Fleas are pests that live on pets, especially cats and dogs, but they can also invade your home. Once one of your pets has a flea problem, the fleas can bite you and anyone else in your home. However, most commercial flea products contain harsh chemicals that you may not want on your pet or yourself. There are several natural flea repellents that you can use instead.
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External Repellents
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Some natural remedies for fleas can be put on topically. These external repellents contain essential oils, which may not be safe for cats.
To make an aromatherapy repellent, mix 10 mL sweet almond oil, 10 drops lavender essential oil and 10 drops cedar wood oil. Using a small dropper, drop one or two drops over your own skin, or rub the drops over your dog's skin where fleas commonly live, such as behind the ears, around the head, around the base of the tail and where the legs meet the body.
To make a natural flea collar, rub one of several oils on a natural rope collar. Eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil or citronella oil will keep fleas far away from your dog.
Internal Repellents
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To keep fleas away from the outside in, simply add certain foods to your or your pet's diet. It's important to note that the foods that repel fleas also contain very small amounts of nutrients that are toxic to dogs and cats. According to Frances Garvin, it is safe to feed your pet very small amounts of these foods, but if you're unsure how much is safe to feed your pet, check with your veterinarian first.
The first repellent is garlic. Fleas will stay away from garlic's strong smell. When you or your pet eats garlic, your skin smells like the garlic to the fleas for several hours after you eat.You can also buy sulfur or black walnut supplements from health food stores, both of which repel fleas. Simply take the supplement to keep fleas away, or break the capsule, pouring the supplement over your pet's food.
Shampoo
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When you notice that you or your pet is suffering from flea bites, it's a good idea to use a shampoo to get rid of the existing fleas. Using an herbal shampoo, you can discourage new fleas from jumping onto you or your pet.
Look for an herbal shampoo that contains pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, juniper or geranium, all of which will help repel fleas. If this shampoo is for your pet, do not buy shampoo that is formulated for people. These shampoos may be too harsh for your pet's skin. There are plenty of herbal shampoos that are specially formulated for dogs or cats at most pet stores.
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