Natural Flea Stoppers for Cats

While there are many chemical- and pesticide-based flea products on the market, they often pose health hazards to pets and humans alike. Many pet owners opt to go the natural way to keep fleas off their cats. All "natural" flea remedies may not be suited to felines, however. Some holistic cures that work on dogs may be toxic to cats, so you must take care when going the natural route to remove fleas from your kitty. Using flea treatments other than insecticides and chemicals can require more diligence on your part. You can't just eliminate the fleas on your pet; for every flea on the cat there can be hundreds in the cat's environment. There are also natural measures you can take to keep your home and yard flea-free.

  1. Regular Grooming

    • Pets in a natural flea-control program require regular grooming. Use a flea comb daily to remove fleas from your cat. Pay particular attention to the belly and the lower back near the base of the tail. Fleas will get caught in the fine teeth of the comb. Dip caught fleas into a bowl of rubbing alcohol and water. Flush down the toilet when finished combing the cat. Place a white sheet or towel under the cat during the combing process. If you observe small, black specs on the towel, it's a sign the cat is heavily infested. This "flea dirt" is actually flea droppings. If you get it wet, it will cause a reddish brown stain because the droppings are really digested blood. If flea dirt is present, bathe the cat in warm water with gentle soap to remove excrement and fleas.

    Home Flea Removal

    • It's critical to keep the cat's environment clean for natural flea control methods to be effective. Fleas will breed in carpet, cracks and crevices in and around floors, drapes, upholstered furniture, pet bedding and even your bedding. Remove flea eggs with frequent vacuuming of carpets, couches and chairs and other floors. Pay particular attention to the perimeter and vacuum well in corners and spaces between floors and walls. Throw away the vacuum cleaner bag in the outside trash immediately after every use. Live fleas and eggs that will eventually hatch are now in the bag so you don't want it in the house. You should vacuum at least once a week during the spring and summer flea season --- more often if you notice fleas on your indoor cat. Wash pet bedding frequently and change and wash your own bedding, too, if the cat has access to your bedroom.

    Diatomaceous Earth

    • Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) can be used to control fleas indoors and out. This all-natural product looks and feels like talcum powder and is harmless to humans and pets. But this potent powder is lethal to insects. Sprinkle DE over carpet, pet bedding, upholstered furniture, curtains and any other areas the cat frequents. Reapply DE to carpets and rugs after vacuuming. DE can also be used in the yard to control flea and ticks outdoors. Coat the lawn with DE. It will need to be reapplied if grass gets wet from sprinklers or rain. DE can also be used as a flea powder and rubbed directly on your cat. Be sure you are using food-grade DE. Other forms of DE, such as pool grade products, can cause respiratory problems and are not effective for insect control.

    Food for Flea Controls

    • Nutrition can play a big role in flea control. Pets that are unhealthy or have weak immune systems are more prone to flea infestation. Severe flea problems in pets signals that they are unhealthy and in need of nutritional support. Feed cats a high-quality natural diet free of additives and preservatives. The diet can be enhanced with herbal multivitamin powder, plant enzymes, Omega 3 fatty acids and probiotics. EarthEasy recommends natural pet supplements available from Nutro and Animal Essentials. Adding one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the cat's water dish daily can also keep fleas away.

    Natural Controls Can Be Hazardous

    • Many dog owners feed their pets garlic and brewers yeast as natural flea controls. Garlic, however, can be toxic to cats and brewers yeast is an ineffective supplement for flea control in cats. Essential oils are also popular natural flea controls and can work well for dogs. But essential oils are extremely hazardous for use on cats. Although initial applications of essential oils may appear to cause no harm to the cat, the oils will eventually build up in the system and become toxic. EarthEasy warns, "Cats should not be given essential oils, period."