You just adopted a kitten or have a pet that is constantly out for walks and found yourself saying: my cat has fleas! Well, don't worry too much, because on our site we will teach you how to combat them naturally and with home remedies that will keep this annoying parasite at bay and help your little friend to live happier than ever.
Removing fleas from cats is not such a complicated task. As with any feline condition, it is always better to work on prevention, but if our pet is already infected, these home remedies for fleas in cats, made with ingredients natural and homemade will help you free your little hunter from this nightmare.
The bathroom: drown the fleas
The first home remedy for fleas in cats is undoubtedly a good bath. Cats are extremely clean animals, but once they have been infected with fleas, their tongue baths are not enough to eliminate them.
Homemade flea shampoo for cats
To prepare a good shower to get rid of your pet's fleas you will need:
- Warm water
- Shampoo for babies with sensitive skin
- Lavender, Cintronella or Eucalyptus Oil
- Fine-toothed cat comb
- Patience
Prepare a special flea shampoo by mixing one portion of shampoo with another portion of oil (you can use one or more of the suggested oils). While you're showering your pet, be sure to scrub the rear and tail well, as most of the fleas will be entrenched there. If possible, let the shampoo and oils work for 5-10 minutes. Remember to avoid getting wet or using shampoo on the ears and head.
Then rinse the cat very well and dry it thoroughly with a good towel. This is the best part for them, so do it with lots of love. Finally, finish getting rid of pesky fleas on your little one by brushing all over their body.
To help you with this task, you may find this other article on Tips for bathing a cat with fleas useful.
Important Tips:
Your cat is not a dog, so under no circumstances should you use products designed to control fleas on dogs. Not only will they not be effective, but they can also put your feline companion's he alth at risk.
If it is a kitten or a cat up to 3 months old, do not use the oils. Cats' skin is very sensitive and if they are so small you could create significant skin irritation.
Cats spend most of their time licking and cleaning themselves, so it is very important to thoroughly remove any residual shampoo from their body. Otherwise, in addition to ending the flea problem, your cat could get poisoned.
Not all cats like water, so so that the process is not traumatic for your companion, Do everything with love, patience and care. Do not turn on very powerful jets and control the temperature of the water.
During drying, place the cat on a light-colored or white towel to ensure that any falling fleas are thoroughly killed.
General housekeeping: Clean house=Happy cat
It is no use applying specific medications to our pet or giving it a good flea bath, if we don't keep the house clean. Removing fleas from cats not only involves acting on the animal but also on all the areas in which it lives, at least those over which we have control: our house.
Once our little one has been infected with fleas, they will invade not only his body but also the furniture, the scratching post and all those rooms where your pet spends most of the day. weather. Therefore, once we have acted on our cat, either with a shower or with some medication, the next thing we must do is disinfect our home
Remove cat fleas at home
To carry out this home remedy, natural and effective against fleas in cats you must have on hand:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Washing machine
- White vinegar
- Lots of hot water
Wash all blankets, sheets and clothing in general that have been in contact with your pet. Program the washing machine in a cycle with hot water and if you have a dryer, use it, in this way we make sure to kill the fleas that have camped there.
Other than this, vacuums all furniture, scratching posts or areas where your cat usually lies down. We cannot run the risk of leaving free fleas that could infect our friend again.
Finally, prepare a solution of white vinegar and hot water to clean the entire house. Use this for floors and surfaces like shelves or furniture to get rid of fleas in your home.
What is diatomaceous earth?
Diatomaceous earth, also known as white earth, is a 100% natural and ecological product that is used in the treatment of external parasites in animals. It is a white powder of mineral origin that works as an insecticide.
This product, available in pet and organic stores, adheres to the body of cold-blooded parasites and absorbs their body fluids, killing them immediately.
If you want to use it, you can spread it like talcum powder on the furniture and your pet's scratching post. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then vacuum, repeat the process a couple of times and you're good to go.
Homemade flea spray for cats
Another of the most popular home remedies for fleas in cats is the citrus spray. To do so you will only need a couple of things:
- Water.
- Orange or lemon peel.
- Spray bottle.
As if you were trying to make a tea, bring half a liter of water to a boil with the peels. Leave it on the fire for a few minutes so that the skin of the fruit gives off its aroma and then reserve it aside until it cools completely. Pass the mixture through a strainer and fill the bottle with the sprayer with it.
You can use this citric flea spray directly on your pet or on other contact surfaces such as his toys, his scratching post or the furniture where most like to be.
Cats are not very fond of citrus scents, so bearing in mind that our feline friends have a highly developed sense of smell, it is advisable that you do not overdo the use of this type of sprayer natural flea control.
Another thing you can use is chamomile or chamomile Unlike lemon and orange, this scent does not bother cats and also, if it is a small kitten, instead of using a spray, you can spread a cotton ball with the chamomile solution and apply it gently and lovingly all over the little one's body, especially on the rear parts and the tail.
Feeding: make your cat unappetizing
An effective way to keep parasites like fleas at bay is to control your cat's diet and make its smell and taste unappetizing for them. To achieve this, you can include extra products in their feed rations such as:
- Beer yeast.
- Garlic,
You can use either of these two foods or alternate them, in small amounts, within the rations of wet or normal food that you give your pet. Once a day will be more than enough and the result will be that your cat will not arouse the desire of the fleas, since it is not appetizing for them, they will not attack it.
Toxic Cat Food
Although there are foods and plants that are toxic to cats, neither brewer's yeast nor garlic pose a risk to your pet. In fact, garlic is considered a natural insect repellent, but that is, always watching the quantities… although for it to become toxic, your cat would have to eat about 50 garlic a day.
Last tips to eliminate fleas in cats
To end this article on home remedies for fleas in cats, take note of these final tips:
- Know your enemy: Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of their hosts. A female can lay up to 20 eggs a day so it is better that you know well about the life of fleas before wanting to kill them.
- Attacks fleas from all sides: Remember to do a thorough cleaning, check all your pet's toys and vacuum all the House. When you're done, remove the vacuum bag and freeze it or put it in the sun, extreme temperatures kill these pesky insects.
- Don't let them come from outside: If your cat is 100% a child of the house, nothing happens, but if he likes to go out often you will not be able to prevent it from coming into contact with other animals infested with fleas. It is best to make a protective shield for your adventurous feline. To do it, make a half spray with water and white vinegar, apply it before each walk and that's it.
- Consult the experts: Although you consider that it is an ecological and he althier solution, it is important that you always consult your veterinarian before apply home remedies to kill fleas on your cat.
- Prevention: The best way to prevent your cat from getting fleas focuses on prevention. vet and deworm your cat regularly.
So that it doesn't happen again, we recommend you read this other article on Deworming cats.
