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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters opt for a 32-oz bottle of natural flea killer instead of a synthetic-based one, we'll keep the weight of 2,000 cats in potentially bad chems outta circulation.
COCKTAIL FACT
In 2003, a court in Liverpool, England, discharged a jury member after fellow jurors complained about the fleas in his beard.
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home › tip library › Natural Flea Control
Are fleas leaving your pet with a biting hangover?
The Bite
We've got the cure for the morning after. Natural flea controllers are better for pets and the planet, and work just as well as the noxious stuff when applied right.The Benefits
- Watching the fleas flee. Our treatment picks are supereffective.
- Mad props from Mama Earth. Less than 0.1% of pesticides reach the target pests, so more than 99% is left to impact the environment.
- A healthier pooch or kitten. Some conventional flea control products use pyrethroids, known brain toxins.
Personally Speaking
Jen has so far avoided having a flea problem with her Montana menagerie by giving all of them baths (yes, the cats too...but not the chickens).Wanna Try?
- Castor & Pollux Pet Works Play Dead Herbal Collar - essential oils repel fleas for about 3 months ($5).
- Grub-Away Nematodes North - beneficial nematode worms nix flea larvae in your garden ($18).
- Flea Away Natural Flea Powder - a sprinkle of this dried algae kills fleas effectively, on pets and around your home ($15).
- GripSoft Flea Comb - bathing and flea-combing your pet regularly can prevent the problem ($8).
- Nutrition Now Flea-D - adding garlic and vitamin B to your pet's diet wards off fleas from the inside out but takes a few weeks to work ($7).
Jul 23,2007
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Shoo, Flea, Shoo
Years ago, I babysat our family cat Thumper-an outdoor, mountain cat-in my little San Francisco apartment. With the help of two annoying Norweigian houseguests, Thumper escaped from the apartment, and only after several days of tears and searching did I find him. Two days after his return, the apartment was thick with tiny little jumping, biting bugs. Ugh! Desperate, and with itchy red calves and a sense of general repulsion, I resorted to a no-doubt very unnatural fumigating solution...and despite carpet cleanings, and scrubbings, and vacuuming galore, it never really got back to feeling like home sweet home.
But least Thumper got a non-toxic bath and flea-comb treatment. Not. Fun. For. Either. Of. Us. But in the end, his soft furry bod was a lot more cuddle-up-able than the fumigated carpet.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to admire Nora's talent...
But least Thumper got a non-toxic bath and flea-comb treatment. Not. Fun. For. Either. Of. Us. But in the end, his soft furry bod was a lot more cuddle-up-able than the fumigated carpet.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to admire Nora's talent...
Biter Comments...
Do you know of any natural tick repellants? I live in New England and Lyme Disease is a big concern. Although I'd prefer to use a natural product on my cats and dogs I will not let them outside without a tick repellant, it would put everyone in my family at risk for Lyme Disease (humans and pets).
bug off garlic is the only thing that works naturally all the rest of products are a waste of time and a mess for your pet...
About 7 years ago, our cats had fleas and our vet gave me one of the conventional treatments. The instructions were that I was to wear gloves and avoid all contact with it myself, and yet I was to rub it into the glandular system of my 9 pound cat. I couldn't bring myself to do it! Instead, I searched and found "Fleabusters", and had them treat our house based on their telling us their product was completely non-toxic. Our local natural pet store also sells their product (which you can apply yourself) and vouched for its safety. What I personally can vouch for is that the treatment worked fantastically. We had the same carpeting for several years after the treatment, and have not had one flea since, and we've once never treated our cats with any of those toxic conventional treatments.
Advising pet owners to feed their pets garlic as a safe flea preventative is very dangerous. Garlic and onion in dogs has been know to cause gastric enteritis and in dogs and cats (cats are more sensitive) can cause immune mediated anemia.
I know we all share a goal to save the environment but putting your pets at risk is not the way to do it.
Also many essential oils(especially tea tree) can cause neurological issues and seizures in cats.
There is a book on natural pet health care that I have found indespensable, Dr. Pitcairn's guide to natural pet care (or something like that. It has many fantastic and completely natural treatments. The one that has always worked for me for flea prevention (I don't think this will help if you have a full-fledged infestation) is this: Thinly slice 2-3 lemons and boil them in a large pot of water. Let cool and after bathing your dog as usual use as a rinse. It leaves the fur nice and soft and keeps the pests away. It also helps to regularly feed your pet brewers yeast and garlc supplements. They love em, fleas hate em.
Bug off garlic is also given to horses and years of use with no problems, no ticks, no fleas, and because of this no skin problems... Can read about it in Springtimeinc.com and yes, Dr. Pitcairn's book is excellent! Our vet is also aware of bug off garlic... I am just posting information and opinions, not looking to argue. I just know this is what my girls have been on and they are nearing 7 & 8 years old...
I understand the desire to go natural, but I highly recommend Frontline Plus for control of fleas and ticks.
http://frontline.us.merial.com/fleas/index.asp
We use it on our dogs and they've lived long, healthy lives.
I love your tips - but this one just doesn't do it for me. We tried natural products in the past and they didn't do a thing.
I swear by Diatomaceous Earth. It's 100% natural and can be used on your pet, your carpet, and even in your lawn. Also, I try to boost Sammy's immune system by making sure my buddy is getting extra Essential Fatty Acids, vitamin C, and colostrum for a short period of time.
Flees Hate Brewer's Yeast. You can buy the powered variety in a health food store. Just douse them generously before a walk. It won't kill them but they'll "flee" Upside, plenty of vitamins for your pet once they clean their fur And If they even scent like Brewer's Yeast, after getting it in their system for a number of days, flees will choose another host. Great for outdoor pets or pets you want to walk outside and not come home with flees. Your house? You're on your own. Prevention is best!
something to keep in mind - many areas of both canada and the us have both flea AND heartworm problems. many of the treatments vets recc for fleas are also to prevent heartworm, which can be fatal, so please check with your vet before stopping any "conventional" treatments. you don't want to play around with your pet's life.
As I stated My girls vet is aware of what they take. Garlic for fleas and ticks (only bug off garlic) and heartgard plus which is for heartworm disease and other worms as in hookworm/tapeworm, not for fleas and ticks...
Frontline plus goes right through the bloodstream... and is an option that I don't give my girls, but it will keep off the fleas and ticks.
Talking to your vet and having them keep records of what you feed and give your pets is indeed very important! It is also your informed decision to make.
My poor cat is having such a problem with fleas. I have two cats, one seems fine, the other is very, very allergic to fleas. I have given her the toxic ointments, I have cleaned my house every week forever and I toss diatamaceous earth everywhere and she is still getting bitten. I think the target her, since they now have weakened her immune system and is not as healthy as she was, they prey on her.
I have also tried putting bit of garlic in her food to repel the fleas, but she won't eat it; she doesn't like it. I am almost up on arms. I even almost accidentally poisoned her today with pennyroyal!! Please, any suggestions??
Fiona - A couple of things. First, have you given the cat any treatment for her allergy?
You mention that you have given your cat the toxic ointments. Do you mean Advantage or Frontline? How long ago did you give the treatment? My brother had a dog with a similar allergy and he found the combination of Frontline and an allergy treatment worked well.
What type of vacuum do you have? If it's the type with a bag you should probably throw the bag away after each cleaning until you get rid of the infestation. My understanding is flea eggs can lay dormant for several weeks or more until the right conditions are reached for them to hatch.
The other suggestion I was given when I had a flea problem was to wash all the animal bedding in hot water to kill any eggs and you may need to shampoo your rugs.
I'm sure there is somewhere online where you can find better details about these recommendations.
Thanks Amy. I failed to mention that my cats are outdoor cats. I regularly wash all their bedding and mine, as well as vacuum often, throwing out the bag each time. Unfortunately, she is getting them from outside, but there is no way that I can just close the window and force her to stay in, especially with the heat. So I need to find something to arm her against the fleas. Thanks for your help.
This works best for my dogs,i've never tryed on my cats;To get rid of fleas i give my dogs a bath in Lemon Joy dish soap & i can watch the biting critters just fall off.
There is a great product on the market called diatomatious earth. It kills critters like ants, flea, silverfish, roaches, carpet beetles, etc.
The critters CANNOT become immune to this product. If you purchase it, make sure that it is FOOD GRADE! It will not harm people or animals. But if it becomes wet, it does not work. Make sure you store it in a cool, dry place. It works indoors as well as outdoors.
After you use this product and vacuum, make sure you dispose of the vacuum bag in the trash.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Antia D'Souza | July 23, 2007 at 05:48 AM