Natural treatments for a cat with fleas?

[slightlycrunchyann]

My cat is incredibly flea-prone, even though she's an indoor cat. Frontline is so expensive and difficult to put on her since it has to be right on the skin and it's hard to do that with her struggling the whole time we're trying to get it on her. I'm not wild about using it anyway, with small children in the house. What else can I put on her? I know, too, that there may be some flea eggs in our carpet, is vacuuming a lot the best treatment or is there something else I can put down? Thanks!

[Spastica]

I personally use the commercial anti-flea treatment on my dog and have found that it wards off fleas for him and keeps my apartment from getting fleas. You're right though, it's more expensive than other methods.

I can't say with confidence what you should use on your cat, but I can give some help for your carpet.

Arm and Hammer has a Carpet powder for people with pets. I've read the ingredients and it's pretty much baking soda with a lot of pet-friendly essential oils. These same essential oils are insect repellents. You can try using that all over the house and waiting a day. You can even get your children to help mash the powder into the carpet (tell them to run around).

The next day you can vacuum up your carpet and hopefully that will get rid of some of the fleas.

This link will tell you what natural products are okay for cats and what aren't.
http://www.cybercanine.com/aromalingo.htm

I found these online, maybe these will help:
http://www.fleaaway.com/
http://www.homeovet.net/content/lifestyle/section3.html
http://healing.about.com/od/petcare/...ral+pet+health

[Ann-Marita]

Diatomacious earth, a natural, non-toxic pest control. Usually available at nurseries. Do not get "pool grade" (it's also used for filters), get what I think is called "food grade".

It's good stuff. The bugs walk through it, and the tiny chrystalline structure of the diatomacious earth cuts the bugs' exoskeleton and they die of dehydration. I've also heard that the bugs have to eat it, but I really think they just have to walk through it.

I put it in a recycled spice jar with a shaker lid, and apply to the back of the cat and sort of rub in. It takes a day or two to show an effect.

[slightlycrunchyann]

Thanks for the tips!

[mamangazelle]

If you can't find Diatomacious earth localy, I've seen it on ebay before.

[mama_daba]

my vet doesn't like Diatomacious earth she says studies have shown it causes cancer in rabbits, i didn't ask he for specifics and havn't looked up the study or read it, but she seems to feel strongly against it