Herbal Flea Treatment for Cats

There are growing concerns about the dangerous effects long term, chemical flea control can have on cats. Because most flea controls are targeted nerve toxins, many pet owners are increasingly relying on natural and herbal remedies for flea control. There are several treatment options for topical application to your cat specifically and for your house.

  1. Herbal Flea Powder

    • Herbal flea powder can be bought from pet stores, or you can make your own at home. Herbal flea powders don't kill fleas, however. They only irritate them enough that they'll jump off your cat, so it's important that you apply it to your cat outside, give time for the fleas to jump off and then bring your cat back inside.

      To make the powder, simply combine equal parts of as many of the following herb dusts as you can locate: rosemary, fennel, wormwood, rue, eucalyptus and yellow dock. Mix the equal parts into a jar.

      Apply sparingly to your cat, being sure to comb it down to the hair roots with your hand or a comb. Be sure to especially hit the high flea concentration areas, like the neck and belly.

    Herbal Flea Collars

    • Most fleas collars use toxic nerve agents to combat fleas. Herbal collars rely on using heavy doses of flea repellent herbs and oils that are much safer for your pet. As with any collar, be sure to get one with a safety release so your cat can get free if the collar catches on something.

      It's important to note that conventional flea collars were never intended to be the only defense against fleas, and neither are herbal ones. They are best used as a part of a larger flea prevention strategy.

    Garlic and Brewer's Yeast

    • Feeding your feline a tablet of brewers yeast every day has been a flea prevention strategy. Pet care professionals are right to stress that this hasn't been proven by any sort of testing or study. However, it has long been a popular home remedy and many people report satisfactory results in flea control. Feed your pet a yeast tablet or some crushed garlic once a day while you are fighting fleas. These are supposed to both make your pet unappealing to fleas and thus prevent them from attacking your pet. Its important to note that these don't actually kill the fleas. Just like flea collars, yeast and garlic should be used as a part of a larger flea prevention strategy.