Protect your pets with these methods of natural flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats. Use your choice of homemade flea and tick spray, powder, or shampoo.
With tick-borne illnesses on the rise, you may be looking for ways to prevent your furry friends from picking up these unwelcome parasites and bringing them into your home. Not only can ticks spread disease, but they can also cause skin problems and even anemia in cats and dogs.
I spent most of my time as a veterinary technician advising clients on how to prevent and treat flea and tick problems. No wonder flea and tick products make up a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S.
Even when something is advertised as “natural,” always check the label for ingredients — some products do include “herbal” ingredients, such as sage, rosemary, lemongrass, or geranium, but when they’re combined with loads of other chemical ingredients, they’re not a safe (or particularly effective) solution.
Thankfully, several herbal solutions can repel fleas and ticks, and homemade flea and tick spray, shampoo, and powder are easy to make and use at home.
Natural Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs and Cats
Controlling fleas and ticks requires several different strategies for taking care of both your pets and your home. Cleaning your house and grooming your pets are the first steps to an effective pest-control plan.
Cleaning Your House
Start with pet bedding by unzipping any removable covers and washing them in hot, soapy water. Put any other bedding in the same load if your pet spends a lot of time on your bed. Adding a few drops of lemongrass, rosemary, geranium, or peppermint essential oils to the load will help repel fleas and ticks.
Vacuum any carpets or rugs regularly (at least once a week), and throw away the vacuum bags in an outdoor bin. Clean the vacuum canisters with hot, soapy water and allow them to dry completely. Alternatively, clean them with vodka or rubbing alcohol and allow them to dry completely before putting them back into the vacuum. Pay extra attention to places where your pets sleep and under furniture in the rooms where they sleep.
In rooms without carpeting, pick up rugs and mop the floors regularly. Use hot, soapy water with just a few drops of lavender, rosemary, peppermint, or lemongrass essential oil to help repel pests. Don’t use more than 3 drops in 5 gallons of water, and never add essential oils to commercial cleaning products.
Grooming Your Pets
Brush your cats and brush and wash your dogs on a regular basis if they spend time outdoors. (Unless they’re having trouble grooming themselves, cats rarely need a bath.) The best way to comb your cat or dog is with a flea comb — these are available in pet supply stores, online, or from your veterinarian or groomer. Make sure you get the comb through your pet’s fur as far down to the skin as possible.
Every few strokes, remove any buildup from the comb using a white or light-colored tissue or paper towel. If you see any tiny black specks, put a few drops of water on the paper towel. If it turns red, that’s flea poop. You may even see a few actual fleas hanging out on your pet. Take all the buildup from the paper towel and put it into a glass jar full of hot, soapy water (any soap will do, but I prefer to use dishwashing liquid), put the lid on the jar, give the jar a good shake, and pour the water down the toilet.
Clean the comb by washing it in hot, soapy water or dousing it in vodka or rubbing alcohol, and allow it to dry completely before using it again, especially if you have more than one pet.
You can also wash your dogs with a homemade shampoo once or twice a month. These shampoos are great if your dog’s skin is irritated from bites and can give your pet some relief without artificial chemicals.
Recipes for Homemade Flea and Tick Spray, Powder, and Shampoo
My Favorite Herbal Flea and Tick Powder
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups food-grade diatomaceous earth
- 1/4 cup lemongrass powder
- 1/4 cup neem leaf powder
- 10 drops essential oil of your choice: lemongrass, geranium, rosemary, or lavender (optional)
- 1/4 cup dried lavender leaves or flowers, whole or powder (optional)
Instructions and Use
This is a recipe I keep coming back to, year after year. We’ve affectionately nicknamed it “Tucker Seasoning” after our dog Tucker, and because my husband got the bright idea to package the finished product in a recycled spice container with a shaker lid. This recipe for natural flea and tick protection for dogs, makes enough powder for about three applications to our small 25-pound dog.
In a small nonreactive bowl (glass is best), mix together ingredients. For application, put into a container with a shaker lid. For best results when applying, take your dog outside, and avoid getting the powder in your dog’s eyes, nose, or mouth. We give our dog a good brushing before applying the powder. Rub the powder down the fur into the skin. For young dogs, dogs under 5 pounds, or elderly dogs, apply small amounts at a time (no more than 1 tablespoon) and gently rub or massage it into their fur to make sure they don’t inhale it.
Base for Herbal Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs
Ingredients
- 7/8 cup purified water
- 1 tablespoon unscented liquid castile soap or baby soap
- 1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil (for diluting
essential oils) - 3 drops rosemary essential oil and
- 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Instructions and Use
Add all ingredients to a plastic squeeze bottle.
Put the cap back on the squeeze bottle and shake well until all ingredients are combined, then let the mixture rest for at least one hour before using. Label the bottle with the ingredients and the date. Stored away from light and heat, these shampoos will last up to one year.
When bathing small dogs (under 20 pounds), use only 1 tablespoon of this homemade shampoo. For larger dogs with thicker fur, use about 1/4 cup of shampoo each time you bathe them.
Completely and thoroughly rinse the shampoo off to avoid them accidentally ingesting any of the essential oil used.
Homemade Flea and Tick Spray with Tick-Repelling Basil
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 4 tablespoons dried basil (or 8 heaping teaspoons fresh)
Instructions and Use
If you prefer to spritz your pet (and if your pet prefers to be spritzed), you can make an effective tick repellent using fresh or dried basil. Just bring 4 cups water to a boil and add 4 tablespoons dried basil, or 8 heaping teaspoons fresh chopped basil. Cover and allow it to steep for at least 2 hours. Once the mixture has cooled, strain and pour into two 16-ounce spray bottles. It’ll stay fresh in the fridge for about a week.
To prevent ticks from latching on and coming home with you, apply this spray every time you take your pet outside. Reapply several times if you’re outdoors with your pet all day. You can even spray down your own socks and shoes if you’re hiking on the trail. Just pack a little spray bottle in your gear, and you’ll be good to go!
Holistic Veterinary Safety: Can You Use Essential Oils on Pets?
Essential oils must be used properly, preferably under the guidance of a holistic veterinarian. Don’t use essential oils on puppies less than 1 year old, and avoid using them on cats entirely. Young puppies and cats are more likely to experience toxicity and possibly poisoning if they ingest essential oils, even in low dosages. It’s never safe to use undiluted essential oils directly on your cat, your dog, or yourself.
Jennifer VanBenschoten lives in New York, where she raises chickens, keeps bees, and grows her own food. She enjoys cooking, writing, teaching yoga, and creating handmade beaded jewelry.
Originally published as “Herbal Flea & Tick Remedies” in the August/September 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.
