I have two female cats. They have fleas and I need a homemade recipe, until I can afford to send them to the vet. They do not like water, so it would help if there is something I can do without water. Thank you
Apple Cider Vinegar added to food, water, or anything they eat or drink is fine. Start with only a little, so they will get used to the taste.
Good with cats too. No fleas. You can also bathe them in it. Apple Cider Vinegar is good for a lot of ailments and safe.
Also good for dark tear stains running from tear duct area down.
The tear stains are caused by the acidity in the dogs system and if you neutralized his system, the stains would go away.
Also, put vinegar in there drinking water every day and you will no longer have those brown spots in your lawn from the dog's urine.
By Martha
There are no effective home remedies for fleas. The only thing that will work on your cats and in your home is Feline Advantage, from your vet. I went without internet and cable for a few months one time. I went without electricity another time, solely so I could take my animals to the vet.
People choose what they can and cannot afford. Pets don't have that choice. Please do the right thing and get your kitties to the vet and get them on feline Advantage (We've been flea-free for over 25 years). (02/14/2008)
I disagree. My Shih-tzu's are allergic to even 1 flea bite, it will send them in fits of scratching. I used Advantage, it was the only cure for fleas that seemed to work that I could find. Until I tried Apple Cider Vinegar (Organic Raw unfiltered with the mum still intact).
For the first time, my two Shih-tzu's have been flea free for well over 6 months now. I add Vinegar to their food and water. At first they were a bit hesitant with it in their water, so I started with just drops and worked it up to about 1/2 tsp per 4 cups of water. They love it now. Plus, I sprinkle drops on their food and cook with it.
Our animals are medicated to death and that's one very big health problem.
Apple Cider is natural, healthy, and good for them. Far better than any medication if you ask me. (02/14/2008)
By Martha
You can get a flea comb ($3?) with very finely spaced teeth and comb out the fleas, too. If your cats like to be brushed, you'll make them happy twice over. (02/14/2008)
By Ingrid
I hear your pets do not like water, but this remedy uses some water. Boil cut in half lemons, let them simmer, cool liquid off and fill a spray bottle with the liquid, spray your pets lightly and their bedding, fleas will go away. They hate citrus. (02/14/2008)
By Irais
There are no long lasting homemade flea control. Go get a bottle of Frontline spray from your vet. Spray the entire cat 1-2 pumps per pound of body weight. The 250ml bottle will last close to half a year for 2 cats used monthly and is the most economical. Then you have to treat the house. Vacuum and clean everywhere. Treat the carpet and baseboards everywhere. Let dry before you let the cats back on it.
By Candy
Incidentally, I've been using white vinegar in their water for a few years now. It works. (02/15/2008)
By Laine
I was just looking at some of the information posted at the Vinegar Institute site and one of the tips in the 'Pet' section was to add vinegar to the pets drinking water. I do not remember the ratio of vinegar to water but you might check there. It said that it kept dogs flea free. Good luck (02/15/2008)
By Lisa Austin
Garlic is listed on the animal poison control web site as being dangerous for your pets. I am looking for home remedies for everything, but animals are unlike humans and many things are dangerous to them even if they seem harmless. Before you try any home remedies check with a vet. Most vets will tell you if something is safe or not without an office visit. (06/05/2008)
By Jenn
I have been using apple cider vinegar in my animals water and this seems to help. I also spray my house with a mixture of water, with pine sol, and lemon juice. I like the smell as well. I have four dogs and a cat and our home seems to be free of fleas. (06/05/2008)
By Jenn
I ordered an electric flea trap for about $12.00 online. It really catches the fleas. I have also read for dogs only use tea tree oil lightly on their coat. and if you go to dirtworks.com you can order a powder that is all natural and will repel fleas from yard and home and pets can eat it so it keeps it off the dogs as well. I don't know about the cats for this. (09/10/2008)
By bluebird
I have tried Frontline on my dog and cats, but it took too long and I still see fleas in my carpet and they are biting me. I also tried the vicks on my feet and ankles and I still feel like they have over taken my house. Someone please help me with this flea problem. (10/10/2008)
By Robbie Dee
You have to fight fleas on three levels: the pet, the yard, and the house. If your pets never go outside you can skip that part.
First, you need to use either Advantage or Revolution on the animal. I know all the reasons people say they don't like them, but after 23+ years in the veterinary business I can honestly say I've never seen better products. Don't waste money on Harts and Sargents.
The same day you need to set off foggers in your house. Vet Kem makes a good fogger and you need one with a residual effect. Some are knock-outs which will kill live fleas but do nothing for eggs. Get a RESIDUAL kill fogger. Follow directions and get enough for your area. Then if you need to do your yard you can use 7-dust. Some of the flea-kill companies make yard stuff but nothing beats 7-dust. Follow directions.
Back inside with your aired-out house: vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Move the couch cushions and vacuum there. Wash all the pet bedding and vacuum EVERYWHERE you can. Ok, now the area is defleaed. Keep Advantage on your animals if they go outside. If you live where it's very cold you may be able to skip the coldest part of the year. Most of the south and a lot of the rest of the country has fleas all year long.
As I said, I've got a lot of experience with fleas and animals and I've seen these things work. If you kill fleas on the pet and not in the house you've accomplished nothing. I don't sell these products anymore and have no stock in the companies so have no reason to fabricate this. I just hate fleas with a passion! (10/10/2008)
By Judi
I will tell you one thing, I was really really freaked out about fleas. I have been sitting at my computer all day trying to find ways to get rid of these nasty things, and I think I am going to go with the borax and salt and mop my kitchen and bath room with white vinegar and spray down my furniture with the vinegar. Hope that will work. Believe it or not I thought I was going to go crazy but after reading everything that everyone said I am hoping that something will work. I want to thank everyone for sharing this advice. I will write back and let everyone know how things turned out. (10/16/2008)
By jamie
I bought Advantage for my small dog month after month from my vet for $30.00. I had to stop because of the high price. The vet office called me and told me to buy the Advantage dose for the large animals, but use 1/4 of it on my small animal (The cost was the same for the small dose for small animals and large dose for large animals, but more solution in the large animal dose). This way, one dose lasted 4 weeks. I spent $30.00 a month per animal instead of $120. Would have been nice had my vet told me this from the beginning. (10/19/2008)
By Julie
Garlic given in large amounts can be harmful to dogs, BUT my grandmother had a German Shepard that lived in and outdoors. She gave that dog 1 clove ground up in the food once a day. The dog lived a flea-free life until the age of 16 yrs, until she died of old age. She also had a toy poodle that she put 1/2 tsp of garlic in her food each night. She never had fleas, and died at age 6 when she was ran over. I don't know of a specific amount of garlic to feed different breeds, but maybe this can give you a start. I have done it on my golden since 8 weeks (7 mos now) and I put 1/2 tsp in her food each night and she has never had fleas. (10/19/2008)
We have used Frontline and it hasn't done anything. We just used the Avon Skin So Soft, we rubbed it on our dog and our hands were covered in dead fleas. I think it suffocates them. We have now rubbed it on us so we won't get bit while sleeping. We are still trying to fight them in the carpets though. I think I will try spraying everything with Dawn dish soap and water. (10/30/2008)
By Polly
I keep vinegar in our dogs drinking water and am not bothered with them having fleas. They are exposed to several stray cats that I know have fleas, so I know this works. (10/31/2008)
By Toebeanie
Advantage/Advantix used to work like nothing else. We used it for years. Some people swore by Frontline. However, these products have stopped working. The result has been to create super-fleas that have built up a resistance to the poison. Diatamaceous earth is my next choice. (11/02/2008)
By Denise
Someone mentioned Apple Cider Vinegar on their pets... is it okay to put Vinegar in their fur? It won't hurt them to lick it up? So far I've sprinkled salt around and put dishes of Dawn and water out. I bought Apple Cider Vinegar for other reasons recently, but if it works, I'd like to know. (11/10/2008)
By Ashley
I have not seen where anyone has suggested "Avon's Skin So Soft." I know this works for fleas on your animal and it keeps them off. It smells wonderful, and it helps their fur and skin. I wash my dog regularly with it's dog shampoo, then rinse and either you can put it straight on the animal, or just pour a capful in the water and just rub it on them. Work it down to the skin. I hope this works as well for you all as it has for me. (11/12/2008)
By Jimmie
I read that diatomaceous earth works for fleas, I dusted my dog thoroughly, but made sure she didn't breathe in the dust, to the best of my ability, I did that outside. I also plan on vacuuming my floor, after powdering it with diatomaceous earth, be forewarned not to breathe it in, or let pets, children etc. breathe it in. From what I hear it can kill you as it dries things out. I am not an expert on this so please don't quote me, just thought I'd add what I know! Maybe an update later. Also, for getting flea bites, calamine lotion, toothpaste (Colgate works great), and deodorant (gel works best) stops itching, and heals bites faster! Hope this helps, I know this part as I've used these many times! (11/14/2008)
By April
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