Once fleas get on your cat, it can be quite a struggle to completely remove them from your cat and home. Many of the products that are on the market contain chemical pesticides that can be very unhealthy for your pet. Natural methods are just as effective in removing fleas from your cat, but you must be diligent and persistent in your treatment.
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Diet and Fleas
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The health of a cat's immune system has a great deal to do with the cat's ability to fight off a flea infestation. A cat's diet should be natural and have the proper balance of vitamins and minerals to ensure a healthy immune system. Not all of the cat foods on the market are nutritionally balanced enough to provide adequate protection from flea infestation.
A healthy cat will not be as prone to flea infestation simply because he does not appeal to fleas. In addition to a healthy diet, supplement your cat's food with a herbal multivitamin and omega 3 additives for cat food. Not only will you prevent flea infestations, but your cat will be much healthier as well.
Add a teaspoon of brewer's yeast to your cat's food every day to control fleas naturally. Some cats and dogs cannot tolerate yeast and may experience a reaction on their skin. Monitor your pet for this reaction and stop using brewer's yeast if it occurs.
Grooming
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Bathing and brushing your cat should be a part of natural flea control. Chemical pesticide shampoos are not necessary. A water bath with a gentle cleanser will remove fleas from your cat. Bathing a cat can be difficult, but if you can at least brush and comb your cat's coat, it will help remove fleas from her body.
Environment
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Fleas make their home on your cat and in the carpet, bedding and curtains in your home as well. Simply cleaning and vacuuming your home will remove flea eggs from your house. Change the vacuum bag immediately after using to keep the fleas from escaping and getting back in your home. Flea infestations occur in both the home and on your cat so it is necessary to treat both the home and the pet to remove fleas.
Wash your cat's bedding frequently to eliminate flea eggs and any adult fleas who are living in the bedding. The wash should drown the fleas, but if there are any survivors to the spin cycle, the dryer will kill them off. Plan to wash your pet's bedding every few days to kill off fleas when you are fighting a flea infestation in your home.
Soft surfaces are the common areas where fleas live. This means that you should thoroughly vacuum your furniture, carpets, curtains, pillows, bedding and any place where your pet spends time. Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag immediately to avoid an infestation of your home all over again.
Flea control on your cat is an ongoing process. You cannot eliminate the fleas that are outside of the home, but you can make it more unlikely that your cat is chosen as a host and carried into your home by following these few steps.
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