Natural Insect Repellent Balm Recipes for Dogs, Puppies, Cats and Kittens

★ 5 min read

In this article:

1. Natural Insect Repellent Balm
1. Items You'll Need To Make The Balm
2. Select From These Essential oil and Hydrosol Options
1. Adult Dogs and Puppies Over 10 Weeks of Age
2.  Adult Cats and Kittens Over 10 Weeks of Age
3.  Puppies Under 10 Weeks of Age
4.  Kittens Under 10 Weeks of Age
3. Target the Type of Insect You Want to Repel
1. Options for Dogs and Puppies
1. Target Fleas
2. Target Mosquitoes
3. Target Ticks
   
2. Options for Cats and Kittens 
   
1. Target Fleas
2. Target Mosquitoes
3. Target Ticks
4. Insect Repellent Balm Recipe
5. Cautions
6. How To Use The Insect Repelling Balm
7. Cautions
8. The First Line of Defence Against Insects
   

Make your own all-natural homemade insect repellent balm for dogs and cats, puppies and kittens. This insect repellent balm recipe is:

1. Simple to make.
2. Made with coconut oil, essential oils or hydrosols.

Conventional insect deterrents are made with toxic synthetic pesticides that damage your companion animal's health and well-being. Discussed in detail here.

 

Go natural to protect your companion animal's overall health and well-being...
 

1.0 Natural Insect Repellent Balm

1.1 Items You'll Need to Make the Balm

1. A small glass, china or porcelain container with a lid

• To avoid transfer of toxins and carcinogens from metal and plastic containers avoid using metal and plastic containers

2. Organic, cold pressed, unrefined coconut oil

3. Essential oils or hydrosols

• Essential oil for dogs and cats
• Hydrosols for puppies and kittens 10 weeks of age or younger
• Hydrosols are a by-product of essential oil distillation and are gentler than essential oils.
• Don't use essential oils on puppies and kittens 10 weeks of age or younger

2.0 Essential Oil or Hydrosol Options

2.1 Adult Dogs and Puppies Over 10 Weeks of Age

Select three of the following essential oils:

• citronella
• lavender
• lemongrass
• peppermint
• sweet orange
• rose-geranium or catnip

2.2 Adult Cats and Kittens Over 10 Weeks of Age
Select from the following hydrosols:

• catnip
• lemongrass
• rose-geranium

2.3 Puppies Under 10 Weeks of Age

Select three of the following hydrosols:

• cat nip
• citronella
• lavender
• lemongrass
• peppermint
• sweet orange 
• rose-geranium

Kittens Under 10 Weeks of Age:
Select from the following hydrosols:

• cat-nip
• lemongrass
• rose-geranium
  

3.0  Target the Insect You Want to Repel

 

3.1 Options for Dogs and Puppies
  

After you've selected hydrosols or essentials oil based on your companion animal's age and species (canine or feline), use hte list below to target the type of insect you want to repel...

3.1.1 Target Fleas

Select from: 

• catnip
• citronella
• lavender
• lemongrass
• peppermint

3.1.2 Target Mosquitoes

Select from:

• catnip
• citronella
• lavender
• lemongrass
• sweet orange (only for dogs and puppies over 10 weeks of age)
• peppermint

3.1.3 Target Ticks 

Select from: 

• rose geranium
• lavender
• lemongrass
  

3.2 Options For Cats and Kittens

3.1.1 Target Fleas

Select from: 

• catnip
• lavender
• lemongrass

3.1.2 Target Mosquitoes

Select from: 

• catnip
• lavender
• lemongrass
  

3.1.3 Target Ticks

Select from:

• rose geranium
• lavender
• lemongrass

4.0 Insect Repellent Balm Recipe

Preparation

 

If the coconut oil is solid-hard, you'll need to soften it so it can be scooped out of the jar with a spoon and mixed.

 

To soften solid, hard coconut oil choose one of these options:

1. Place your coconut jar (lid tightly sealed) in the sink. Turn the faucet on (hot water). Run the water over the jar until the solid coconut oil softens.
   
2. Place the jar of coconut oil (lid tightly sealed) in a large bowl or sink filled with hot water. Allow the jar to sit in the water until the coconut oil is soft enough to scoop out.

Mix

Place the following ingredients in the glass jar:

• 1/8 cup coconut oil.
• Dogs and Puppies over 10 weeks of age: 
• 10 drops each of the three essential oils you selected from the list above.
• Cats and kittens over 10 weeks of age: 
• 6 drops each of the three hydrosols you selected from the list above.
• Puppies 10 weeks of age or younger: 
• 10 drops of the three hydrosols you selected from the list above.
• Kittens 10 weeks of age or younger: 
• 6 drops each of the three hydrosols oils you selected from the list above.

Cool and Store

1. If you had to warm the coconut oil to liquefy it, let the mixture sit at room temperature to cool and solidify.
2. If your room temperature is too warm to for the coconut oil to remain solid, put the mixture in the refrigerator – this will stop the balm from liquefying.

5.0 How To Use the Insect Repelling Balm

 

 

5.1 How To Apply The Balm

 

Take a little of the balm in your hands.

• Essential oils and hydrosols are very concentrated, even when diluted with a carrier oil (in this case coconut oil)
• Use sparingly - so for example for a small dog or cat weighing 10 pounds, you only need to use a drop of the balm

Rub your hands together. The friction will cause the balm to soften.

 
Rub your hands over your dog and cat’s fur. Avoid getting the mixture in your dog or cat's eyes.

 

5.2 How Often to Apply The Balm

 

If you are located in an area were insect infestation is bad, you may need to apply the balm 2x to 3x per day.

 

If your dog or cat goes swimming, gets wet in the rain, etc., re-apply the balm.

 

If you're living in an area were ticks are an issue, visual and physical inspections of your dog and cat are a must! Check several times a day during tick season.

 

6.0 Cautions

6.1 Safe Selection of Ingredients

1. Select from essential oils and hydrosols as specified.
2. Use only high quality essential oils and hydrosols.

6.2 Respect Your Companion Animal's Indications

If your dog, puppy, cat or kitten indicates they do not like the scent of a specific essential oil (dog) or hydrosol (dog, cat, puppy, kitten) respect the indication. 

 

Do not force it on your animal.

 

Learn more about self indication, self-selection:

• Go to this article.

7.0 The First Line of Defence Against Insects

Your dog, puppy, cat and kitten's first line of defense against insects and insect-borne disease is a species appropriate raw or gently cooked and fresh food diet. 

 

Topical deterrents are a secondary line of defence. Do not rely on topical deterrents as the only or sole method of defence.

 

A species appropriate (raw or gently cooked) diet plays a key role in protecting your companion animal from insects and insect-borne parasites and disease:

 

7.1 Species Inappropriate Diet

 

Highly processed pet food [dry, canned, wet food] acidifies the body, making [your dog and cat's body] a perfect host [attractive to] for insects and parasites.

 

Learn more about how highly processed food diets make your dog and cat highly vulnerable to insects, parasites and associated diseases:

• Go to this article.

 

7.2 Species Appropriate Diet

 

Learn about a species appropriate raw or gently cooked and fresh food diet for your puppy, dog, cat and kitten.

 

Go to this article.

 

Holistic Diet, Nutrition, Wellness Services Tailored to Your Individual Dog and Cat

 

For information about my holistic diet, nutrition, wellness services visit my:

Holistic wellness services page.

 

Maintain good health | Address acute and chronic health issues | Pre and post surgery support and recovery

 

My holistic wellness services are available worldwide via video consultation.

🌎  USA | Canada | UK | Europe | Australia | New Zealand | Asia | South and Central America | Africa | UAE

 

📱 FaceTime | Facebook | Skype | WhatsApp

 

To set-up your holistic wellness consultation get in-touch via email:

Contact me.

 

Holistic Behavioral Services For Your Dog

 

For information about my holistic behavioral services visit my:

Holistic behavioral services page.
 

For dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds

 

My holistic behavioral services are available locally in-person and worldwide via video session.
 

🌎  USA | Canada | UK | Europe | Australia | New Zealand | Asia | South and Central America | Africa | UAE

 

📱 FaceTime | Facebook | Skype | WhatsApp

 

To set-up your holistic behavioral session get in-touch via email:

Contact me.

 

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Article by Karen Rosenfeld