Critter Oil®

Not only does it kill and repel fleas naturally, but it has so many uses- and improves the health

Want a natural essential-oil blend that repels fleas and improves your pet's skin and coat?

Reviewed by Ann Pruitt, InfoHorse.com · Updated June 2026

Critter Oil®

Critter Oil® By Naturals For Animals
Critter Oil Works! Not only does it kill and repel fleas naturally, but it has so many uses- and improves the health of your pet’s skin and coat!

About Our Company

In 1987, Holistic Pet Care Consultant, Susan R Griffin, developed and began using in her grooming shop, The Clip Joint, a special blend of pure essential herbal oils, which she called Critter Oil®. She chose this name because Critter Oil® is usable on every kind of 4 legged and 2 legged “critter” including people, and because it helps eliminate all kinds of unwanted “critters”. Critter Oil was designed to be the ultimate, most versatile, and safest skin, coat, and environmental care product on the market today.

Critter Oil®

Critter Oil® was designed to be the ultimate, most versatile, and safest skin, coat, and environmental care product on the market today. By combining Critter Oil's 100% natural, essential herbal oils, with common household ingredients, using the simple, "do it yourself" instructions in the package, you no longer are paying top dollar for 97% inert ingredients (the sudsy stuff, water and other carrier agents). Critter Oil does it all and replaces Hundreds of dollars worth of other products Safely and Naturally!! Here are the products Critter Oil replaces:

Natural Flea & Pest Control Shampoo & Spray: Replaces toxic flea and pest control shampoos, sprays or dangerous spot on the back treatments which are currently under investigation by the EPA for harming, even killing, pets. Critter Oil is safe for yourself, your kids, and your companion animals.

Medicated Shampoo & Spray: Several of the oils in Critter Oil have natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which help eliminate skin damage from insect bites, allergies, staff infections, fungal infections, mites, rashes, etc.

Coat Conditioning, Color Enhancing and Whitening: Critter Oil absorbs into the hair (it doesn’t just coat it) making it beautifully conditioned by enhancing its’ naturally silky texture and making it absolutely glow in the sunlight. It eliminates the need to purchase medicated shampoos, color enhancing and whitening shampoos, and conditioners.

Lawn and Plant Spray: No more buying dangerous, toxic pesticides or fungicides for lawns, trees, indoor or outdoor plants!

Carpet Powder and Home Pest Control: Not only does using Critter Oil‘s carpet powder formula eliminate fleas and other pests in your home, but used in your mop water or steam cleaner, it will help clean and disinfect floors while deterring unwanted bugs as well as making your home smell fresh and clean. Many clients have discovered that when used in a refillable plug in air freshener bottle or in a reed oil diffuser, Critter Oil helps repel flying insects as well as freshen the air. It also removes grease, oil and crayon marks as well, clients have reported.

How Do I Make The Critter Oil Formulas?

Ok, each Bottle of Critter Oil can be made in to different formulas (yes, you make your own and it is Super Easy!) to help your dogs or cats. The recipes for these formulas are easy and most consist of using water, Critter Oil and Dawn Liquid Soap (in the Original “Blue”… not the Anti-Bacterial). Super easy to put together, Critter Oil can even be used to kill funguses on your plants or repel fleas in your yard. Just see our Formulas page and you will see how Easy it is to make one bottle of Critter Oil last for a long Long time!

Is Critter Oil Safe?

Critter Oil was formulated with the help of a PhD Organic chemist who made sure that each oil was carefully selected for safety. All are considered G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the human cosmetic industry. When used according to any of the directions offered in the instruction sheet, the oils are used in levels well below any individual harmful level for people or animals. For that reason it is safe to use on babies, and pregnant or nursing mothers.

What Makes Critter Oil Unique?
Critter Oil's proprietary blend of 15 pure essential herbal oils was designed to be the most versatile and money saving product on the market today. Each of the oils has properties which serve an individual purpose. Some of them have naturally anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, helping soothe and heal skin irritation; some have repellant properties; some are heavy duty degreasers which deep clean the skin and coat bringing out it's natural glow, and breaking down the waxy ecto-skeleton of fleas and ticks; and some absorb into the coat which enhances its natural texture and healthy condition. Several of the oils in Critter Oil are used in the practice of Aromatherapy for relaxation and meditation so its fresh, natural scent aids in calming pets during the grooming process as well as relaxing the energy of the grooming shop, barn, or home.

What Customers Say

I can't thank y'all enough for coming up with such a great product! I don't have to tell you how nice it is to finally have something that will get rid of fleas without being any danger to pets or yourself! K. Womack, FL Just a note to let you know how very pleased I am with your suggestion of using Critter Oil for our cattery. It is remarkable how much of a change there is in our pets.

What exactly is Critter Oil® and what does one bottle do?

Critter Oil® is a concentrated blend of 15 pure, uncut, food-grade essential herbal oils developed by Naturals For Animals as an all-in-one alternative to chemical pet-care products. A single bottle is engineered to do the work of a flea shampoo, a coat conditioner, a skin treatment, a topical spray, a lawn spray, and a household pest treatment. Because it is sold concentrated and diluted at home with simple household ingredients, even the smallest bottle stretches across many applications and many uses around the animal and the home.

Critter Oil 1 oz bottle of 100% natural essential oil flea and coat treatment

Who created it, and how long has it been made?
Critter Oil® was developed in 1987 by Holistic Pet Care Consultant Susan R. Griffin, who first blended and used it in her own grooming shop, The Clip Joint. Naturals For Animals, the company behind it, was established in 1983 around a mission of healthy pets through proper nutrition, natural grooming, and holistic education. Susan holds a BS in Psychology and Business Administration from Utah State University with minors in Ecology, Animal Behavior, and Communications, and is a graduate of the New York School of Dog Grooming. Decades later, she still answers customer calls personally.

Critter Oil 2 oz concentrated natural pet skin and coat care oil

Which essential oils are in the blend, and why those?
The proprietary recipe combines 15 pure food-grade essential oils, including eucalyptus, sage, cedarwood, lemongrass, tea tree, pink grapefruit, rose, geranium, lavender, and clove. Each oil was chosen for a specific job — deep cleaning and de-greasing, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial action, coat enhancement and conditioning, and natural pest repelling. Every oil in the formula is classified G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized As Safe) by cosmetic-industry standards, the same benchmark used for ingredients considered safe for babies and nursing mothers.

Critter Oil 4 oz value-size bottle of natural essential herbal oils for pets

How does Critter Oil® control fleas without chemical pesticides?

Rather than poisoning fleas, the oil blend repels and disrupts them while cleaning and conditioning the skin and coat. Used as directed, it can be mixed into a shampoo, a topical spray, a lawn spray, and a household treatment so the pet, the yard, and the home are all addressed at once instead of relying on a single pesticide dip. The concentrate is always diluted before use; cats are especially sensitive to essential oils, so the company advises extra caution and proper dilution and notes the blend should never be applied undiluted.

Which animals and households is it made for?

Critter Oil® is formulated for dogs, cats, horses, and birds, and the same concentrate doubles as a treatment for lawns and plants. That breadth makes it a fit for multi-pet homes and for owners who want one natural product on the shelf instead of separate chemical formulas for grooming, skin issues, and pest control. Before-and-after photos on the company site show coat and skin improvements on dogs treated with the blend.

What does it cost and how do you order?

Critter Oil® is sold directly through Naturals For Animals at naturalsforanimals.com in four concentrate sizes: 1/2 oz for $19.99, 1 oz for $29.99, 2 oz for $47.99, and 4 oz for $79.99. Each package includes the 100% natural essential herbal oils plus simple do-it-yourself mixing instructions. To order or ask questions, reach the company at or, or write to 76 Markham Lane, Brooksville, FL 34601.

Share This Solution

Facebook X LinkedIn Email

The Solution Section (FAQ)

What is Critter Oil® and who created it?

Critter Oil® by Naturals For Animals is a proprietary blend of 15 pure essential herbal oils. In 1987, Holistic Pet Care Consultant Susan R Griffin developed it and began using it in her grooming shop, The Clip Joint, designing it to be the ultimate, most versatile, and safest skin, coat, and environmental care product on the market today.

How does Critter Oil® control fleas without harsh chemicals?

Critter Oil kills and repels fleas naturally — several of its oils are heavy-duty degreasers that deep clean the skin and coat and break down the waxy exoskeleton of fleas and ticks. It replaces toxic flea and pest control shampoos, sprays, and spot-on-the-back treatments, and is safe for you, your kids, and your companion animals.

Is Critter Oil® safe for my pets and family?

Yes. It was formulated with the help of a PhD organic chemist who selected each oil for safety, and all are considered G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the human cosmetic industry. When used according to the directions in the instruction sheet, the oils are used at levels well below any individual harmful level, making it safe to use on babies and on pregnant or nursing mothers.

How many products can Critter Oil® actually replace?

By combining Critter Oil's 100% natural essential herbal oils with common household ingredients using the simple "do it yourself" instructions in the package, one bottle replaces hundreds of dollars' worth of other products — including natural flea & pest control shampoo and spray, medicated shampoo and spray, coat conditioning and whitening products, lawn and plant spray, and carpet powder and home pest control.

Will Critter Oil® help my pet's skin and coat, not just fleas?

Yes. Several of the oils have natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that help eliminate skin damage from insect bites, allergies, infections, mites, and rashes. Because Critter Oil absorbs into the hair rather than just coating it, the coat becomes beautifully conditioned, enhancing its naturally silky texture and making it glow in the sunlight.

Does Critter Oil® do anything beyond grooming my pet?

It does. Used in mop water or a steam cleaner it helps clean and disinfect floors while deterring bugs, and customers report that in a refillable plug-in air freshener or reed diffuser it helps repel flying insects and freshen the air. It can also be used to kill funguses on plants or repel fleas in your yard, and clients have reported it removes grease, oil, and crayon marks as well.

What is Critter Oil®?

Critter Oil® is a concentrated blend of 15 pure, uncut, food-grade essential herbal oils made by Naturals For Animals. It is designed as a single all-natural product that works as a flea repellent, skin and coat treatment, topical spray, lawn spray, and household pest treatment. The concentrate is diluted at home with simple household ingredients according to the instructions included in every package.

Who makes Critter Oil® and when was it developed?

Critter Oil® was developed in 1987 by Susan R. Griffin, a Holistic Pet Care Consultant, who first blended and used it in her grooming shop, The Clip Joint. It is produced by Naturals For Animals, a company established in 1983 with a mission of healthy pets through proper nutrition, natural grooming, and holistic education. Susan still answers customer calls personally.

What essential oils are in Critter Oil®?

The proprietary recipe contains 15 pure, food-grade essential oils, including eucalyptus, sage, cedarwood, lemongrass, tea tree, pink grapefruit, rose, geranium, lavender, and clove, among others. Each oil was selected for a specific property — deep cleaning and de-greasing, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial action, coat conditioning, or pest repelling. Together they give one bottle many different jobs.

How does Critter Oil® repel fleas?

Instead of using chemical pesticides, Critter Oil® uses a researched blend of repellent essential oils that deter fleas while cleaning and conditioning the skin and coat. Used as directed, it can be made into a shampoo, a topical spray, a lawn spray, and a household treatment so the pet, yard, and home are all addressed at once. The company describes it as the safest and most effective approach when the product is used exactly as instructed.

Is Critter Oil® safe for my pet?

Every oil in the Critter Oil® blend is classified G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized As Safe) by cosmetic-industry standards — the benchmark for ingredients considered safe for babies and nursing mothers. The concentrate must always be diluted before use and should never be applied undiluted. Following the included instructions is important for safe, effective results.

Can I use Critter Oil® on cats?

The product is formulated for cats among other animals, but cats are especially sensitive to essential oils, so extra caution is advised. Naturals For Animals stresses that the concentrate must be properly diluted and never used full-strength. If you have any concerns about your cat, contact Susan directly to confirm the right dilution before applying.

What animals can Critter Oil® be used on?

Critter Oil® is made for dogs, cats, horses, and birds. The same concentrate also works as a treatment for lawns and plants, which makes it a versatile single product for multi-pet households. That breadth is a big part of its appeal — one bottle replaces several separate chemical formulas.

What sizes does Critter Oil® come in and how much does it cost?

Critter Oil® is sold in four concentrate sizes directly from Naturals For Animals: 1/2 oz for $19.99, 1 oz for $29.99, 2 oz for $47.99, and 4 oz for $79.99. Because the oil is concentrated and diluted at home, even the smaller bottles cover many applications. The larger 4 oz size offers the best value for multi-pet homes or frequent use.

How do I make a flea shampoo with Critter Oil®?

Critter Oil® is a concentrate that you dilute and combine with simple, common household ingredients to make your own shampoo, following the do-it-yourself instructions packaged with the product. The same concentrate can also be turned into a topical spray for the pet, a lawn spray for the yard, and a household treatment. Always dilute before use and follow the included directions for the correct ratios.

Does Critter Oil® help with skin and coat problems, not just fleas?

Yes. Beyond repelling pests, the blend was formulated with oils chosen for deep cleaning, de-greasing, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial action, and coat conditioning, so it improves the overall health of the skin and coat. Before-and-after photos on the company website show coat and skin improvements on dogs treated with the oil. Many owners use it primarily as a natural grooming and conditioning product.

Can Critter Oil® be used outdoors on my lawn?

Yes — the same Critter Oil® concentrate doubles as a lawn and plant treatment when diluted into a lawn spray. This lets owners treat the yard where fleas and pests breed, not just the pet, as part of a complete natural pest-control routine. Using it on the animal, the home, and the lawn together is part of how the product addresses fleas without chemical pesticides.

Where is Critter Oil® made?

Critter Oil® is made and shipped by Naturals For Animals, based at 76 Markham Lane, Brooksville, Florida 34601. The blend originated in founder Susan Griffin's own grooming shop, The Clip Joint, where it was tested on animals before being offered to the public. The company has been built around natural, holistic pet care since 1983.

How do I order Critter Oil®?

You can order Critter Oil® directly from the company's online store at naturalsforanimals.com, where the 1/2 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz, and 4 oz sizes are listed. You can also order or ask questions by phone at 352-679-6718 or by email at [email protected]. Susan answers calls personally, so you can get guidance on which size and dilution fit your situation.

What comes in the package?

Each Critter Oil® package includes the bottle of 100% natural essential herbal oil concentrate plus simple, do-it-yourself mixing instructions. The instructions show how to combine the concentrate with common household ingredients to make a shampoo, spray, lawn spray, and household treatment. No special equipment is required beyond what you already have at home.

What does the Critter Oil® concentrate need to be mixed with?

Critter Oil® is sold as a concentrate that is combined with common, inexpensive household ingredients and water following the included instructions, rather than being used straight from the bottle. This do-it-yourself approach is why a small bottle of concentrate yields many usable applications. Always dilute according to the directions, since the undiluted oils are too strong to apply directly.

Why choose a natural product over a chemical flea treatment?

Critter Oil® was created specifically as a natural alternative to chemical-based pet products, using food-grade essential oils that are Generally Recognized As Safe rather than synthetic pesticides. It also does more than a single-purpose flea product — the same blend cleans, conditions, and supports the skin and coat while repelling pests. For owners who prefer holistic care across their pets, yard, and home, one natural concentrate replaces several chemical formulas.

How can I reach Naturals For Animals with questions?

You can call Naturals For Animals at 352-679-6718, where founder Susan Griffin answers personally, or email [email protected]. Their mailing address is 76 Markham Lane, Brooksville, FL 34601, and the full product line and ordering are available at naturalsforanimals.com. Susan's background as a Holistic Pet Care Consultant means you can get specific guidance on dilution and use for your particular pet.