Thalia Geiger
If you notice that your cat is excessively scratching, licking, chewing, or biting itself to the point of hair loss and redness, it could be a definite sign that your cat may have fleas. And although it’s one of the worst things you can have in your home (as the fleas will also soon like to feast on you)—thankfully, there are hundreds of over-the-counter products, as well as many different DIY remedies to help you get rid of fleas on your cat.
Even if you are a little hesitant to use those intensely chemical products, there’s no need to worry since there are lots of natural remedies you can use that won’t further harm your cat while you eradicate the fleas from your home. To help, here are a couple of ways you can safely get rid of your cat’s fleas.
Tips You Can Use To Get Rid Of Fleas
First, complete a flea check. Before running to the vet, or spending your money on various treatments, it is always wise to do a flea check to make sure that your hunch is correct. To see if they have already settled on your cat, examine your cat’s fur and look for any signs of movement. If you see any tiny black spots bouncing off of his or her coat, then follow along with the rest of these tips.
You can also check the fur by combing it multiple times a day after sanitizing it in warm, soapy water. This way, you might be able to see fleas or their eggs trapped in the comb, and tending to your cat this way will also help to ease their itching.
Use a flea treatment for your cat. Of course, you can always take your cat to the vet where they might be able to administer a treatment that kills off the fleas in as little as one day, but there are also treatments that you can buy over the counter or online that can be just as effective.
After you find a worthwhile medicine or treatment, you should also look into getting a topical ointment that will prevent the reoccurrence of fleas. This is a great idea in case another flea finds its way onto the coat of your cat.
Give your cat a flea bath. You can use Dawn dish detergent, or you can go out and get a flea shampoo to give your cat a flea bath. But only use an anti-flea shampoo if you aren’t already using a flea prevention method on your cat, such as a medicine or topical ointment.
After, you can use a comb to remove any fleas or flea eggs that you see in your cat’s coat. It’s also recommended to soak the comb in hot, soapy water after each pass to ensure that you are cleansing the area and picking up all the fleas. When doing this, be sure to comb in the direction of hair growth so as not to disturb your cat. For the best results, repeat this several times a day and you’ll be sure to see a change in your cat’s behavior.
Treat your space with some at-home remedies. Even if you don’t have the time or money to get a flea treatment for your cat right away, there are a couple of things you can do to get rid of the presence of fleas in your home.
Cedar chips can work wonders for getting rid of fleas in your home, as fleas are known to hate the smell of it. If you have an outdoor garden where your cat likes to frequent, you can consider putting these throughout your space to ward off any fleas, though it may also disinterest your cat as well. You can even try to use cedar essential oil, as it is a non-toxic oil, and put it on your cat’s collar, or dilute it and make it into an oil spray to apply to your cat’s coat to keep fleas at bay.
Lemons also work wonders for this, and you can make a similar spray for your cat by boiling lemon peels or you can soak a comb in this solution before coming through your cat’s fur. Other solutions such as apple cider vinegar, lavender, or chamomile may also help to rid your cat of fleas and keep them away from your home.
Again, if you let your cat frequent in your own backyard or garden, even dish soap can prove to be a wonderful solution for keeping not only fleas but multiple types of bugs off and away from your plants and outdoor areas.
It’s also safe to use on your cat’s fur, but highly effective in breaking down the flea’s exoskeleton and can kill them in minutes, even after it’s diluted with water. Who would’ve known, right? To further protect your home even further, you can create a flea trap by filling a shallow dish with warm water and some dish soap and placing it in a spot of sunlight. The fleas will be attracted to the light, and will then drown in the liquid.
For more home treatment, cleanse the areas that your cat often spends their time in. Vacuum the floors daily, especially in the areas your cat might sleep, or areas of the rug your cat often rolls onto. Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag afterward by completely sealing it off to ensure that any fleas trapped in it don’t get out. If you have a lot of carpet in your home, you might want to consider steam cleaning the entire area to ensure that you kill any remaining fleas. And don’t forget to clean your pet’s bedding in hot, soapy water at least once every two weeks.
It’s sure to entail a lot of cleaning, but you can never be too proactive when it comes to fleas. They can do so much harm to our pets, as well as ourselves. After following all of these steps, you’ll soon be able to say “sayonara” to those persistent pests.
