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Naturally Prevent and Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs & Cats

April 28, 2018 By sharib 33 Comments

Naturally Prevent and Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs & Cats

Your pets can get bugged by fleas often and they need your attention and care to get rid of these fleas. While there are a whole lot of medicines for your dogs and cats, they are not safe for them. Chemicals in these flea preventives may prevent fleas but they may also have side effects. Why not apply some natural home remedies to prevent fleas and give relief to your dogs and cats.

Remedies to Getting Rid of Fleas on Dogs

1. Use Essential Oils on Dog Collars for Flea Control

Essential oils can effectively repel fleas. We humans enjoy the aroma of essential oils but pests and insects cannot stand these smells. You just need an essential oil or a blend of some of such oils. Few drops of them on your dog collar and you don’t have to worry about your pet. Here’s a list of essential oils that can get your loved dog rid of fleas.

List of essential oils for dog collar to prevent fleas

  • Eucalyptus
  • Peppermint
  • Pennyroyal
  • Cedarwood
  • Citronella
  • Lavender
  • White Thyme
  • Basil
  • Tea Tree
  • Clove
  • Lemon

Do this:

  • Take the dog collar. This can be a stylish store-bought collar or a bandanna or even a shoelace.
  • Pour 2-3 drops of one of the essential oils from the list above. If you worry about harming your dog with such strong oils, you may dilute the oil by mixing it with 2-3 tablespoons of water.
  • It will be more beneficial if you mix 3-4 oils together and then pour 2-3 drops of such an oil blend on your dog’s collar. Make a blend that soothes your nerve.
  • Rub the oil drops into the collar.
  • Now tie this collar around the neck of your dog.
  • You should again apply oil or the oil blend within a week’s time.

Naturally Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs

2. Make Flea Spray to Keep Fleas Away from Dogs

Sprays are yet another effective way to prevent flea from disturbing and harming your dogs. In fact, these flea sprays can have multiple uses. While you can always spray them on your dog for a nice glow along with preventing fleas, you may use these solutions as collar dips or just spritz the collar with it. Here’s the recipe for an excellent flea spray for your dog.

Get this:

  • • Vinegar or Apple cider vinegar- 1 cup
  • • Water- 1 liter
  • • lavender or cedarwood oil (or any other essential oil of your choice)- 2-3 drops
  • • Spray bottle- 1

Do this:

  • Add vinegar and oil to water and mix well.
  • Fill this solution in the spray bottle.
  • Now spray this solution on to your dog’s body.
  • Do not spray near the face and take care so that the solution doesn’t go into eyes or ears. For these areas, you may dampen a clean cloth with the prepared solution and wipe off with it.
  • Spray the solution on your pet’s bedding and its favorite places where it loves to lie down.

Remedies to Get Rid of Fleas on Cats

1. Use Neem Oil as Flea Remedy for Cats

As cats always lick themselves, it is of great importance that you use such things on them for flea control that remain safe for consumption. Neem is one herb which has been safely used since ancient times, not only for humans but for pets too. However, neem is one of the worst enemies for pests and insects including fleas and ticks. Here are some ways how you can use neem oil to protect cats against fleas.

1st way to use neem oil for cats to prevent fleas: Homemade neem shampoo

Get this:

  • Neem oil- 1-5 ml (1/5 to 1 tsp)
  • Mild pet shampoo- ½ to 1 cup

Do this:

  • When your cat is infested with fleas, you may use higher amount (about 1 tsp) of neem oil to shampoo but keep the ratio low when you do it just for preventing fleas.
  • Add neem oil with shampoo.
  • Wash your cat with this shampoo.
  • Rinse out the shampoo properly.
  • Do it once a week.

2nd way to use neem oil for cats to prevent fleas: Neem leaf spray

Get this:

  • Fresh or dried neem leaves- 1 Kg
  • Water- 5 liters
  • Cheesecloth
  • Filter paper/Coffee filter
  • Spray bottle (optional)

Do this:

  • Put the neem leaves in a big bowl.
  • Pour the water over it.
  • Cover and let it soak overnight.
  • Next day, filter the water twice- once with cheesecloth and then with filter paper or coffee filter.
  • This will give you a clear neem tea.
  • If you want to use this neem as a spray, fill it in the spray bottle and mist your cat.
  • You may also dip a cloth in this neem tea and then rub your cat’s body with this dampened cloth.
  • If your cat loves to stay outdoors, use this neem remedy twice a week. If not, once a week will also do.

Cats are too sensitive to smells. While neem oil may not be put into the category of aromatic essential oils, your cat may not like to have even this oil on itself. In such a case, you can use the next remedy which uses diatomaceous earth.

Naturally Get Rid of Fleas

2. Use Diatomaceous Earth to Get Rid of Cats from Fleas

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is 100 percent natural as they are the fossilized remains of algae. While you and your pet will not be harmed by this fine powder, the fleas would be. The fleas cant’s stand the sharp edges of DE which is made of silica and which cuts through their hard shell. Fleas are then killed due to utter dehydration. However, you should always buy food grade diatomaceous earth in case your cute cat licks it off its own body. Those used for pools are not safe for internal consumption. You can treat your carpets, furniture etc. with this DE and then vacuum after leaving it for 12-48 hours. Here’s what else you must do with diatomaceous earth to prevent fleas from around your cat.

Get this:

  • Food grade diatomaceous earth
  • Gloves
  • Face Mask or cloth to cover your mouth

Do this:

  • Wear the face mask or cover your mouth and nose with the cloth. Fine particles of DE can irritate your throat if inhaled.
  • Wear the gloves.
  • Now take some diatomaceous earth in your hand and rub the palms together.
  • Now rub your DE smeared hands onto the fur of your cat. Avoid the area close to the nose of the cat for the same purpose as you have worn a mask.
  • For the first few days, rub your cat’s fur with DE every day and then make it a weekly ritual for the whole fleas season.

Filed Under: Home Remedies Tagged With: Fleas, Insect

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Irene Marie Balconi says

    October 22, 2014 at 5:33 am

    We are trying the Lavender oil!

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  2. Donna Davis says

    November 5, 2014 at 4:29 am

    I'm impressed I'm always having trouble with fleas now after reading all the remedies I can use I'm getting excited to which one I want to try first and hopefully it works thank u for shareing

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  3. Pet Protector Australia says

    November 17, 2014 at 8:25 pm

    checkout our FB page for non-toxic flea and tick discs, we are also advocates of using essential oils

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  4. Jenni Taylor says

    January 26, 2015 at 10:53 pm

    Cats livers cannot metabolize many of the constitutes in essential oils.

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  5. Lucynda Hollowoa-Riley says

    April 11, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    I have a kitty that's very sensitive to every commercial flea and tick treatment I have tried. Friends of mine have had a lot of success with a few drops of lavender oil between the shoulder blades . . . Since my step daughter is allergic to Lavender I am still on the hunt. I can't very well put Lavender oil on her favorite kitty and then have her snuggle with her.

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  6. Wendy Urioste says

    July 12, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    Yea tree oil is very bad for your pets Google before using

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  7. Melanie Gibson says

    September 8, 2015 at 6:53 am

    Any essential oils are toxic to cats. They can't process it through their liver & it will kill them.

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  8. Julie Nease says

    September 11, 2015 at 3:44 am

    NO tea tree oil for dogs!!

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  9. Dianne Marben says

    September 22, 2015 at 3:19 am

    You stated, "If you worry about harming your dog with such strong oils, you may dilute the oil by mixing it with 2-3 tablespoons of water."
    Water does not dilute pure essential oils. Water only intensifies an oil's "heat." For example, if you put a drop of 100% pure essential oregano oil on your tongue, it will burn like fire. If you try to relieve the pain by rinsing your mouth with water, you will only intensify the heat. You need to dilute with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil.

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  10. Julie Kellogg says

    October 2, 2015 at 3:48 pm

    I read that and immediately scrolled down to inform them of the same thing! 🙂

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  11. Julie Kellogg says

    October 2, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    Melanie Gibson What!? I've never heard this. Perhaps if it's not therapeutic grade oils because you have no idea what else they put in it. You must buy reputable oils that are 100% and generally they aren't the cheap things you buy in health food stores. Even when they say 100%, they aren't. They only have to have one drop of actual EO in it to call it that because that ONE drop IS 100%. That's the downfall of no real regulations. I have a 21 year old cat who was having proplems walking and no longer attempted to jump up on the couch. I gave him a raindrop treatment (used with coconut oil) every day and after three days he was walking normal and jumped up on my desk while I was working. I backed off to every couple days and am now at once a week and he's doing amazingly!

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  12. Julie Kellogg says

    October 2, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    (I'm not talking about just this page alone.) It amazes me how many people say that using essential oils on pets isn't safe, yet billions of dollars are spent on flea sprays, powders, and topical chemicals every year.

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  13. Lucynda Hollowoa-Riley says

    October 2, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    I've been using Eucalyptus oil on both cats and my dog all summer. A line down my dogs spine once a week and a single drop on the back on my cats neck every few days. No fleas, their all healthy, and it doesn't n ask e them sick for 3 days like the other stuff does. The cat that had the most sensitive is actually very fat and playful all the time. No ticks either and ticks are a major problem here

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  14. Melissa Goellner says

    October 17, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    According to one of the top vets in the nation who first started making oils a part of her vet care she says yes dilute with water for animals.

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  15. Donna Varnes says

    October 22, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    if the oil is distilled and pure therapeutic grade like Young living Essential oils the part that causes allergies is distilled out–should be fine–other oils sometimes have trace chemicals used to extract more oil

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  16. Carmon M. Gerber Kalthoum says

    November 11, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    I believe cats and dogs are different than humans in sensing heat temperatures and food spices. I know felines have a higher heat tolerance than us.

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  17. Judy Aubin says

    November 21, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    is your husband a dog or a cat?

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  18. Rapid Home Remedies says

    December 9, 2015 at 5:54 am

    A diluted form of tea tree oil along with other essential oil works well 🙂

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  19. Rapid Home Remedies says

    December 9, 2015 at 5:55 am

    Direct application of tea tree oil is not good for pets. But you can use it with the combination of other essential oil and dilute it properly. It works!!

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  20. Christine Rome says

    December 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    Will the DE also get rid of worms when the cats lick it off their body?

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  21. Kimberly Crosby Peters says

    May 13, 2016 at 9:06 am

    I have used it on my dog most of his life and my vet has told me to continue. My dog is 217 lbs. The tea tree is diluted and it works for his skin issue.

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  22. Tina Schaefer says

    May 14, 2016 at 7:26 pm

    Does tree tea oil keep fleas away

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  23. Debi Samuels says

    May 16, 2016 at 11:35 pm

    Toxic to cats. so are most essential oils.

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  24. Grace DeAmaral says

    May 18, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    Debi Samuels lavender oil is deadly for cats..not most oils r..most u can use. Tea tree I don't think is good for fleas..lemon u can use ..but on their collars..for flea prevention. Look up essential oils and cats

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  25. Heather Bare says

    May 19, 2016 at 4:56 pm

    Tea tree oil is TOXIC to dogs and cats!

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  26. Shari Nicole says

    June 20, 2016 at 6:17 pm

    No it isn't. My dog is alive & well & flea flee for the past five years. For cats, that's another story.

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  27. Shari Nicole says

    June 20, 2016 at 6:17 pm

    No it isn't. My dog is alive & well & flea flee for the past five years. For cats, that's another story.

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  28. Heather Bare says

    June 20, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    Good to know. 🙂 I've been using lavender and palo santo on the dog and it seems to work well.

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  29. Amy Fortner says

    July 11, 2016 at 4:54 am

    Shari Nicole how much of the tea tree oil do I use and how do I go about it?

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  30. Jackie Atkins says

    July 16, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    Does the diatomaceous earth work on dogs as well as cats.
    Jackie Atkins

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  31. Crystal Gail says

    July 22, 2016 at 1:53 pm

    I think tea tree oil is only toxic in high levels. I mix a little with my dogs shampoo and he is fine.

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  32. Angela Hixson says

    July 22, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    Can Apple Cider vinegar and water be used for cats as well?

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  33. Cindy Harp-Jessup says

    August 1, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    Shari Nicole
    I have tea tree liquid soap. I have used full strength on my cats. Heals sores and kills fleas. But it can sting if sore are big. So you can dilute with water or have them wet down real good. Rinse rinse rinse rinse rinse. Very important!

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