Fleas can be a natural and less pleasant part of a cat‘s life. But luckily, between over-the-counter sprays, powders, and flea collars, there are endless solutions to help eradicate our cat’s flea problem.
Commercial flea medications and treatments can certainly help tame a cat’s flea problem, but cat owners can also take a range of do-it-yourself methods to get rid of these bugs. Here are some home remedies you can try that may help get rid of your cat’s flea problem once and for all.
- Cedar Flakes Fleas are known to hate the smell of cedar flakes—and your cat may not like it too much either. However, you can try laying cedar sheets around your cat’s bedding or outdoors in your garden. You can also spray cedarwood oil on your cat’s hair, as it’s a safe, non-toxic essential oil, and even put a few drops on your cat’s collar to help keep bugs out.
- Lemon One of the most effective natural flea killers is citric acid, which makes lemon juice a widely recognized home remedy for fleas. You can spray your cat’s hair with a solution made by boiling a lemon or two (let the lemon soak for a few hours), then drain the liquid before transferring it to a spray bottle. Gently apply the solution to your cat’s hair—be sure to avoid the cat’s eyes and monitor your pet for redness or other signs of irritation—and repeat the treatment as often as needed until the fleas are completely gone. If your cat hates water, like most cats, you can also try brushing off the fleas with a comb dipped in the solution. If you’re concerned about any remaining fleas and flea eggs, add a glass of lemon juice to the clothing when washing your pet’s bedding to help destroy any remaining bugs.
- Spices You can add some new scents to your cat’s life with natural ingredients you’re likely to find in your kitchen. With a natural compound called carvacrol, oregano oil is very effective at getting rid of fleas; first mix one teaspoon of oregano oil with three teaspoons of olive oil, then apply a small amount of the solution to areas where fleas tend to gather, such as in cats Ears, stomach, tail and neck. Fleas also don’t particularly like rosemary. Try grinding the leaves into a powder and sprinkle them around your cat’s haunt. If your cat won’t allow you to apply a topical treatment to his coat, you can try mixing a small amount (less than a teaspoon) of cumin in your cat’s food. Spices can make your cat’s skin very flea-resistant. If you don’t have these spices on hand, a little table salt will do the trick too, as it will help dehydrate and kill fleas on your cat. Even better, it kills fleas and flea eggs that may be lurking in carpets (just sprinkle it on), or when mixed with water, it can be used to treat hard surfaces.
- Apple Cider Vinegar Another product that fleas don’t like much is apple cider vinegar. While it’s not effective at killing bugs, apple cider vinegar can make fleas jump out of a cat’s body, so you can better address the problem and make it your first personal flea attack. Try mixing apple cider vinegar with water in a 2:1 ratio and spraying it on your cat’s fur. Fleas can be a stubborn bunch, so you may need some home remedies, applying vinegar to your cat’s fur to get rid of the fleas completely. You’ll also want to make sure to vacuum all floors and upholstery (and dispose of the vacuum bag immediately), wash all bedding in hot water, and consider removing pet food bowls, bird feeders, trash cans, and any other sources in your yard food to avoid attracting wild animals that could reinfect your pet.
- Dishwashing detergent Believe it or not, even the mildest dishwashing formula has been shown to be very effective at killing fleas. The dish soap breaks down the flea’s exoskeleton and kills them within minutes, even when diluted in water. Simply wet your cat’s fur—a spray bottle will do—and dab the dish soap on his or her fur before rinsing (focusing on areas where fleas tend to hide). To use dish soap to catch and kill fleas, you can try filling a shallow dish with warm soapy water and placing it near a light source. They are attracted to light and drown in liquid.
- Lavender and Chamomile A gentle way to soothe your pet’s skin — and even help him or her take a nap — lavender is actually a powerful, fast-acting antiflea. In fact, some studies show that formulas containing diluted lavender are as effective at killing fleas as commercial chemical sprays. To get the most out of lavender at home, soak fresh lavender in water overnight, then filter the liquid and spray it on your cat’s hair (no rinsing required). Another compound known for soothing the skin, loose chamomile tea can also be used to attack fleas on feline friends. Simply steep the tea and, after cooling completely, apply the liquid to your cat’s fur. You can repeat both treatments daily as needed.
