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How to Prevent Fleas in Cats Using Garlic

| Updated September 26, 2017

Things You'll Need

  • Fresh garlic

  • Garlic powder

  • Garlic salt

  • Vinegar

  • Dish soap

  • Lemons

  • Water

  • Spray bottle

There are a variety of home remedies for flea infestation on cats, some involving garlic. None of the remedies are doctor recommended, but if you ask a cat owner what organic mixture got rid of her cat's fleas safely, you'll get a list of fun and interesting recipes to try. Some involve washing the cat, some involve sprinkling powder or spraying the cat with a liquid. Treating cats with garlic is hotly debated--some owners say garlic is toxic to cats, and better used on dogs. If you're interested in garlic remedies, start with a minimal amount of garlic and see how your cat does.

Mix 1/4 or less of a clove of garlic in with your cat's wet food. Fleas don't like the taste of garlic. If your cat eats food with garlic in it, they won't like the taste that comes out in the cat's skin when they bite, and they'll move on.

Shake some garlic powder over your cat's coat, rubbing it into the body and up around the neck, avoiding ears and eyes. Fleas are repelled by garlic powder. Use a minimal amount of powder for your cat's safety.

Bathe your cat in the sink in a few drops of dish soap mixed with a few drops of vinegar. Use baby shampoo on the cat's face and head, being careful not to get it in her eyes. Rinse and dry the cat. Sprinkle some garlic powder on her coat, for extra protection.

Rub some garlic salt lightly into your cat's coat. Salt helps deflect fleas almost as well as the garlic.

Tips

  • Watch your cat after the treatment and see how she's doing. If she seems adversely affected, discontinue treatments using garlic. Boil a lemon cut in quarters in a small saucepan of water for 10 minutes. Remove the lemon rind and pour water in a spray bottle. Spray your cat with the mixture, rubbing gently into coat. Works as well as garlic!