Essential Oils for Fleas on Cats and Dogs

Flea remedies for cats and dogs don’t have to be toxic! Using essential oils for fleas on cats and dogs is a natural, economical way to kills fleas. Make your own essential oil flea repellent to save money and cut out chemicals.

While flea meds like Frontline are effective, I hate the way they make my cat feel. After watching him loose his appetite and vigor after every chemical-based flea treatment I decided to try to use essential oils for fleas by making an essential oil flea repellent for Cricket.

While our sweet kitty Cricket is an indoor cat, he escaped to the great outdoors one day last week. I was calling him other names besides “Sweet Kitty Cricket” as I was chasing him through the woods beyond our yard while trying to make sure Sweet T and Gus stayed safe in the Barbie Jeep. Fun times!

Since Cricket’s outdoor adventures are limited to the screened-in deck, we really haven’t have a flea problem since we moved to this house. However, after his foray into the woods I noticed a few fleas on him. If you’re a cat owner you know the places they like to hang out: throat, belly, and head.

Normally I would turn to over-the-counter topical monthly flea treatments in spite of the fact that Cricket becomes sluggish and looses his appetite for about 24 hours after application. I always feel bad about it, but what’s a mama to do? Can’t have fleas!

Essential Oil Flea Repellent

Enter this essential oil flea repellent to the rescue!

Purification Essential Oil: Note that for effectiveness and safety when using essential oils for fleas on cats and dogs, I only use Young Living essential oils on my family, including our pet. Please do not apply a cheap bottle of oil that you bought at the health food store to your cat. Due to dilution and low standards of quality,  it could be ineffective at best and toxic at worst. Click the link to learn why I chose Young Living after researching dozens of other oil brands.

Two drops of Young Living Purification blend and the fleas haven’t been seen since! Best of all Cricket acted like his normal self after using this essential oil flea repellent.

Since this was a mild case of fleas I haven’t had to reapply essential oils for fleas. If your kitty has a more severe case you may need to apply two drops twice per week or more until they are under control. For indoor-only cats, this works just fine.

Natural options like essential oils for fleas also work for the farm cats at my sister-in-law’s property, but they live in an area with less of a flea (and mosquito) problem than we do. If your kitty goes outdoors in a flea-prone area, you’ll probably need hardcore chemical treatments to keep the fleas off. Boo. I know. It’s not optimal, but neither is an infestation.

Essential Oils Safe for Cats

Note that cats metabolize oils differently than humans so always err on the side of caution. Just to be on the safe side I keep Cricket away from oils or oil blends containing citrus. Also remember that less is more when it comes to essential oils, especially when it comes to cats. After applying 1-2 drops, be sure to wait several days before reapplying. Never douse your cat with essential oil no matter how bad his fleas are! And as with humans, consider using a carrier oil (I like to use coconut oil) with your drops in case there is a skin sensitivity. Cricket was fine with two drops applied “neat” (directly with no carrier oil) but if you aren’t sure about your kitty’s tolerance just dilute in your hand with a little bit of carrier oil before applying.

Using Essential Oils for Cats

Watch the video below to learn more about using Young Living Essential Oils for cats and which essential oils safe for cats you have to choose from when it comes to essential oils for fleas.

There are other oils that work to get rid of fleas, but since Purification comes in your Young Living Premium Starter Kit, and is an inexpensive option so I wanted to spread the word about it. Below are a few other options:

What Essential Oils Kill Fleas?

• Lavender
• Eucalyptus
• Cedarwood
• Rosemary

Remember that while using citrus or pine essential oils to kill fleas may be effective, they are not essential oils safe for cats! 

Now you know how to get rid of fleas on cats the natural way! At 5 cents per drop, it’s sure cheaper than Frontline. Your pet will thank you for not applying toxic chemicals to his skin. While you’re pampering your feline friend, why not make him some fun cat toys out of wine corks?