Six Home Remedies for Lice Infection in Cats

Yearly, several cat owners spend thousands of dollars on cat treatments. And this can be inconvenient, especially if your pet gets easily sick.

There are several issues that cats face. Some major ones include obesity, upset stomach, dry skin, hair loss, and lice infection. However, several cats suffer more lice infections; this makes life uncomfortable for them.

Luckily, asides from some OTC (over-the-counter) medication, there are homemade solutions that can help get rid of flea problems in your pet. So, while commercial lice medications are best for handling the issue, using a home remedy is also effective and saves you some money. However, it is best to consult a veterinarian for professional advice before trying these remedies.

Remedies for Lice Infection in Cats

There are several home remedies for treating lice infections. However, we will outline six effective ones here.

Cedar Chips

Cedar chips are used for various insect and pest control, and fleas are not left out. Bear in mind that there is a possibility that your cats may not like it. Nevertheless, it is very effective for removing lice.

To use it, you can spread it around your garden or close to your cat’s quilt. In addition, you can spray cedar oil on your pet’s fur or their collars. This is safe and can help remove the bugs quickly.

Lemons

Lemons offer several benefits to both humans and pets. This is because it contains citric acid and is also a natural killer of fleas.

To treat lice infection using lemons, you can use a warm solution. To prepare it, first, slice some lemons and boil. After that, allow it to steep for some hours, and then drain the liquid. Finally, transfer the liquid into a spray container.

Ensure that you spray it gently on your pet’s fur, avoiding their eyes. Also, watch out for any sign of irritation like redness. You can repeat the procedure several times until the lice are gone.

Some cats hate water – almost all cats do. However, you can try brushing out the fleas by dipping a comb into the lemon solution. And if you are concerned that this might not eliminate all the lice, you can add some lemon solution in your laundry as you wash your cat’s beddings.

Spices

Are your cats suffering lice infections? Why not spice up those little kittens with some natural ingredients. Spices are among the simplest things that can eliminate fleas. You can click on https://www.thespruceeats.com/ to read more about them.

Oregano oil contains a compound – carvacrol. This compound contributes to its effectiveness in eliminating fleas. However, you need to prepare a solution first before use.

To prepare, mix some oregano oil, precisely one teaspoon, with four spoons of olive oils. Then apply tiny amounts to areas like ears, neck, tail, and stomach – fleas usually congregate there. Also, you can grind some rosemary leaves into powder and spread it around the places your pet hangs out, like the garden.

Some cats might resist application to their fur, and if this is your cat, you can use another procedure. You can mix some small amounts of cumin powder in your pet’s food. This will make their skin less appetizing to the fleas.

Furthermore, if you do not have the spices mentioned above, some table salt will help do the job. Since table salt helps dehydration, it can kill the lice on your pets. 

Also, by sprinkling some salt solution around your house, you can kill the fleas or their eggs that might be hanging around. However, note that using spices like garlic in large amounts can be dangerous to your cat’s health.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another anti-lice product that you can get at grocery stores. Although it is not as effective as the other remedies above, apple cedar vinegar causes fleas to leave the pet’s body. And this way, you can tackle the problem better.

To prepare, mix some apple cider with water using a ratio of 2:1 and spray the mixture on your pet’s hair coat. However, remember that you might have to apply this treatment several times before your kitten is free of fleas.

Also, ensure that you clean the entire surrounding thoroughly using a vacuum cleaner. Then immediately remove food bowls, garbage cans, bird feeders, and wash all the beddings using hot water. And ensure that you take away anything that can attract any wildlife to avoid re-infecting your pet.

Dish Soap

Dish soap is unbelievably a lice treatment and is effective in exterminating lice. This is because it kills them within minutes by breaking down their exoskeleton.

The procedure requires a spray container containing some water and some dish soap. You can start by wetting your cat’s body with water. Then gently scrub it using the soap – focus on places that fleas are likely to hide, then rinse. You can watch this article to learn how to make dish soap.

Furthermore, eliminating the lice around your home is best. And you can do this by filling a bowl with warm and soapy water; place it near a light source like your window area. Since light attracts them, they will drown inside the liquid.

Lavender

Finally, here is our last remedy suggestion for this article. Recent studies have suggested that solutions of lavender are as effective as some commercial chemical lice spray. In fact, lavender is generally known for its quick action against fleas. And can even help your cat take a nap.

To use lavender, steep the fresh lavender in warm water overnight, then strain the liquid. After that, you can spray gently on your pet’s hair coat – do not rinse.

Conclusion

Our pets can easily get exposed to infections and sicknesses. And it is our place to ensure that they are well catered for and in good health. But, regular pet care and treatments can be expensive. Therefore, knowing some home remedies is very helpful.