Keep Your Living Space Free Of Unwanted Pests
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The Spruce Pets / Sabrina Jiang
No matter what types of pets or how many you have in your home, controlling fleas is an inevitable part of pet ownership. Although theyre more common in warmer, dryer climates and their population in your home and yard tends to be highest in the dryer summer months, its possible for fleas to get out of control quickly no matter where you live all year long.
But how can you tell when its time to treat your home for fleas? You can do home flea treatment in the beginning of spring or summer, since it is the season of fleas and ticks, explains Ryan Smith of Ant and Garden Organic Pest Control of Beaverton, Oregon. But no matter the time of the year, a home flea treatment is necessary and should be done immediately once you see signs of infestation on your pets.
Here are a few of the best home flea treatments available today.
Sentry Flea & Tick Oatmeal Hawaiian Ginger Shampoo
This flea and tick shampoo from Sentry is meant for dogs with sensitive, dryer skin. Like Vets Best, this product can treat both fleas and ticks on contact, the brand says. Sentry says it conditions the skin as it effectively gets rid of fleas and ticks for up to 10 days . The pH-balanced formula can also kill the deer ticks that may carry Lyme disease, according to the brand. The formula contains permethrin, an insecticide that can be dangerous if swallowed or overused make sure to use the shampoo as directed and consult your veterinarian beforehand.
Diy Flea And Tick Remedy For Cats
With the help of just a few basic ingredients from your kitchen, you can quickly and easily make this homemade flea and tick remedy for your kitty. Not only can you use this spray on your cat, but you can also use it on furniture, bedding, carpets, and in corners of your home to ensure that fleas dont have a chance to propagate. However, please be mindful that the amount of sodium in this recipe is potentially toxic to cats if ingested. This problem arises when cats groom. You must keep your cat away as you allow the spray to sit for 30 minutes then vacuum and/or rinse very well.
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Dish Soap White Vinegar And Water Spray
Make a homemade flea spray by mixing 1 part dish soap with 3 parts water. Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to every cup of water used. Soak a washcloth in your concoction and wring it out well so that it doesnt drop excessively when sprayed. Apply directly to affected areas, spraying from a distance so that you dont accidentally get any on your cat. Let dry and then repeat once per day until fleas are gone, or you need to reapply after 2 or 3 days.
How To Get Rid Of Fleas In The House
- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Fleas are one of the most dreaded pests, and with more than two thousand different types of fleas in the world, they can create a real headache. Its normal to dread having to get rid of fleas in the house, and it can be hard to evict the pests once theyve taken up residency. Fleas bites can cause an allergic reaction in dogs as well as humans, and the pests dont always discriminate between species. Kicking the bugs out of your home so you and your dog can enjoy an itch-free existence is important.
Eradicating a flea infestation doesnt have to be a losing battle though. There are many solutions to get rid of fleas at home, though some have proven to work much better than others. From the moment you see the first flea, time is of the essence. Even if you only see a few, fleas infestations have a way of growing quickly, and the more there are, the harder it will be to get rid of them.
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Homemade Flea Spray For Cats: 6 Recipes You Can Make Today
Cats are cute and cuddly, but the fleas that they can harbor are nightmarish. Many medications on the market can be used to help keep fleas away, but you might want to try a natural approach instead. These 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 6 effective yet easy-to-make cat flea sprays that you and your cat are sure to appreciate.
Homemade Flea Spray With Vinegar
Have you ever been told that vinegar kills fleas? Well, fleas do hate vinegar. So much so that it makes a handy homemade flea spray.
A pet who has been soaked or doused in a vinegar mixture will not be nearly as tasty to fleas. Here is how to make it:
Simply find a clean spray bottle and fill it with 1/2 water and 1/2 apple cider vinegar.
We like the apple cider vinegar because cats and dogs tend to lick themselves after an application, and the taste is a bit less offensive to them. But white vinegar will work just as well.
Let your pet air dry and repeat as often as you like.
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Lemon Juice And Water Spray
All you need is a spray bottle, lemon juice, and water. Add 10-15 drops of lemon essential oil to a gallon of distilled water and mix in 4 tablespoons of organic lemon juice. Shake well before each use, then spray your cat or dog down and then allow them to shake off any excess spray. Do not use near an open flame, as many homemade flea sprays are flammable. You can also add some catnip to your mixture if you like!
Are Flea Sprays Waterproof
Some are and some arent. Always read the label to check if the product that youre using is waterproof before giving your cat a bath! Our best overall pick is waterproof and resistant to sunlight, so after application, it lasts for a full 30 days, no matter what your cat is doing or where theyre going!
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How Can I Treat My Home Environment
A number of products are available to kill the adult and larval stages of fleas and stop the flea life cycle, such as:
adulticide sprays for use in the house sprays containing IGR for use in the house insecticides applied by professional pest control companies
Sprays for use in the house should be used in places where the flea eggs, larvae, and pupae are likely to be. Treat the entire household first and then concentrate on the hot spots – your cat’s favorite napping spots – such as soft furniture, beds, and carpets. Once they hatch from the egg, flea larvae move away from the light and burrow deep into carpets and into other nooks and crannies where they are difficult to reach. Be sure to move cushions, furniture, and beds to spray underneath them. Other places larvae are likely to live include baseboards and the cracks and crevices between floor seams or floorboards.
Natural Care Flea And Tick Spray
Lets step away from the insecticide sprays and look at another viable natural flea spray solution from Natural Care.
Safe for cats over 12 weeks of age, its entirely natural plant extract formula works by combining peppermint oil and clove extract to kill fleas on contact and leave your home smelling great afterward.
Totally stain and grease-free, meaning you can spray it over beds, curtains, carpets, and cushions without worrying about leaving any marks. It also repels mosquitoes and since its manufactured in the USA, you know the ingredients are of high quality.
Features of the Natural Care Flea and Tick Spray include:
- Natural ingredients and essential oils
- Repels mosquitoes too
- Safe to use all throughout the home
- Smells wonderful
We actually got a chance to spray this directly on a flea and can speak for its ability to paralyze and kill adult fleas pretty effectively. Really impressive stuff for a great price.
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Best Flea Carpet Powder & Spray
Effective and easy to use, the Vet-Kem Siphotrol Spray is another great anti-flea and tick treatment to consider. Made with highly effective insecticides, including permethrin, methoprene and phenothrin, this spray is incredibly powerful at eliminating parasite infestations and preventing their reinfestations for up to 7 months. While strong, its perfectly safe to use in both dog and cat households, which is always a nice bonus.
Aside from killing and repelling fleas and ticks, this treatment also works against cockroaches and ants, so you can use it on carpets, pet bedding, upholstery and any other place fleas may hide.
The Best Flea Spray For Dogs And House: Important Factors
There is a distinction between purchasing a flea spray for dogs and house and the best purchase a flea spray for dogs and house. Those that are effective in grasping that distinction always return with the best goods. How to locate the finest flea spray for dogs and house is the current issue. Well, for some people, its a simple task. But individuals with no prior experience will undoubtedly encounter obstacles. We came up with a list of characteristics to make things simpler. Ensuring them will ensure that you dont spend money on things you dont need or that are overpriced.
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Cedarcide Original Biting Insect Cat Spray Premium Choice
As a premium choice, the Cedarcide Original Biting Insect Cat Spray is our recommendation. This has a laboratory-tested effectiveness rate of 99% for killing fleas. This is made with natural, plant-based ingredients, including cedarwood oil, non-GMO soybean oil, and diatomaceous earth. This kills and repels fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, bed bugs, chiggers, and mites! When used regularly, it works to build a pest-repellent barrier around your cat.
This spray is completely safe to use around the whole family, and the quick-drying formula is non-oily and doesnt leave any residue. This can be used weekly but works on contact, so you may need to keep reapplying as it works at killing off any infestation over a period of weeks. Its also only effective on live fleas, so youll need to keep applying as the eggs and larvae mature. This has a pleasant smell due to the cedarwood, although some people will find it a bit strong! The only thing that keeps Cedarcide out of the top two positions on this list is the price, especially as youll need to apply this weekly.
Sometimes trying to spray your cats tummy using a regular nozzle spray bottle can be a bit of a challenge if you need to turn the bottle upside down, but the Natural Care Cat Flea & Tick Spray takes care of that problem with its continuous 360-degree spray. This formula uses natural plant-based extracts, including clove extract and peppermint oil, to kill fleas, flea eggs, and ticks on contact.
Homemade Flea Killing Spray And Shampoo For Cats
You can use this flea repellent recipe as a shampoo and as a spray to help keep your cat free of flea infestations. The recipe calls for soap, so when using it as a spray, only a little at a time is needed. The spray shouldnt be used where your cat could lick it off. The secret ingredient that makes this recipe so powerful is white vinegar, which is inexpensive and easy to source.
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Advantage Flea Treatment Spray For Cats
Advantage has a great reputation when it comes to pest management, and their flea treatment spray is one of the best flea and tick sprays weve ever used.
It uses common insecticides such as Pyrethrins and Piperonyl Butoxide to kill fleas on contact and protect for up to 7 months. The highly effective formula lasts for as long as 100 days, and can be used safely around cats and kittens over 7 months of age.
Features of the Advantage Flea Treatment Spray for Cats include:
- Can be used directly on your pet
- Uses an insect growth regulator to stop fleas reproducing
- Kills effectively on contact
- Easy to use spray mechanism to get to hard-to-reach places
Advantage flea and tick spray is one of our top picks for a reason it works.
Safe And Effective Flea Treatment Products For Cats
If you have a cat or multiple cats and would like to avoid pyrethrin/pyrethroid-based products, below are some safer, effective flea control products for cats.
We didnt include any over-the-counter medications for good reason, as many are not as effective or safe in every circumstance. For more information on the benefits of prescription preventatives over OTC ones, you can check out our article on over-the-counter vs. prescription flea and tick preventatives for more information.
- Advantage MULTI®
- Revolution® PLUS
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Homemade Lemon Flea Spray For Cats
This is the simplest DIY flea spray recipe to make if you have limited ingredients in your kitchen and dont want to shop for anything more. All you need are lemons, vinegar, and water. This recipe involves juicing and boiling the lemons, then steeping the lemons for up to 8 hours, so be prepared to wait. It is a good idea to make a double batch, so you dont have to spend time making it so often.
Best Overall: Wondercide Flea & Tick Spray For Pets + Home
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Application Type: Spray | Active Ingredients: Cedar, lemongrass, sesame oils | How Long it Lasts: Unclear, but kills on contact
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One spray for cats, dogs, and home
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Gentle enough for puppies, kittens and senior pets
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Avoid their peppermint scented spray
Wondericide Flea and Tick Spray is mild enough to be applied directly to your dog or cats fur as well as bedding, furniture, rugs, and carpet. Like cedar chests used for storing family heirlooms, this sprays main component, cedar oil, is naturally repelling to a variety of insect pests, especially fleas. Other main ingredients include lemongrass, a close relative of citronella, so it is naturally repellent to insects including fleas and ticks. Sesame oil contains natural acids that act as alarm pheromones resembling those emitted by dead and dying insects, sending invading fleas and ticks instinctual messages that they should go elsewhere to avoid a dangerous situation.
Its mild enough to use every two to three days as needed. The spray is also cruelty-free, biodegradable and made in the U.S.
Luckily, each of Wondericides ingredients imparts a pleasant smell to the spray that customers and pets dont mind. We recommend the lemongrass, cedarwood, or rosemary blends. Avoid the peppermint option, as peppermint essential oils are toxic to dogs and cats.
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Seresto Flea And Tick Collar
A benefit of flea prevention collars like this highly rated option from Seresto is convenience. There is no messy application, theyre odorless and they work through contact, meaning fleas dont have to bite your dog in order to die. This flea collar is designed to kill and repel fleas and ticks for eight continuous months, according to the brand. Seresto also offers an option for cats boasting the same flea-repelling properties.
Ingredients: Natural Or Chemical
Traditional chemical flea sprays are usually safe and extremely effective. Some of them can cause localized skin irritation if theyre used too frequently. Natural flea sprays contain plant-based ingredients, including cedarwood oil, lemongrass, and citronella. These may not be as effective at killing fleas as sprays containing insecticides or IGRs, but the choice comes down to your personal preference and which ingredients youre happy to use.
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Flea & Tick Home Spray For Cats
Formulated specifically for cats using plant-based ingredients, Vets Best can keep your home pest free, without the harsh chemicals.
- Kills fleas, flea eggs and ticks by contact using premium quality ingredients
- Proven effective and safe enough to use around the whole family
- 100% certified natural peppermint and eugenol ingredients
- Effective indoors and outdoors, and gentle enough to be applied directly on cats 12 weeks or older
Petarmor Home Carpet Powder For Fleas And Ticks Protect Your Home From Fleas And Deodorizes Carpets 16 Ounce
- PETS ARE FAMILY: PetArmor Flea and Tick Home products help you confidently protect your furry family member from fleas and ticks at home without a visit to the vet.
- PROTECT YOUR HOME: Find fleas or ticks on your pet. They are probably in your home. Fleas lay up to 50 eggs a day. PetArmor Home Carpet Flea and Tick Powder helps you in the fight against fleas and ticks.
- EFFECTIVE: PetArmor Home Carpet Flea and Tick Powder kills fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, flea pupae, and brown dog ticks.
- LONG-LASTING CONTROL: PETARMOR Home & Carpet Powder kills fleas, brown dog ticks, flea eggs, flea larvae, and flea pupae.
- PET ODOR: PetArmor Home Carpet Flea and Tick Powder contains a pet odor eliminator, has a clean fresh scent, and is available in a 16-ounce cannister.
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