Nothing can replace the warm and loved feeling that the purr and affection of a cat can give you. If you are like millions of fellow cat adoring people, your furry companions bring a quality of life that is full of joy, humor and fun. It also comes with some not so attractive things such as fleas. However, if you don’t want to put your little ones in danger by using chemicals, there are natural flea treatments for cats.
These nearly invisible pests invade your pet, their resting places, and your home. Getting rid of these invaders is essential to the health of your family as well as your mouse chaser.
You can easily take control of the situation without the use of harmful chemicals when you follow the suggestions below for 13 natural treatments for getting rid of fleas on cats.
1. Lemon Spray Natural Flea Treatments for Cats
One of the easy to get natural flea treatments for cats is Lemon Spray.
Rid yourself of these invasive pest without harmful chemicals by thinly slicing 2-3 lemons with their rinds, bring to a boil, and allow mixture to steep in the liquid overnight.
Pour this liquid into a clean spray bottle and spread the scent of lemon around your furniture, carpeting, cat’s bedding, and even directly on your cat when the conditions are acceptable to allow for the air drying of your furry friend.
2. Horse Apples
Most people who have ever heard of a horse apple would associate it with the actual droppings of a horse. However, in this case, it is the name of a fruit that naturally repels many different types of insects. The Rapid Home Remedies website reports that this fruit has many different names such as Osage orange, monkey ball, hedge apple, bodock, and bois d’arc with a scientific name of Maclura pomifera, and it belongs to the mulberry family.
You can cut this fruit into sections and leave them in areas around your home’s interior and exterior to provide a natural repellent from fleas. One fruit in each room of your home will last up to three months in a cool or air-conditioned area. It is best to use this fruit when it is young and green to get the most out of this remedy.
Related: 10 Best Cat Foods That You Should Buy Today
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
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This all natural remedy is perfect for a variety of uses, including the repelling of fleas. Mixing a proportion of 2 parts apple cider vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle will provide the persuasion that is necessary to evict the pesky fleas from your cat. A simple spritz with this solution on bedding, furniture, and your cat will cause any fleas present to leave the area.
This method of flea treatment for cats can be repeated every three to four days or as deemed necessary to keep the fleas away. It can also be beneficial if your cat suffers from sensitive skin or dry skin issues.
The vinegar in this mixture acts as a natural remedy for these skin conditions and it will offer relief to your pet from the itching that these conditions cause.
4. Neem Oil Natural Flea Treatments for Cats
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Many of the essential oils that are available for the natural approach to the repelling of pests are not very beneficial or healthy for felines. Neem oil is one of the essential oils that can be safely used to kill and control the fleas that your cat may encounter.
Simply follow the instructions in this Youtube video to learn how to administer this effective and natural treatment to your cat-tastic environment.
5. Diatomaceous Earth or DE
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This natural rock contains micro shards of rock that are able to slice the fleas and cause their demise without harming your pet or their surroundings. It is a powder created from shelled algae that contains very sharp edges that cut the fleas and cause them to dehydrate and die.
Sprinkle this concoction directly on your feline, in carpeting, and on furniture once a week for continued control of fleas.
6. White Vinegar Natural Flea Treatments for Cats
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A mixture of vinegar and water in equal amounts will keep the fleas from attacking your kitty. Place this mixture into a spray bottle and spray directly onto your cat’s bedding, carpeting, furniture, and any other popular feline hangout in your home.
Although your cat may not be happy about it, this spray can be administered directly onto your furry friend without any adverse side effects or harmful chemicals.
This method of keeping fleas off your cat may also be beneficial to those pets that have sensitive skin or allergic tendencies. The vinegar offers a natural soothing quality that your furry buddy will appreciate if they have been suffering from excessive scratching. Vinegar treatments also offer beneficial elements to stave off infection from bites.
7. Cedar Chips
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Fleas are not known to be big fans of various scents including the woody aroma of cedar. Placing cedar chips around your cat’s bedding area will repel the pests from taking over your feline’s space.
Using cedar chips in the exterior landscaping of your home will also help to keep the flea population in check by eliminating the fleas before they can get inside your home and on your cat.
8. Hydrogen Peroxide
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Use this household staple to instantly kill any fleas that may be on your feline. Start this treatment by pouring the hydrogen peroxide onto the neck of your cat while avoiding their face and head; work it in to prevent any fleas from escaping to your kitty’s face while you are giving this treatment.
It is recommended that this process be completed over a rinse tub so that any fleas that come in contact with this solution will die immediately and fall off while being contained in the tub.
9. Salt Water Natural Flea Treatments for Cats
This miracle flea repellent can be used in many different ways for those feline fanciers who live in dry climates. Adding salt to cleaning solutions and washing household surfaces with this concoction will keep fleas away.
Because it is safe for pets and humans, salt can be sprinkled directly on carpeting and bedding areas to control these invasive pests.
10. Flea Combs
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Removing infestations of fleas from your cat can be as easy as a comb, a bowl of soapy water, and some unsuspecting fleas. The teeth on a flea comb are extremely small and give you the ability to remove these pests by combing down to the skin level in areas such as the tail, groin, and under the legs of your cat.
Comb the hair slowly and use the bowl of soapy water to rinse the comb off; the water will rinse the fleas off of the comb and the soap will ensure that they do not escape their demise.
11. Beneficial Nematodes
Many adventurous felines can not be constricted to the confines of your home and long to get outside where they can roam, hunt, explore, and pick up fleas. Introducing a natural enemy of the flea to your yard such as nematodes (a flea larvae loving worm), will help to keep the population of fleas in check.
Simply introducing this pupa predator to your yard, wooded areas, and around your home will help to keep the population of fleas to a minimum.
12. Rosemary Natural Flea Treatments for Cats
Using this fragrant cooking spice will not only rid your kitty of fleas, it will also help to restore hair growth and promote the healing of exposed or irritated skin areas. Dried leaves can be ground into a powder and distributed around the sleep and play area to help repel fleas.
Extreme cases in need of relief may benefit from a soak that is made by boiling rosemary leaves for a half an hour, cooling to a warm temperature, and then soaking your feline in the mixture to take full advantage of the rosemary’s anti-inflammatory agents in this method of flea remedies for cats.
13. Sanitary Environment
Michael Merchant, Ph.D., Urban Entomologist at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service recommends that to help keep the fleas in your life in check, it is important to have a house clean and free of hair and cat dander by vacuuming often.
He states that a good vacuum will eliminate 15-30 percent of fleas and 30-60 percent of flea eggs from carpeting and pet bedding. This will involve regular and thorough vacuuming of your home, furniture, and cat’s bedding areas as well as disposing of the bag outside of your home at least once a week.
Get Rid of Those Pesky Cat Fleas Immediately!
Dealing with outside pests and invasive insects is common struggle for many pet owners and unsuspecting felines as well. When you notice that your furry friend is showing signs of giving fleas a ride around your home, it is time to enlist in a natural and pet friendly way of eliminating this pesky health threat.
Using one or a combination of these natural treatments to eliminate fleas from your life will keep you and your cat free from being a part of the “flea circus” in your home.