Flea season is coming! And if you live in the southern US, it may never have ended. These pests can make life miserable for your cat. Severe infestations can cause anemia in kittens. Fleas also carry tapeworms. If your cat swallows an infected flea while she’s grooming herself, she’ll wind up with tapeworms too.

And then there are flea allergies. Fleas feed on your cat’s blood; they inject a little bit of saliva into your cat to thin her blood so it’s easier to suck out. This can cause rashes and hot spots in pets that are allergic to fleas.

Flea control products contain insecticides that can cause health problems for your feline friend. Plus they’re hard on the environment. But what are the alternatives? Do natural flea control products really work?

Flea Overpopulation

You probably don’t want to know that if you see one flea, there are at least 99 more hanging around in your home or your yard, just waiting to snack on your cat’s blood. One female flea can lay between 10 and 50 eggs a day when the weather is hot and humid. And since a flea can live up to 100 days, this means a LOT of flea eggs!

The mama flea lays her eggs on the “host” — your unsuspecting cat. Most of them fall off and wind up in your carpet (yum) or in your yard. Most of the fleas that hatch from these eggs will remain within 50 feet of your kitty’s favorite napping spot.Flea eggs will hatch in one to ten days, although if it’s cold, the eggs can wait longer, until the moment is right. This is why bug bombs don’t work, unless you use them two or three times, 10 days apart. They only kill the adult fleas, but not the larva and eggs. So when the eggs hatch out, you’re back where you started, unless you want to set off insecticidal bombs in your house over and over again.Protect Your Cat From The Inside OutFleas prefer young kittens and puppies with undeveloped immune systems. They also prefer animals that are in poor health. The best thing you can do to help your cat resist fleas is to boost her health and immune system. And the way to do that is to feed her a healthy diet.Garlic and B vitamins make your kitty less tasty to fleas. Many pet owners give their furry friends brewers yeast during flea season. Just be sure your kitty isn’t allergic to brewers yeast. It can make the itching worse, not better.

Essential fatty acids help to build up your kitty’s immune system, and also keep his coat and skin healthy. Digestive enzymes and probiotics will help her digest her food more efficiently and get all the nutrition she can from what she eats.

Protecting Your Cat’s Outside

A flea comb is the best way to find out if fleas are causing your cat’s scratching. Comb it through your cat’s fur and pick up some hair and “dirt.” Put this between two damp paper towels and press them together. If the “dirt” makes rusty spots on the paper towel, your kitty has at least one, and probably several fleas on her. Keep combing, and you’ll trap some of them in the comb. Drown them in soapy water (they can hop right out of plain water and escape).

Daily flea combing is tedious, and your cat may not appreciate it, but it’s a good way to get the fleas off your cat while you’re treating your home and yard.

Cats are very susceptible to insecticides and pesticides. I remember a very sad case when I worked at the vet’s. A lady went to the local coop, where they sold her a flea dip meant for dogs. It said right on the label not to use it on cats, but I honestly think she wasn’t able to read. The upshot was that a couple of her cats died from it, while the rest were very sick. DON’T use products meant for dogs on your cat!

Essential oils are also toxic to cats. It’s best to avoid them around cats.

Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy is a natural flea powder that contains diatomaceous earth, which dehydrates the fleas and kills them. It’s non-toxic to pets, people, and the environment. Plus fleas don’t develop an immunity to it, like they do with pesticides. Use about one teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight, and comb it through your cat’s fur with a flea comb.

How About Flea Collars and Spot Treatments?

Flea collars only keep fleas away from your cat’s neck. The fleas will go and hang out on her hindquarters and tail. Plus, most flea collars, especially non-toxic ones, only work for a short time.

Spot-on flea products should be a last resort if your cat has severe flea allergies. You may want to read Are ‘Spot-On’ Flea Killers Safe? to learn more about problems associated with these products.

Getting Rid of Fleas In The House

Because most of the fleas live in your house and your yard, not on your cat, it’s necessary to treat your house and your yard, if your cat goes outside. Vacuuming the carpets and mopping hardwood floors every day is the least toxic way to control fleas. Flea larva don’t like light, so be sure to clean under the furniture, around baseboards, and any place your cat likes to lay around. Change the vacuum bag every time you vacuum and seal it in a plastic bag before throwing it away. Or sprinkle some natural flea powder into the bag to kill any fleas you vacuum up.

Use Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy on carpeting, the furniture, and on linoleum and hardwood floors to kill any fleas in these areas. Try to avoid creating clouds of dust when you shake it out, as it can irritate your nose and throat.

Wash your cat’s bed at least once a week in hot soapy water. Use natural flea powder on DRY bedding to kill fleas while your kitty is sleeping.

Don’t Forget The Yard

Most fleas will be within 50 feet of your cat’s favorite spots, so concentrate on those areas. Keep the grass cut and rake up leaves, as flea larva like dark places.

Beneficial nematodes, available through some gardening centers, are a flea parasite. These little bugs eat both adult fleas and larva.

Plan Ahead!

Don’t wait til you see fleas on you cat before you start treating your home and yard. You should start a month before flea season usually starts. If you live in the southern US, treat your home and yard regularly to avoid letting the fleas get ahead of you.

You may want to check out the Flea Care Kit for Cats from Only Natural Pet Store. This kit contains everything you’ll need to keep fleas off your cat, without harmful pesticides.

Information in this article is courtesy of Only Natural Pet Store