Homemade Flea Spray for Cats: 6 Vet-Reviewed Recipes (With Pictures)
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Cats are cute and cuddly, but the fleas that they can harbor are nightmarish. Many medications on the market can be used to keep fleas away, but you might want to try a natural approach instead. Commercial medications can also be expensive, especially since they must be utilized regularly throughout the year.
Luckily, you can make your own homemade flea spray for your cat at home without having to know anything about chemistry. We put together a list of interesting options that require various ingredients you may already have in your kitchen or bathroom. Here are six effective yet easy-to-make cat flea sprays that your cat will surely appreciate.
The 6 Homemade Flea Spray Recipes for Cats
1. Flea and Tick Repellent Spray for Cats
Here is an effective homemade flea and tick repellent spray for cats that won’t cost you a fortune. Distilled water is best, rather than tap water. To complete the recipe, you will also need apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. You should be able to find everything you need in your home.
2. Garlic Yard Spray for Cats
This cat flea spray should not be applied directly to your cat. Instead, it is designed for use outdoors. Wherever fleas live in your yard, you can treat the area with this spray to kill the fleas and their eggs. This will help keep fleas from hitching rides on your cat to enter your home, where they can fester in your carpets and furnishings. However, please note that garlic is very toxic to cats if ingested.
To keep your cat safe, they should not be allowed to visit the treated area for several days after application. You do not want your cat to ingest the substance when grooming, so it is recommended that you rinse the area well before allowing your cat out.
3. Homemade Flea Killing Spray and Shampoo for Cats
You can use this flea-repellent recipe as a shampoo and a spray to keep your cat from flea infestations. The recipe calls for soap, and when using it as a spray, only a little at a time is needed. The spray shouldn’t be used where your cat can lick it off. The secret ingredient that makes this recipe so powerful is white vinegar, which is inexpensive and easy to source.
4. DIY Flea and Tick Remedy for Home
With the help of just a few essential ingredients from your kitchen, you can quickly and easily make this homemade flea and tick remedy. Not only can you use this spray on your cat, but you can also use it on furniture, bedding, carpets, and corners of your home to ensure that fleas don’t have a chance to propagate.
However, please be mindful that the amount of sodium (from the salt) is potentially toxic to cats if ingested. This problem arises when cats groom themselves. You must keep your cat away as you allow the spray to sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum and rinse very well.
5. Simple Homemade Flea and Tick Spray for Cats
This is more of a guide than a recipe because you only need water and apple cider vinegar to make the spray. However, you must use the proper techniques when combining your ingredients for the best results, and this guide will help you get the job done right. The smell of apple cider vinegar can be overwhelming when sprayed in the house, so it is best to use this spray outside.
6. Homemade Lemon Flea Spray for Home & Garden
This is the simplest DIY flea spray recipe to make if you have limited ingredients in your kitchen and don’t want to shop for supplies All you need are lemons, vinegar, and water. This recipe involves juicing and boiling the lemons, then steeping them for up to 8 hours, so be prepared to wait. Making a double batch is a good idea so you don’t have to spend time making it so often.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Homemade Flea Spray for Your Cat
It can be challenging to determine which homemade flea spray to choose for your cat, especially if you don’t have any experience with DIY flea-repellent products. Your first DIY recipe may not work as well as you would like. So, be prepared to try multiple recipes before finding one that works.
Here are a couple of tips to consider when choosing a homemade flea spray.
Take Caution When Using New Ingredients
Just because an ingredient is deemed safe for cats does not mean it will be suitable for your cat. Some cats have allergic reactions to certain ingredients—even apple cider vinegar—when most other cats do not. So, always start slowly and spray a new recipe on one item in your home or only on a tiny area of your cat.
If your cat shows signs of an allergic reaction, stop using the product immediately and contact your veterinarian. If your cat seems okay with the treatment, go ahead and use more. After a day or two without allergic signs, you should feel free to use the flea-repellent spray as necessary.
Remember, Getting Rid of Fleas Requires a Holistic Approach
Spraying your cat once wouldn’t be enough to get rid of fleas. An infestation requires you to treat your home, yard, and cat more than once to completely eliminate the eggs, larvae, and hatching pupae, preventing them from turning into adults and starting their cycle again. Did you know that a single female can lay up to 50 eggs in a day? Your home and appliances must be cleaned frequently, and your kitty will probably need multiple treatments and flea combing to reduce the flea population.
Conclusion
Getting rid of fleas can be an immense pain, especially when you want to avoid commercial treatments. However, you can use many natural methods to get rid of or, at the very least, control flea infestations on your cat and in your home. The homemade flea-repellent sprays featured here should put you on the right track to controlling a flea invasion.
See Also:
- Cat Lice vs Fleas: What Does My Cat Have? What Are the Differences
- 5 Home Remedies to Stop a Cat from Licking a Wound (Vet Approved)
Featured Image Credit: Vaillery, Shutterstock
