Since cats can be very sensitive to certain chemicals, it’s a good idea to purchase dried herbs that are organic so you can be confident they have not been treated with pesticides that may harm your cat. Do not use neem oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil as a substitute for the dried herbs because these could be toxic to your cat. As long as they are not in essential oil form, these herbs are safe to apply to your cat even if it ingests the mixture while licking its hair or skin.
Vinegar kills fleas, and the herbs also repel fleas while offering skin-soothing benefits to your cat. If you are unable to locate these herbs or are looking for a faster solution to your cat’s flea problem, you can add 2 cups of white vinegar to your cat’s bath or comb the vinegar through their fur. [4] X Research source
You can discard the dried herbs at this point. Cheesecloth, a gauze-like cotton cloth, can usually be purchased at grocery stores or hardware stores.
If you are repurposing an old spray bottle or if it had a different mixture in it previously, it’s important to carefully clean the bottle to make sure there are no chemicals in it that might hurt your cat. A funnel can be a useful tool to fill the spray bottle without spilling any of the solution.
The aloe vera is optional, but it will help soothe your cat’s irritated skin.
You might find it easier to do this while grooming your cat with a flea comb or brush. This will ensure that the spray is applied evenly to all areas, and you’ll probably get rid of some fleas right away. To dispose of fleas with the comb, dip it into a container of water with a little dish soap. [10] X Research source
You can also grow your own lavender by either buying seeds or the plant itself any place that has a garden area.
A mason jar with a secure lid works well.
A funnel can make it easier to pour the lavender water into the clean spray bottle.
Your cat might not like the spraying noise or the feeling of being wet, so it can be helpful to have someone hold the cat still and prevent it from running away or clawing you. Avoid the eye, mouth, and nose area so the lavender water does not sting these sensitive places.
Buying organic rosemary will help ensure there are no pesticides or chemicals on it that may harm your cat. Make sure not to purchase rosemary pea or rosemary bog, because these plants are toxic to cats. If you have rosemary in your garden or backyard, feel free to use it.
You can pull off the rosemary leaves from the branch or just leave them on. The leaves may start to separate from the stalk once the boiling occurs, but that’s not a problem since you are just infusing the water with the rosemary.
You can discard the rosemary after separating it from the infused water.
Avoid the eyes and nose because the rosemary water might sting these sensitive areas.
Look for a product that does not have additional herbs in it, because these ingredients may not help relieve the itchiness or irritation that results from flea bites. Both tea bags and looseleaf chamomile tea will work, so pick whichever option you prefer. While tea bags are more convenient, looseleaf tea is often stronger, which will make it more effective at relieving your cat’s itching. The leaves of looseleaf tea can also sometimes be used more than once. Keep in mind that if you go with looseleaf tea, you’ll need brewing equipment such as an infuser or brew basket. [20] X Research source
Don’t be afraid to let the tea steep for 15 to 30 minutes. You won’t be applying the hot tea to your cat, so it’s not a problem if it gets lukewarm. If you are using smaller size tea bags, you may need to use several to make the tea more potent.
It won’t be a problem to let it sit in the fridge overnight. If you are trying to make the mixture quickly, you can place the brewed tea in the freezer for a couple minutes to cool it down fast.
Use a new spray bottle or thoroughly clean an existing one so that you know it does not contain any ingredients or substances that might be toxic to your cat. Since the mouth on many spray bottles is narrow, a small funnel can make this process less messy and ensure as much of the tea as possible actually makes it into the spray bottle. If you have extra tea that won’t fit in the spray bottle, store it in a container in the fridge so you’ll be able to have the next batch ready when it’s time to reload the bottle.
Chamomile also acts as a disinfectant, and will kill yeast and bacteria that might irritate your cat’s skin. There’s no need to rinse the tea off your cat. It will work better if it has time to sit on the skin.
If your cat’s ears also seem irritated from flea bites or other skin issues, you can add a splash of distilled white vinegar to the chamomile tea and use this to clean your pet’s ears.
