Discourage Fleas with Garlic

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated February 17, 2009)

If fleas are your cat's constant companions here is a tip to get rid of fleas with garlic. You always knew that you could ward off vampires with garlic, but who knew that garlic could work to ward off fleas? (And I guess when you think about it, both fleas and vampires have some sort of relation to blood . . .). Regardless of the flea-vampire relationship, you actually can use garlic to rid your cat of fleas!

My grandma always joked around about feeding me garlic when I was a teenager to keep the boys away (oh, the great bias of grandmas). Grandma had a point—garlic breath definitely would serve as a red flag for any semi-interested boy, and the same principle applies to cats and fleas. If you give your cat a garlic capsule (just look in any well-stocked pet store) every other day, your cat will emit a garlicky smell that the fleas will most surely be able to detect. You can also use this tactic with dogs and fleas.

So, vampires and boys are basically the same as fleas. All aforementioned entities are averted by garlic. Garlic is truly smelly and can smell for a long time afterward—it's perfect to force the fleas out of your pet's fur! You probably never thought about dogs and cats having garlic breath, but fortunately this truth can work in your favor and your pet's favor. It's a simple tactic and one that you can always utilize in case of fleas. With a pet that smells like garlic to a domiciling flea, the flea will most surely look for a better-smelling host.

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Dealing with Beetles

While there are many species and varieties of beetle, certainly the most destructive is the flour beetle, or pantry ...

Discover More

Treat Your Pets to a Safe Halloween

Halloween can understandably be a stressful holiday for your pets, and so you should make it as least stressful as ...

Discover More

Boost the Quality of Cheaper Dog and Cat Food

If you buy the cheaper, more generic pet food, you may have noticed that your pet isn't too into that plan. Make your ...

Discover More
More Pet Tips

Fight Fleas with Rosemary or Eucalyptus Shavings

Fleas are nasty and anything you can do to deter fleas from your pets is a good thing. Try using rosemary and eucalyptus ...

Discover More

Use Vinegar to Prevent Fleas

If your pet is suffering from fleas, then as a pet owner, there are a few things you can do to help your pet out. By ...

Discover More

Eliminate Fleas in Your Yard with Water

If you have fleas in your yard, then that doe not bode well for your pets. Pets can attract fleas without any effort, and ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)