’s ears, neck, tail, and stomach.
These oils can be safely ingested by cats, so if it doesn’t allow you to rub it across its skin, then you can mix a teaspoon of Cumin into its food.
This spice will make your cat’s skin unappealing to the fleas and they will leave.
Use Table Salt
Just in case you don’t have any of the above-mentioned spices at home, then consider using table salt. Salt dehydrates a lot of insects, including fleas.
You can sprinkle adequate amounts on your cat’s sleeping mat or blanket to repel the fleas. When they come in contact with the salt, they will become dehydrated and they will die.
The good thing about salt is that it can be dissolved and used in a spray bottle. Pour two teaspoons of salt into some water and allow it to dissolve. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray it across your cat’s sleeping area.
You can also spray small amounts on your cat’s fur. Cats don’t like water, but if you can manage to get it still enough for a spray down, then it’ll thank you later.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is something you can easily get in stores. The good news is, fleas hate it, so why not use it against them.
It won’t kill the fleas, but it will cause them to “flee” (no pun intended) from your cat’s fur.
You can mix apple cider vinegar with water in a 2:1 ratio, then spray it over your cat’s fur.
Once again, cats aren’t big fans of water, so you need to spray gently in small amounts so they don’t feel the wetness all at once. As suggested earlier, you can dip a comb into the solution and gently use it on their fur.
You can do this daily until the fleas are completely gone.
Vacuum The Floors And Your Cat’s Sleeping Area
Fleas are skilled jumpers and can leap out of your cat’s fur if it scratches. This means there will be some fleas scattered across your floors.
You can develop a habit of vacuuming your cat’s sleeping area regularly to pick up loose fleas on the floor or bedding. You’ll be surprised how many fleas you can pick up by doing this.
This may not eliminate the fleas, but it will go a long way in reducing their population
Use Dish Soap
Dish soap can kill fleas in minutes. It works by breaking down the flea’s external skeleton and they will be dead within minutes.
The good news is, the dish soap is still effective even if it has been diluted in water.
Pour some dish soap into a plastic bowl and add some water to it. Shake thoroughly until it is well blended in. You can then sprinkle some around your rug, garden, living room floors, and your cat’s sleeping area.
If you can, sprinkle some across your cat’s fur to kill the fleas.
Another technique you can use to apply the dish soap solution to your cat’s body is to rub it on your hands and gently stroke your cat’s fur.
This can work because your cat would enjoy the cuddle and you’ll be applying the solution at the same time.
As you stroke, its fur, make sure you part the fur so that the rub can go in deep and reach its skin.
General Cleanliness & Yard Maintenance
Maintaining a clean home and yard can help keep fleas away from your yard and your cat.
Always vacuum your carpet or rugs and use pest repelling substances on your lawn.
Conclusion
I trust this article on home remedies for fleas on cats has been helpful.