Healthy and Green Living

I use nutritional yeast for my cats and dog. IG regulator is a non-toxic spray (once it is dry) that kills flea eggs on carpets and furniture for 9 months. Make sure you keep your pets off the carpet or furniture until it is dry. Borax is toxic to animals if ingested. I actually had a vet tell me once to sprinkle it on my cats! Luckily, I delved further to find out how bad this was. Flea combs are also effective, and a good way to bond with your pet - my cats love it.

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I agree with Jeanienne---Borax products are unbelievably effective for preventing fleas. Years ago a friend of mine with a baby in the crawling stage called an organic pest company and secretly discovered that they put powdered boric acid on small carpet squares under the furniture and charged her $100! It works like magic. I spread it around once a year--in spring before fleas start to hatch. I have 2 outside/inside cats and we never have a moment's problem. I just use the boric acid (for ants) from the dollar store. Sprinkle it around so it goes in the corners and crevices of all your floors and work it into carpets with a broom. Then clean up and vacuum areas where people walk. Even the CDC says this is harmless. I don't know why more people don't try this. It is easy and very effective an lasts a year.

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I love the idea of using only natural products on animals. Some cats do "allow" you to bathe them and other cats definitely do not. I'm all about organic natural products but I too use Advantage on my cats and dogs and in my opinion it works the best. I've tried alternative methods and almost ended up killing my 12 year old cat. Vet bill was horrendous and broke my heart to know I had caused him pain and illness. He was allergic to the natural product and he went into shallow breathing that caused massive nerve damage and with all that managed to pull through because he was healthy going into it.

Quote from the article: "The best defense against fleas seems to be a healthy overall immune system. Keep your cat in top form by feeding them a diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6 oils."

Keep your cat healthy by feeding them well and using flea and tick prevention, if a natural remedy works for you that’s wonderful but it didn’t on my cat and caused heartache and pain.

I've found the salt, baking soda and Borax work well for carpets and bedding for flea and ticks.

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A PINCH of garlic works; too much can be poisoness. Spritzing Avon's Skin So Soft works well too. Dr. Pitcairn's books give a lot of natural remedies for both dogs and cats. It's a must read if you have a pet.

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Be wary of the "natural" flea and tick spot treatments. They are very hard on sensitive skin and burned the skin of both of my cats so the hair actually fell out. We use advantage, because of that.
Bathing IS a joke. If you have a cat you can bathe, lucky for you. If not, I'd go for a spot treatment.
NEVER use Garlic - this article says that, but a comment in here contradicts it. Be careful. Kitties are like little aliens - their liver does not deal with toxins the same as people (and even dogs, for the most part)

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I wonder if you are not doing it right or failed to train your pet. Our cats don't particularly like it but they sit calmly and let us do it. Even my brothers two cats who haven't been trained allow us to do it and they are outdoor tought cats.

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Can i just say it is not easy bathing a cat. My little ones bite and scratch and when i say little its ironic, only the mother is tiny. the two boys and thier sister way about 20 each, give a little not less. So its definetally not easy to rinse a screaming and squirmy cat. Its not worth it we get more wet then our babies do.

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Never use topical chemicals on your pet. Just because you can't see your pet flop over and die doesn't mean you aren't doing terrible harm to their organs- ever heard of liver or kidney disease?
Also, bathing a cat is easy. Use the kitchen sink. Put very warm water in the bottom then the cat. Use a cup to wet the cat unless they are used to the sprayer. That is the part that is most likely to scare. Then put them in the other half of the sink with some water to rinse, Drain, turn water on low and use a cup to rinse more. Very easy! Only use organic shampoo's made for pets or babies only. No chemical shampoos ever!!

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I have several cats and a dog, and this is the one time I use a non-herbal topical product like frontline plus or advantage because THEY WORK. I am always one for using natural remedies, but sometimes - especially with an infestation - you need help. These topical ointments are safe for kittens and puppies over 10 weeks old, and work immediately. I keep my cats indoors so I only have to treat them once, and my dog I treat once in June & he's good for the summer! I've never had a flea problem and I run a cat rescue, nor have these products ever caused any ill effects, particularly when used correctly. Years ago, I used to initially bathe new comers, & that was "torture" for both the cat and me! This is a simple, safe resolution to rid fleas, so why "experiment" with several green remedies that may or may not work, and put your pet out of his itchy misery asap. Fleas cause worms and several other health issues, so I say: Nip it in the bud & eliminate those bloodsucking fleas from your pets asap! This way is much less stressfull, as well. (My 2 cents.) >^..^

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Bathe a cat!!! I love how these articles say bathe your cat. How do you do that exactly? Not many cats like water. Any suggestions?

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