Indoor Fleas

[shalimar775]

I have 2 beautiful INDOOR cats that have somehow gotten fleas. I flea-comb them every day and most are gone but they still scrach alot. I vacuum my rugs every day. I am extremely afraid of using any chemical pesticides around them and they hate baths,of course. Do I need to bring them to the vet, which I can't afford but will if I must? Are there any home remedies for the itching?

[kelli]

I found this on a home remedie web site: a preventative such as Advantage® , Frontline® , Revolution®, or K9 Advantix® is the best way to treat and prevent fleas, a diet including Brewer's Yeast and garlic prove to keep them away, as well. the link is: link removed
good luck.

[Traci]

Sorry, Kelli, the link was removed....it contained many dubious treatments, many of which are not safe or effective for cats.

There is no evidence that suggests brewer's yeast or garlic is effective in repelling fleas. Garlic is also toxic to cats.

Advantage and Frontline are the most effective and safest products for cats, and should be purchased from the vet only.

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[Tambrey]

On a note about garlic use in animals...I have used it (straight garlic powder, NOT salt!) for years in my outside dogs food to repel flies...just a VERY small amount...not even a 1/4 teaspoon full for my labs...I also use vinegar (1TBSP. per 2 gallon jug of water) to repel fleas and ticks...I have not dealt with them for years in my dogs outside...

As for cats...I got these hints from my (former) sister-in-law, a retired animal nutritionalist/dietician at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, AZ...this is what they gave their "big cats" and other animals that tended to get fly bites on their ears and were bothered by insects to keep flies and fleas from bothering them...

I know the big cats are different from our domestics, and again, she used maybe a tablespoon or two per lion or tiger, depending on its size, and it was gradually worked into their food over the course of a couple weeks in very small amounts...so I would not recommend using it for domestics if that is the case, and it is definitely not worth finding out!!

[FromBeyond138]

A trip to the vet might not be in the budget, but a little expense now might save you a whole lot later. Id at least call & ask his/her advice.