When you are a pet owner, the thought of your beloved cat or dog catching fleas is a constant strain on your mind. These parasites feed on the blood of animals and can easily become a problem in your home, biting you and furry friends. Fortunately between over-the-counter sprays, powders, and flea collars, there are endless solutions to help eradicate a flea problem in your home.However, while commercial flea medications and treatments can certainly help tame a flea problem in your pet, there are also an array of do-it -yourself approaches that cat owners can take to banish the bugs without the use of chemicals or potential side effects to your pet or other members of your family.Here are some at-home remedies you can try that may help get rid of your pet’s flea problem for good.
1.CEDAR CHIPS- It’s a known fact that fleas hate the smell of cedar chips and there’s a chance your pet may not be fond of it, either. However, you can try spreading cedar chip around your pet’s bedding or outdoors in your garden. You can also apply cedar oil spray on your cat’s fur, as it is a safe, non-toxic essential oil, or put a few drops on a banana peel or even your pet’s collar to help keep the bugs at bay.
2.APPLE CIDER VINEGAR- Another grocery store product that fleas don’t particularly enjoy is apple cider vinegar. While it’s not effective at killing the bugs, apple cider vinegar can cause fleas to jump your pet’s body so that you can better tackle the issue, making it a great first attack in your personal war against fleas. But sometimes fleas can be a stubborn bunch, so you may have to undergo a few home treatments of applying the vinegar to your cat/dog’s fur in order to become completely flea-free.
3.DISH SOAP- Believe it or not, even the most gentle formulation of dish soap has proven to be very effective at exterminating fleas. The dish soap breaks down the flea’s exoskeleton and kills them within minutes, even after it’s been diluted in water. To use dish soap to trap and kill fleas that have made home their permanent residence, you can try filling a shallow dish with warm, soapy water and placing it close to a source of light. They’ll be drawn towards the light and drown in the liquid.
4.LAVENDER AND CHAMOMILE- A gentle way to soothe your pet’s skin- and maybe even help him or her take a little cat nap-lavender is actually a powerful, fast-acting agent against fleas. In fact, some studies have shown that formulas containing diluted lavender were just as effective at killing fleas as commercial chemicals sprays.
5.LEMON BATH- This lemon bath is simple to make and will keep your pet smelling fresh and noticeably flea free. Simply dilute half a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice into two cups of water, then add a squeeze of your normal pet friendly soap or shampoo for a natural way of treating fleas in dogs and cats.
