We have Fleas, fun times.

Here is the flea protocol I have developed after doing some online research. This protocol is especially applicable to my indoor/outdoor cat who has a medium amount of fleas eating him.

Cat Flea Protocol

Initial attack on the fleas

1. Let the sunshine in- open your curtains and let the sun shine in, fleas like the dark.
2. Vacuum
3. Comb cat with a flea comb. Take your cat outside and comb it with a flea comb outside to loosen as many adult fleas as possible and give the cat some immediate relief.
4. Wash the cat. I am going to try washing the cat with a very small amount of dishwashing soap. You can also use cat shampoo. Never use human or dog shampoo on cats. It can be harmful to them.
5. After rinsing the cat, apply a mix of 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water to her coat. 
6. Optional: Apply flea poison to your cat. (I hate to use chemicals on the my animals, so we will try the other methods on this page first. If the cat remains a chomping ground, we will try Frontline or Advantage. We already used a natural alternative called Nature’s Guardian and noticed some results but I found out that the essential oil ingredients are toxic to cats!)
7. Wash throw rugs, the pet’s bedding, (and your bedding if she sleeps with you) in hot, soapy water.
8. Sprinkle rosemary in your pet’s bedding, after it is washed. (Don’t use rosemary if you or your pet is pregnant.)
9. Spray flea control nematodes outside. These beneficial microbes work by killing them while in the developing stage, where they live in the soil. This disturbs their life cycle, lessening their numbers.
10. Sprinkle salt all over your house and then vacuum again the next morning. Salt dries and kills the fleas.

Maintenance: KEEP OUT, FLEAS!

Daily

1. Vacuum 
2. Comb cat with a flea comb while he is outside EVERY TIME before you let him inside.
3. Spray cat with a solution of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar. Use this water to wash off the cat EVERY TIME he comes inside (and whenever else you want to, like before he sleeps with you.) Pat from Georgia says:
   

   I read on another website (written by a vet) about using ACV. You use 1/2 water & 1/2 ACV or just regular vinegar in a spray bottle. While you spray it on you also rub it into their skin. Apparently the fleas don’t like the smell or the taste of it and won’t stay on the cat.The article also said that cats don’t like the smell of vinegar. It seems to be working. My kitten isn’t scratching as much (hardly at all), but boy is he licking at the vinegar and water combination. The article also said that the vinegar and water combo will help heal the sores that were created from the scratching and biting.

Once a Week

1. Wash everything the cat lays on that can be thrown into the wash once a week including throw rugs, the pet’s bedding, and your bedding if she sleeps with you.

More about the WONDERS of Vacuuming

Vacuuming is perhaps the most important part of any nonchemical flea control program. A laboratory study done at the University of California showed that vacuuming catches about 96 percent of adult fleas.

In addition to capturing the adult fleas, vacuuming may help to dislodge eggs and larvae from the carpeting and bedding. It also stimulates emerging adults to leave their cocoons, so that they can be vacuumed up next time you vacuum.

Vacuuming tips:

• Locate heavily infested areas and concentrate efforts on these areas. Flea populations are highest in places where dogs or cats regularly sleep. Flea larvae are not usually found in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic or locations that receive exposure to sunlight; they are likely to be present in areas where adult fleas have left dried blood and feces.
• Vacuum floors, rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, and crevices around baseboards and cabinets daily or every other day to remove flea eggs, larvae, adults, and food sources. Vacuuming is very effective in picking up adults and stimulating preemerged adults to leave their cocoons. Shake a layer of salt onto your furniture and floor and leave it overnight. Vacuum in the morning, and throw out the bag. (Salt dehydrates and kills fleas.)
• Vacuum upholstered furniture. Remove and vacuum under cushions and in cracks and crevices of furniture.
• Vacuum carpets, especially beneath furniture and in areas frequented by pets.
• Flea eggs can survive and develop inside vacuum bags and adults may be able to escape to the outside, so immediately destroy bags by sealing them in a plastic trash bag and placing them in a covered trash container. or fasten a plastic bag over the end of the vacuum cleaner hose until you vacuum again.
• Continue to vacuum EVERY Day for 2 weeks to kill adult fleas that continue to emerge from pupal cocoons.once a day

Supplies

1. Apple Cider Vinegar (and/or lemon)
2. Rosemary leaves (if no one is pregnant)
3. Optional: Frontline or Advantage
4. Salt (the cheap kind)
5. Flea comb
6. Dawn dish soap, or natural cat shampoo
7. Flea control nematodes for your garden

Warnings

• Be careful of using too much of anything. Use moderation, do your own research. Notice your cat’s reactions.
• Watch your animals closely for any signs of sensitivity. Don’t introduce everything at once. Try one thing at a time so that you know if it will be too disruptive to your pet’s health or comfort.
• Pennyroyal is a known toxin. Be extremely careful in its usage. It can cause spontaneous abortions and should not by used by pregnant women or on pregnant pets.
• Cats should not be given any essential oils, period.

Cats do not efficiently metabolize essential oils and their use can lead to symptoms of toxicity. In addition to essential oils, cats have known metabolic sensitivities to certain herbal preparations and allopathic medications. Because the cat’s body does not efficiently excrete essential oils, they can build up to toxic levels. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, dizziness, clumsiness, lack of appetite, lack of energy and shock. In addition, cats have very thin, delicate skin. Essential oils are absorbed rapidly into their skin and enter the bloodstream, overwhelming their systems. Cats dislike strong odors and generally keep away from strong scents — even highly diluted essential oils.

Most people are aware of warnings that focus on the topical and oral administration of essential oils, but they are generally unaware that inhalation of essential oils can also be unsafe for your cat. Oils can affect a cat by absorption and inhalation just like for humans, and precautions should be used when repeatedly diffusing essential oils, since the development of liver damage can be a slow process without any visible symptoms

Many people find that they can use essential oils on their cats with no obvious adverse effects. Although one or more applications of an essential oil product or blend may not cause immediate harm, the effects of essential oils can be cumulative and manifest themselves at a later date in the form of toxicity for which owners and vets often can find no attributable cause.

• Do not use Tea Tree Oil on cats! Tea Tree Oil can cause nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and general weakness.

Additional ideas:

• Trap fleas. You can also use a shallow pie pan half full of water and a teaspoon of veg. oil in it. Place a light over the pan and darken the room. The fleas will come to the light and jump in the pan of oil and water and be trapped and will drown. Works very well if used in a very dark room.
• Wipe cat down with lemon water. Slice a lemon thinly, add to a pint of water and heat to the boiling point. Let it sit overnight and in the morning, rub it over your cat’s fur. Don’t soak but dampen the fur. Use this water to wash off the cat EVERY TIME he comes inside (and whenever else you want to, like before he sleeps with you.)

I tried the flea trap with our cat and it didn’t work, maybe we need to use a flea comb and comb him by the water.

Chart

So my roommate and I can share the flea be-gone duties.

[I can't seem to upload a picture of the chart right now. I'll upload it later when my internet is working better.]

Sign to post by the front door

Comb [cat's name here] with the flea comb before you let him inside!!! [Cat's name here] says THANK  YOU!

Remember to wipe him down with apple cider vinegar water as well.

Read More

Read the pages from which I stole liberally:

1. http://www.pesticide.org/fleas.html A Great article about Getting rid of fleas without chemicals.
   
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_flea All about CAT FLEAS. ooohhh groooosss.
3. http://www.wikihow.com/Kill-or-Repel-Fleas-Naturally Another article about how to kill fleas naturally.
4. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7419.html Useful info from UC Davis about killing fleas, although leaning heavily on chemicals to get rid of fleas.
5. http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Fleas  Another article about getting rid of fleas.
6. http://www.eartheasy.com/article_natural_flea_control.htm
7. http://eartheasy.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=S102 An electric flea trap I would like to get.
8. http://www.thelavendercat.com/3201/index.html Great article about the dangers of using essential oils on cats.
9. http://www.grizzlybird.net/2006/07/green-cat-flee-fleas-integrated-pest.html Great article which contrasts natural flea remedies for dogs with natural remedies for cats..
10. http://www.ehow.com/how_2066146_use-apple-cider-vinegar-pets.html An article promoting Apple Cider Vinegar for Cats.
11. http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/acv_for_cats.html Testimonials from folks about the benefits of using apple cider vinegar on their cats.
12. http://paws-on-floors.co.uk/catplants.html Helps you plant a cat friendly garden and choose cat friendly indoor plants.

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