Does any one know any natural, chemical free ways to control fleas?  Ben put some flea stuff on Kimiko and Baby a while ago but it must have been a month ago or maybe just old flea treatment.  I think both.  Either way it's not working.  I really don't want to use toxic flea treatments but the fleas are driving us nuts.  Kimiko is covered in them and as a result I am as well.  

I sprinkled some garlic on the cat food but she doesn't seem to like that at all.  Though I admit I might have been a little heavy handed with the garlic powder after finding 3 fleas on me at once.  I read some where that lightly misting her with vinegar may help the problem.  Does that really work?  Is it straight vinegar or mixed with water and how often does it need to be done?  If it's one of those daily things it isn't happening, not with Kimiko at least.  With Baby cat you can do just about anything you want. most laid back cat I have ever met.

Any others natural options?  I really don't want to resort to commercial flea treatments but if I can't get these damn fleas under control I may have no choice..

I feel for you indigo faerie, fleas are horrible.  I prefer to use herbals on me and my pets also, it's always my first choice.......but........ I haven't found an herbal flea treatment that works really well, especially when you are already heavily infested.  I also work for a veterinarian so I'm fairly familiar with conventional flea products.  If I were in your shoes I would buy a flea product from a vet (this is important - Hartz and other over the counter stuff is a waste of money).  Most products are administered once a month, and while not pleasant like herbs, they do the job of killing fleas.

MAKE SURE NEVER TO USE A DOG PRODUCT ON A CAT - the chemicals are different and dog products can literally kill a cat in a very short amount of time.  

Then clean your house thoroughly!  Vacuum everything and take the vacuum bag immediately out of the house.  Fleas are known to survive a ride through the vacuum and actually crawl back out and reinfest your home!  I would use a vet's flea product for two or three months to break the breeding and hatching cycles, flea eggs can survive a long time before hatching.  Keep cleaning and throwing out the vacuum bags during that time.   Once you've got the problem under control, then you could experiment with a herbal remedy that works best in your area.  I have used a spray made with several drops each of eucalyptus oil, citronella oil, and peppermint oil in a vinegar and water base to spray or wipe on.  I use one part white vinegar to three parts water.   It won't kill fleas, but it may repel them.  It works ok here in central new york, but then we don't have the problems with fleas like in warmer parts of the country.  **If you use this formula, don't let your cats lick off the spray, essential oils can be poisonous if ingested too.

Don't be surprised if your vet recommends worming your cats also, fleas carry the larval stage of tapeworms, so if your cats have fleas, they probably have tapeworms also.  They kind of go hand in hand.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now.  Hope this helps alittle.  Good luck!

I did vacume, the problem is we have a bag less vac.  I hope most of the fleas were disoriented when I dumped the canister.  I tied the bag and took it out right away but I thought I felt a flea jump back on me.  I hate the idea of using toxic chemicals but I might have to.  the thing is the stuff from the vet is so dang expensive and Ben and I are still trying to get back on our feet.  He is making decent money at his job but we were so far behind that most of it is already gone catching the bills up from when he was in school and not making anything.

I appreciate this information as well, its almost time here for fleas and for the past two yrs  the products from the vets are so expensive ( I have 2 dogs inside and 3 cats) its nice to know that after the first treatment or two there are natural things to try , thanks!  lav

Hi Indigo Faerie, while I was perusing the internet I found this website....I hope your poor kitty gets some relief soon!
http://www.alt4animals.com/flea.htm

thanks every one.  I will definitely look for borax in my grocery store.  I'm guessing it will be in either the cleaning aisle or the laundry aisle.  I am seriously thinking of getting these nematodes mention In the article you supplied River.  Do you know if there are many species?  I know Guerny's seed catalog sales nematodes and am wondering if these are the same species.  If so I want to order some!  We have a fire ant infestation and this clams to take care of them too.

Hi Indigo

I dislike using the vet stuff too, but have not been able to find anything natural that works.  I will def check that link as well Mystical River.  I use the drops on the skin, between their shoulder blades.  It works really well.  Once a month, and you get 3 months worth at a time.  Only about $5.  Apparently it soaks into the skin and into the blood.  The fleas bite and then die.  It didn't seem to work in the first month, but by the second month I noticed there were no more fleas.  

Aleea

What an ugly look I just got!  I found some stuff at Kroger to put on Baby and Kimiko.  It's a flea treatment made out of plant oils that aren't harmful to cats or people but which fleas really REALLY don't like. (they kind of make bugs die)    The package said to watch them for signs of irritation.  Well Kimiko is showing definite signs of irritation right now.  Baby cat couldn't care less.

I checked the cleaning aisle but couldn't find any borax at all.  I'll check Target next time I am up that way.  

One of the ingredients in this flea stuff in cinnamon oil.  according to the package many of these oils have a compound in them that messes up bugs heart rate and metabolism. I know there isn't much oil left in ground cinnamon but I wonder if sprinkling some on the rug would help any.  Its worth a try, unless some one else has already tried it?

For any one who is wondering the stuff I found is Nature's Guardian  it contains

3.00% peppermint oil
4.50% cinnamon oil
4.50% lemon grass oil
5.00% clove oils
5.00% Thyme oil
And 78.00% vanillin

(my babies smell soooo good right now)

No I looked there.  The cleaning and laundry aisle are one aisle.  cleaning stuff on one end laundry on the other.  This week anyway.  they are constantly remodeling so who knows what next week will bring.  My mom says it is there with the bleach.  I didn't see it but I'll look again when I go back. (I forgot to get kitty litter.)  

Is it in a jug maybe?  I was looking for a box so didn't pay much attention to the jugs.

I mix 3-4 drops of tea-tree to 1 cup of baking soda. sprinke heavily and leave on for 30 minutes and vacumn.
hope  it works for ya
Bri

Can anyone tell me if these oils are safe for use on a pregnant cat? She is due to deliver within the next two weeks.

Thanks  

Or How about a Kitten!!!!Just got a new white and gray one last night, her name is Mush, a mom with a child that was too little without constant supervision gave her to us, she is so cute!!!(I have three other cats...Odin, Freya, Me-U and now Mush but she is LITTLE!!!..... Lav

I bought an herbal powder that seems to help with the fleas. It changes the scent of your pet. I do suggest starting with very small amounts mixed in wet pet food to see if your pet can handle it. I've been using it on my Sugar an it seems to be working.

http://www.azuregreen.com/index.html?action=search

Hope this helps.

(cat) Mush says Thanks!

Thanks so much for the advice.  I used the borax on the floors and decided to use the comb method for now until after the babies are born and weaned.  Minx and I both thank you for your help!

SG