I do not, but I will be watching this thread closely. While I bathe my cats instead of use drops, maybe oil would be better? Although, it makes my cat very happy when the bath is done. She tolerates it, but once it's done, sits on my lap purring quite happily and drying off. I know it gives her relief. I'd love not to make her take a bath even if she tolerates it! Found this recipe for cats. But I'd love to hear experiences if they exist.

Natural Flea & Tick Spray for Cats

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups raw unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. dried organic neem leaf
• 1 Tbsp. dried organic catnip
• 1 Tbsp. dried organic lavender
• 1 Tbsp. dried organicpeppermint leaf

• 1 Tbsp organic pure aloe vera gel (optional but helps with skin and hair health)
• distilled water

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine apple cider vinegar and herbs in a mason jar and steep for
   1-2 weeks, shaking daily to combine. Strain with a cheesecloth or coffee
   filter before keeping in a glass mason jar for use.
2. In an 8 oz. spray bottle, combine 1/2 cup herbal infused apple cider vinegar, aloe vera gel, and distilled water to fill.
3. To use: spray onto cat while grooming. Allow to dry and do not rinse off. My favorite grooming brush to use is the Furminator! I use the dog version and the cat version and have never found anything to work as well.

Everything is made of chemicals. While Rob's recipe looks pretty benign although I'm no expert, that fact that something is 'natural' is no guarantee of safety. That is just a general caution, the search for effective low toxicity formulations is certainly worthwhile.

That is true. Hm. But, I'd rather have control over which chemicals and keep her out of the soap/water. I think that's my objective. Soap is also not good for cats. It screws with their oil production on their skin. I am certainly open to using chemicals on the cat since I give her baths with flea shampoo. I guess it's a tradeoff? Or am I offbase?

Pipsmom may not be after the same though. Or maybe I am helping with my thinking outloud? I hope so.

We have always used Skin So Soft from Avon. I don't know what is in it and I haven't researched ingredients or anything, but this stuff is great. We have used it for years with no ill affects on any of our pets. Research it and give it a try. The last time we had fleas, which has been at least 15 yrs ago, my son had let a stray cat in out of the rain into our basement, poor thing was covered in fleas, and then so was my basement. You honestly could go down to the basement wearing white socks, spray the skin so soft on one sock and nothing on the other..The sock you used the SSS on would have no fleas and the other would be covered. It works great, we even spray it around the perimeter of the yard during flea season.

Here is just a thought to take into consideration. Not all areas are flea and tick ridden. I have not used anything for fleas or ticks on my dog since she had an allergic reaction to Frontline. She goes on daily walks, goes to the dog park daily and has not had one single flea. We also have a large colony of feral cats that hang in our yard, along with lots of squirrels and raccoons and have even seen an opossum from time to time. She is on monthly heart worm meds though...just so you know.

Arkansas girl.... Many Heartworm meds today do double duty as flea and tick preventatives. If a dog is on Heartworm pills it is important to know what kind so people don't layer on another level of flea and tick control.

Agree the one I use currently for heartworms also handles other worms and controls flea larva. I never see fleas. The only time Mia had fleas was when we were in the rv in a park in Louisiana and parked right where a bunch of feral cats had been hanging out. The fleas were all over the ground there. I ran to my vet as soon as I got home to find out if I could give her something with the heartworm med and they had a single pill that would kill all the fleas in about 30 minutes. Worked like a charm. Since then no fleas. Just in case any were in the rv I sprinkled borax and Diatomaceous earth all over left it for a week then vacuumed up and have not seen a single flea.

WE have treated our yard with sevin dust by the way it comes in various strengths, and some granules we buy at Lowes that kills lots of pests including fleas and ground wasps. We had a lot of the big red wasp things that dig holes in the ground. No more.

Pipsmom,

What was the issue with just using imidacloprid?

I just remembered that when we were at that park in Louisiana I got online to find something to use on Mia to help rid her of the fleas that were on her that was safe. I found mixing a portion of apple cider vinegar with water and a drop of detergent in a spray bottle was amazingly successful. We set her on a towel, I sprayed her to dripping wet with the spray and we watched the fleas just float up and we would just pick them off of her onto a paper towel every one was dead. I had no idea that would work. We reapplied a few more times with in the next day or so and each time less and less fleas. So you might want to try that, nothing in it that would harm the pet. In fact I add apple cider vinegar to Mia's food daily as directed by her vet for her reflux. We were really amazed. Luckily I had everything right there in the rv to use on her immediately. Poor baby was just scratching like crazy, we did not let her back outside in that area.

Lucille, my only issue is that I am trying to use fewer chemicals overall, such as using essential oils in a diffuser instead of air freshener spray, vinegar and baking soda for cleaning, etc. Didn't have a particular issue with the topical I was using on them. Raven, I read about ACV being effective for eliminating fleas; thankfully haven't had occasion to try it (yet).

Go to Dr. Mercola's website, he has a vet on there and I'm sure you will find homeopathic treatments for dogs and cats. I cannot remember her name...let me go see....OK so her name is Dr. Karen Becker. Or you can probably just google Dr. Karen Becker and find information. I would trust her to suggest only safe alternative treatments for fleas.

watchmelol, I only use vet prescribed meds for my dog. Heartgard for heartworm treatment.

Thank you, Arkansas Girl! Found the following article to be very helpful. She does not like the chemical treatments either and suggests essential oils as an alternative. http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/03/31/dangers-of-flea-and-tick-problems.aspx

"Lucille, my only issue is that I am trying to use fewer chemicals overall, such as using essential oils in a diffuser instead of air freshener spray, vinegar and baking soda for cleaning, etc"

Oils are chemicals too. Everything is made of chemicals. Of course, researching to use the least toxic chemicals is a good idea, but synthetic preparations and natural preparations can both be toxic.

Essential oils could be dangerous if you used something that wasn't safe for the dog. That's why I suggested the vet, Dr. Karen Becker, because she's not going to recommend something that could be dangerous.

Where I live, squirrels at times, become infested with fleas. Other animals who cross squirrel trails can pick up fleas. Areas around bird feeders is a prime location. A squirrel, when bitten, will rapidly scratch himself and in the process may dislodge a flea or two. The flicked off flea looks for a ride on the next furry creature that passes by.