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The Lion, The Itch, And The Vacuum (Flea Control)

Ok, maybe not a “lion”, but a domestic cat or dog…

Flea larva & egg

A couple years ago, scientists proved what proponents of non-toxic living have been saying fora  long time:

Vacuuming alone kills fleas! No need for chemical sprays, powders, or topical ointments.

In 2007, a University of California study proved that vacuuming kills 96% of adult fleas and 100% of younger fleas!

Flea under micrograph

“No matter what vacuum a flea gets sucked into, it’s probably a one-way trip,” said Glen Needham, one of the study’s co-authors. “Vacuuming is a great strategy because it involves no chemicals and physically removes the problem.”

They believe the brushes scrape and scuff the waxy outer layer on fleas (called the “cuticle”), which causes them to dry up & die.“We didn’t do a post-mortem, so we don’t know for sure. But it appears that the physical abuse they took caused them to perish,” Needham said.

Vacuuming also eliminates the food sources for the larvae so those that don’t get sucked up into the dust bag still can’t survive.

I’ve lived with several cats who were allergic to fleas, and I have chemical sensitivities, so this was great news to me! These cats bite and scratch at their red, irritated skin. One did so much licking and scratching that he’d get bald spots, poor fella. When we did get a flea infestation, I could simply vacuum every 3-4 days for a few weeks and the fleas would be under control again.

Cat with flea allergy dermatitis

Since I started pet sitting, I’ve exposed the cats to fleas too many times, so I must admit that I treat my cats with Frontline on a regular basis. True, there are non-toxic, “natural” topical flea drops, these aren’t necessarily any safer for the cats. Very few scientific studies have been done on the “natural” alternatives and some of them contain ingredients that can cause problems. For example, many contain cedar oil, pennyroyal oil, or citrus – all of which pose health risks for cats. The chemical drops have gone through extensive testing and we know they’re fairly safe.

I make sure the vacuum sucks up all the places where dust (and flea eggs) accumulates: carpeted cat trees, couch & chair cushions, underneath couch & chair cushions, along the floor moldings… anyplace where loose change and cracker crumbs gather.

At the same time as I vacuum, I wash all the blankets, drapes, covers on throw pillows, and cat bedding.

Due to my cats’ allergies, I also take an extra step to make sure to kill any uber-strong adult fleas who might live through being sucked up in the vacuum. I sprinkle a little Borax (boric acid) on the rug and vacuum it up before I actually make the rounds. Using Diatomaceous Earth (natural grade not pool grade!) has a similar effect but is a bit harder to come by. I’ve heard of people vacuuming up moth balls for the same reason, but moth balls are extremely toxic to both animals and humans. I found this out the hard way – by trying it twice  & getting very sick both times.

Another safe tactic some people take when they’re worried about those 4% of of adult fleas who survive their adventure with the vacuum, is to immediately remove the dust/vacuum bag from the machine, seal it in a plastic bag, and toss it outside in a trash can immediately.

(Types of fleas are named after their main host. The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) lives primarily on domestic cats, but this is also the main flea infesting dogs. Among the other types of fleas are rat fleas & human fleas.)

Dog with flea allergy dermatitis - OUCH

Select sources

  • Berthold-Bond, Annie. Better basics for the home: Simple solutions for less toxic living. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999.
  • Cat flea” from A Field guide to common Texas insects. AgriLIFE Extension. Texas A&M. 17 Jan 2011.
  • Cat fleas’ journey into the vacuum is a one-way trip” from Science daily. 22 Dec 2007. 15 Jan 2011.
  • Hink, W. Fred and Glen Ray Needham. “Vacuuming is lethal to all postembryonic life stages of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis” from Entomologia experimentalis et applicata. Vol. 125: 221-222. (Nov 2007). 15 Jan 2011.
  • Lyon, William F. “Fleas” from Fact Sheets. Ohioline. Insect and pest series. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Extension. 17 Jan 2011.
  • Messonnier, Shawn. Natural health bible for dogs and cats. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2001.
  • Wulff-Tilford, Mary and Greg Tilford. All you ever wanted to know about herbs for pets. Irvine: Bow Tie Press, 1999.
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