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Does peppermint oil work for fleas with cats and dogs in the house?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 3 years and 1 month old | 9 lbs

Can I spray peppermint oil around the house for fleas with cats and a dog in the house

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 27th, 2018

I am afraid peppermint oil will just smell very nice but will not touch the fleas, You would be better off doing the following: Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your dog when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment:  1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas. Flea products: Spot-ons: Advantage, Advantix Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK) Frontline (ticks as well) Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats, in tablet form for dogs Revolution (stronghold in the UK) Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once) Collar: Seresto (ticks as well) House spray: Indoorex

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