Garlic and Fleas

[whiskey104]

Hi, I am just wondering if I would be able to put garlic in my cats food to help get rid of fleas. I am only asking because the flea treatment that I have been using doesn't work anymore.

Thank you.

[whiskey104]

Awesome thank you. I am in Victoria. The only thing I have really found is lavender

[FurballsMom]

I did a search for buying DE in Australia.  One site on this search page mentions Queensland specifically.  I don't know which part of Australia you're in, but this search page does mention Australia specifically in a couple of the addresses I noticed.  I did look at the one, and that's when I saw that it mentioned Queensland.

Anyway, here is the search page...

http://www.myqwest.com/search/index.php?q=where%20to%20buy%20diatomaceous%20earth%20in%20Australia&context=toolbar10

[whiskey104]

I used the flea treatment from the vet since He was a baby and for the last couple of months it hasnt worked. I have treated my house for fleas and everything else. I have tried all different flea treatments but nothing wants to work.
I have googled all the natural flea plants and remedies but I just dont know what one to use..
Keep in mind i'm is Australia

[FurballsMom]

Absolutely, what Opus88 said about the DE is true.  You do have to be cautious, which I definitely was when I used it.  I learned about it from a friend who sent me a link to Flea Busters which talked about DE.  I didn't use Flea Busters as a service, but I did get useful information.  There is a lot of information about the proper use of the DE, too.  There is some information also on the box.  I saw information about using in on pets.  I did not resort to this, because of the possibility of causing lung and eye issues on Akira.  But, I did get rid of them in the environment, and that made all the difference.  I think I did use one of the chemical treatments I had left, but as I've become much more sensitive to stuff since and I know that animals can have serious reactions to the stuff, I wouldn't be able to do this again.  However, the combination of getting the things off of the animal and getting them out of the environment with the DE was super effective.  And, yes, I did use a dust mask while applying.  I was also very cautious about not allowing it to get stirred into the air, and I was very careful about placing it where Akira wouldn't come into direct contact with the stuff.  Placing it in the crevices of furniture and under cushions and such is very important.  Plus, this is out of direct contact with the pet.  Also, I washed the pet's bedding thoroughly and placed some DE UNDER the clean bedding.  Since this is an indoor only kitty, once the fleas were gone we haven't had any since.

[swampcritter]

Unfortunately, the only thing Swampy's ever gotten to work on fleas is good old fashioned chemicals.

If you do go the "old fashioned chemicals route", follow label directions to the letter. Make certain the products are used are specifically safe for cats.

And -- watch your cat and take immediate action if anything bad happens.

[spirit3]

nono no!! garlic & onions are very toxic to kitties!! I'm sure that's what opus88 said-i whizzed right by it-but NEVER give your cats food w/onion, garlic, scallions, or anything like that in it-it causes anemia.
as to fleas-happily i've never had to deal with them and bow to the experts on that topic!! Good luck!!!

[opus88]

thats a great treatment furballsmom...you are right, its very effective...just a word of caution tho, DE can cause extreme lung irritation for humans and pets..handle the powder carefully and don't allow to fly around and breath in....best to wear a mask while sprinkling around so its not inhaled. rub well into the carpets and upholstery let sit overnight or up to 24 hrs if possible than vacuum thoroughly. I've never had to use it but heard its very effective. thanks for posting this info...♥

[FurballsMom]

Get help through the vet, but consider treating the home with diatomaceous earth, which you get at your plant nursery.  This is a safe and even natural method for killing all three stages of the flea's life cycle.  Also, if kitty is going outside, do some online research for some other natural flea removal such as using nematodes in the damp shady areas of your property.  It's not a perfect solution if kitty doesn't stay in its own yard, but it should greatly reduce the chance of total flea reinfestation.  The only other way to ensure that you don't get reinfested is to totally get rid of the things in the home with the diatomaceous earth then keep kitty indoors.  Fleas jump on our pets when they are in damp shady grassy areas.  I learned this while doing my own research for natural flea removal.  I myself have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, so I had to find a chemical free approach.  I used the diatomaceous earth successfully inside the apartment where the kitty is an indoor only kitty--aside from going out on the balcony on a top floor apartment where there are no fleas.  We have not had a reinfestation in the years since I killed them that first season we were in this apartment.

[opus88]

NEVER EVER give a cat garlic....its TOXIC to cats..

what are you using for flea treatment? Its important to be using one avail thru your local Vet and not something from a store, also there could be fleas in your carpets and kitty is just becoming reinfected thats why it appears the treatment isn't working??

[cblin999]

Could you please tell us about where you learned that garlic is toxic for cats? One study at least would be helpful. Thank you.

[AnnieBrooke]

Back in my cat-show days, people would give their kitties fermented garlic in their food as a flea control measure. The pet poison helpline center says garlic is poisonous to cats, here is a link. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/garlic/

Possibly the reason there were not ill effects in the show cats treated with fermented garlic was that it was fermented. (You would buy it in a jar.) Pickling does a lot of chemical change to foods. But given the assertions in the link I gave you above, it might not be worth the risk, even if you can find fermented garlic.