If you wish to try natural remedies this flea season, you should keep in mind that most natural remedies do not work as fast, or as long, as their chemical counterparts. That being said, many pet owners feel that this is a fair trade-off instead of using harsh chemicals, and, when used properly, that natural remedies are very effective.
Nutrition
The best natural defense against flea infestations is your pet's immune system. If pets are eating a diet rich in antioxidants and nutrients, they will naturally be more resistant to fleas. Pay attention to the ingredients on a bag of pet food to see if it is providing all the nutrition your pet needs.
Supplements such as brewer's yeast and garlic can be added to a pet's diet to repel fleas. Fleas do not like the flavor of garlic and brewer's yeast, so adding these items to the diet of your dog or cat makes their blood unpalatable to fleas.
Raw garlic should not be given to cats, as it can be toxic. You can purchase a brewer's yeast and garlic food supplement inexpensively at most pet stores, which is better than accidentally poisoning your cat.
Herbal Shampoos
Most natural, herbal shampoos on the market are effective against fleas. These shampoos contain things like peppermint, neem oil, tea tree oil, citrus extracts, and clove oil. An herbal shampoo that contains essential oils (such as neem and tea tree oil) to repel fleas should not be used on cats, as essential oils can be toxic to felines.
The only downside to herbal shampoos is that they only last for a week, whereas chemical shampoos last for a month.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth consists of the fossilized remains of aquatic organisms crushed into a fine powder. It is completely harmless to animals and humans, yet destroys fleas, ticks, and other pests. Sprinkling diatomaceous earth onto your pet coats the fleas. As the fleas ingest the powder, it cuts up their insides and drys them out.
Diatomaceous earth can also be sprinkled around the house to get rid of fleas. The only drawbacks are the dust, and that this does not work quite as fast as chemical treatments.
Electromagnetic Fields
It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but, products such as the Shoo!TAG use a magnetic strip to repel fleas and other pests. The magnetic strip combined with the natural electric field of the body of the animal creates an invisible fence that repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
These products look like little credit cards that you hang from the collar of your cat or dog. Shoo!TAG also makes insect repelling cards for horses and people.
The best part about these products is that they are completely non-toxic, and last for 3 months. The only downside is that the user, whether feline, canine, equine, or human, has to where the tag for 24 hours before it reaches maximum effectiveness.
Fleas have been plaguing animals and humans alike for thousands of years. Fleas constantly evolve to become resistant to the products we use to eradicate them. People have found that what works in one region, may be useless in another. If one method of natural flea control does not work, something else. Any reputable pet product dealer should be happy to refund a product with a receipt.
With any flea control product, whether chemical or natural, make sure you follow the directions exactly. Most failures in flea eradication are due to user error, not a faulty product.
Ian Shoust - With a degree in Communications and a certificate in Digital Video Editing, Ian Shoust has worked as a freelance videographer, editor, and ...
Join the Conversation