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Flea Treatment For Newborn Kittens

How To Treat Fleas On Newborn Kittens

Flea Control For Young Kittens Under 8 Weeks (How To – Easy Solution)

You are reading: How to treat fleas on newborn kittens

Fleas are a common external parasite that feeds on the blood of their host. Their flattened body, hard exoskeleton and backward-facing hairs allow the flea to burrow through the fur to the skin where they feed on the hosts blood using specialised mouthparts. Young kittens are at risk because of their small size and blood volume, which puts them at risk of anemia . Most flea products are toxic to very young kittens and cannot be used until 6-8 weeks.

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What About Flea Medicine For Kittens

There are flea medications readily available to treat the mother or adult cat.

Medications for kittens are determined by age and can be deadly, so its important to check with your vet before applying anything.

A few more pointers:

  • Again, newborn kittens need manual flea removal.
  • In consultation with your vet, kittens over 4 weeks old may be treated with Capstar . This application kills the adult fleas but not their offspring.
  • Other flea medications safe for kittens list 8 weeks of age as a minimum.
  • Natural, homeopathic or essential oil treatments may harm your kitten, so avoid using these, especially if you havent consulted your vet first.

Heres a video explaining more about treating a kitten for fleas:

Fleas are pesky, tiny insects, and multiple washings and cleanings may be necessary. Even after the initial treatment of your kitten and home, you may still see a few fleas here and there.

Kill or remove these remaining fleas as soon as you see them, and keep checking your kitten to make sure no more fleas return.

As your kitten gets older, you will be able to switch to topical treatments suitable for adult cats but until then, stay vigilant and treat on the spot.

Tackling Fleas In Young Kittens

Removing and reducing fleas from young kittens safely and effectively can be time consuming, and may require you to use a combination of a variety of approaches.

First things first, ensure that the room that the kittens are in is clear of fleas, which may mean that you will need to treat a specific room of the house with a flea bomb or something else to kill fleas at every life stage, and then move the litter and queen into that room. Treating the queen herself is important too, but take care to ensure that the flea product that you use is concentrated enough that it is effective but does not spread across her neck when wet, so that the kittens can rub against it.

Before you move the litter into the new room, give it 24 hours for the flea treatment used on the queen to take effect, and talk to your vet about the right product to use-a range of well-known brands can be used safely on nursing cats.

Next, use a flea comb to remove the individual fleas from each kitten, dipping the comb into a bowl of water regularly to remove and trap the fleas and stop them re-infesting the litter. Comb each kitten at least twice a day, and keep a check on the volume of fleas that you remove each time, to see how effective your regime is proving to be.

At night when the other lights are out, the fleas will be attracted to the warmth and light, and fall into the bowl of water-where the surface tension caused by the washing up liquid will trap them for disposal the next day.

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How To Remove Flea Dirt From A Kitten

Flea dirt is the result of fleas excrements and skin cells. It looks like sand or salt, and it can easily be missed by the untrained eye.

If your kitten has fleas, you will want to remove all signs of flea dirt as soon as possible so that you dont end up feeding him too much of it in his food or water bowl.

To remove the powdery flea dirt from a kittens fur:

  • Dip a soft brush into some warm water and use it to wipe down the area around each hair follicle where you suspect there may be some discoloration from dried blood or crusted-over blood vessels around where fleas have bitten into his skin . This will help soften up any dried particles stuck on top of his fur so that they can then be brushed away with your fingers without leaving behind any noticeable residue from them sticking onto other parts of his coat.

Signs Of Fleas On Kittens

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A flea infestation isnt always evident, especially if the cat has a dark coat or the flea population is low. Cats with a heavy infestation or pale coats are easier to diagnose with fleas.

Symptoms:

  • Scratching and biting the skin .
  • Presence of fleas in the cats coat.
  • Salt and pepper debris in the coat and areas the cats sleep.
  • Some cats developflea allergy dermatitis, an itchy skin disease caused by an allergy to histamine-like compounds, proteolytic enzymes, and anticoagulantswhich are released into the host when the flea feeds. Intense itching, as well as small crusty lesions , can develop along the back and neck areas. Age of onset does not typically occur in cats under one year therefore, symptoms may develop in the mother, but not in young kittens.
  • Pale gums, weakness, lethargy, and rapid heartbeat are common signs of anemia in kittens or adults with a heavy flea burden.

How to check for fleas:

  • Run your fingers or a flea comb through the cats fur you may spot small, fast-moving dark fleas.
  • Stand your cat on a white piece of paper, move your hand in the opposite direction of the hair growth to dislodge flea droppings and eggs. Lightly spray the paper with a demister. Look for small red-brown specks which leave red stains, caused by blood in flea feces.

If the mother has fleas, the kittens will have them also. Kittens are at risk of anemia, which can be deadly.

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Nutrition Tips For Kittens

As we briefly discussed above, proper kitten nutrition includes modifying the diet to ensure you are feeding kittens what they need during each stage of growth.

  • The mother cat should be feeding kittens during the first 4 weeks of life, or you should use a special commercial milk-replacer formula every 2-4 hours if the kitten has been separated from its mother.
  • From 3-5 weeks of age, feeding kittens involves offering the milk-replacer formula in a shallow dish to encourage weaning from a bottle. You can also add a moist, easily chewable diet consisting of a mixture of warm milk-replacer and high quality canned or dried kitten food 4-6 times a day.
  • After 6 months of age, kittens should be fed 2-3 times per day.

Feeding kittens the right food in the right amounts, and at the right times throughout the day is essential for happy, healthy and growing cats. Our veterinary staff would be happy to discuss the proper feeding schedule for your kitten at your next veterinary appointment.

Use Flea Powder Or Flea Shampoo

Use flea powder or flea shampoo. The best thing you can do for a kitten with fleas is to treat the mom and all kittens before they leave the hospital, since they dont have fur yet. This helps keep any new kittens from getting fleas right away, too.

Check them often and treat them as needed. After that first treatment, its important to check your cat regularlyespecially if she goes outsideand give her more medicine if she starts scratching again.

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Newborn Kittens With Fleas

My cat just birthed 3 kittens less than 48 hours ago, but they all have pretty severe fleas. each kitten has 5-20 fleas on them and the mother has twice as many at least. Ive googled all of this, but I cant get a good idea of what to do. Is it safe to bathe the kittens in shadow warm water with dawn and a wash cloth? What about the mother? Should I wait a few days/weeks and do it when they are older?

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Originally Posted by ChickatMy cat just birthed 3 kittens less than 48 hours ago, but they all have pretty severe fleas. each kitten has 5-20 fleas on them and the other has twice as many at least. Ive googled all of this, but I cant get a good idea of what to do. Is it safe to bathe the kittens in shadow warm water with dawn and a wash cloth? What about the mother? Should I wait a few days/weeks and do it when they are older?Iâm sure theres plenty of cat lovers with experience on mmo-champion. But please ask a Vet doctor.

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Thing is, I dont have the money to take them to the vet. None of the vets around me take payments either.

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How To Prevent Flea Infestation In Kittens

EASY STEP BY STEP getting rid of fleas on newborn kittens DAWN

To prevent a repeated flea infestation in kittens,

  • Use medicine such as Activyl that will make female fleas sterile and prevent them from laying new eggs.
  • Vacuum the carpet two to three times a week to remove eggs and dormant fleas.
  • Wash pet blankets weekly in the washing machine and sundry them.
  • Spray flea killer insecticide in the house, kennels, and yards.
  • Treat the lawn with pesticide if your kitten keeps getting re-infected every time it goes outside.
  • Fog the house to prevent flea larvae development.
  • Replace carpet and keep your home as dry as possible to make your house less flea-friendly.
  • Use a flea comb on all your pets.
  • Take all the precautions to ward them off any time of the year, although fleas are more common during summer.
  • The most essential element in controlling fleas is the treatment of all susceptible pets, including the mother cat in a house, frequently with the effective product to ensure flea egg production is halted.

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Caring For A Mother Cat And Her Kittens

If you happen to have a social mother cat with kittens that you are temporarily delivering care to until the kittens can be weaned and everyone can be spayed or neutered, then this is actually one of the easiest fostering situations. The mother cat will do the majority of the work!

You will want a room or a large crate along with a nesting area . The mother cat will need a litter box. The mother cat will feed, clean and socialize the kittens. You will need to feed the mother, clean her litter box and bedding, help handle the kittens and monitor everyones health.

Ways On How To Get Rid Of Fleas From Newborn Kittens

Having a new member in our family is always exciting, just like when you welcome newborn kittens. However, it can be a nightmare if you find out some fleas on your newborn kittens body.

Fleas are small, but they can be fatal as they suck the blood. The worst possibility is they can get anemia because of the fleas. You can also read whether cat fleas can bite humans.

Fleas canbe present in your kittens body, even when they are indoors. Fleas can comefrom the mom cat, other pets and even from the sand tracked indoors.

As an ownerof the newborn kittens, you must be aware of it. Even some ways of preventingfleas are needed. These are the safest things you can do to remove fleas fromnewborn kittens. They are safe and easy to do.

  • Treat the Mother

Some fleas may come from the mother cat. So, the first thing you need to do is check whether the mother has fleas on her body. If she does, treat her. Once you have done with the mother, you can treat the kittens.

Removing fleas from kittens might be easier as you can do it with your fingers or tweezers. As newborn kittens are fragile and still young, never apply any type of medication on them.

If you are a beginner parent of a kitten, learn these safest ways to take care newborn kittens for beginners.

  • Dampen your Kittens Coat

Try to bathe the kittens in less than 2 minutes to prevent any panic or chill during the process. Learn how to bathe your kittens properly and comfortably.

  • Dry the Kittens
  • Comb out the Fleas

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Best Topical: Bravecto Topical Solution For Cats

Chewy

  • Only need to apply once every three months

  • Scientifically-backed ingredient

  • Protects from more than just fleas

  • It’s easy to forget after three months to reapply

  • Higher initial cost due to how long it lasts

Similar to Revolution Plus, Bravecto is a spot-on treatment that is applied to the back of your cats neck. It protects from fleas and ticks and one treatment lasts for up to three months. A Bravecto Plus option is also available if you would like heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention too , but it only lasts for two months instead of three. Either way, Bravecto products make it easy to provide safe and effective flea prevention to cats without the monthly application. This product also requires veterinary approval prior to purchasing.

When Can You Start Flea Treatment On Kittens

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Kittens can safely receive topical flea treatments after they are 8-10 weeks old and weigh more than 1.5-2 lb. These medicines will not only eliminate the existing fleas, but they will also prevent new fleas from infesting your pet.

An effective flea prevention product will help avoid re-infestation, and washing your kittens bedding frequently in hot water will help kill any flea eggs. Your veterinarian will be able to prescribe the best flea prevention product.

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Vacuum To Get Rid Of Fleas

Vacuum the home well in order to get rid of fleas, especially in spots that your pet has come into contact with. Youll need to vacuum the entire house, since you, other members of the family, and any other pets in the home have probably brought hitchhiking fleas to other parts of the house.

This is an important step, since any fleas remaining will jump right back on the cat.

Be sure to vacuum the floors, stairs, and the furniture. You may need to make a couple of passes around the house to ensure you suck up all the fleas. Pay attention to any difficult to reach spots, including gaps between floorboards and the areas behind and under furniture where adult fleas love to hide.

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Try Natural Flea Removal Methods

To avoid the risk of accidental poisoning in kittens due to a flea control product, try to get rid of kitten fleas naturally with a warm, soapy bath. Here are some tips you can follow to safely treat kitten fleas at home:

  • Bath them in lukewarm water with mild soap no more than twice a week .
  • Use gentle, nonmedicated, fragrance-free soap or a natural baby shampoo. Consult your veterinarian beforehand if your kittens skin appears sensitive or contains open wounds.
  • Wash from the head down, avoiding the eyes, ears, and mouth.
  • Be sure rinse thoroughly to prevent them from ingesting any soap residue later on while grooming.
  • Try to complete the bath within 2 minutes to prevent your kitten from getting chilled or panicked during the bath.

You can also use a flea comb dunked in hot, soapy water once or twice a day to prevent skin irritation.

It should be noted that these natural flea removal methods will only help you get rid of adult fleas and will not prevent new fleas from infesting your kitten. These approaches wont solve the problem long term, but they are safe for kittens who are too young or too small to utilize commercial flea products.

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Flea Dip And Flea Shampoo Products

Most flea dip or flea shampoo products, like Ectokyl, state that the treatment product should not be used on kittens under the age of 12 weeks. Veterinarians may recommend a diluted version of these products for younger kittens, but you must ask first. Small kittens are subject to poisoning if you use the product at full strength.

Speak To Your Veterinarian For The Best Advice

How To Deal With Fleas on Young Kittens

Speak with your vet if you have a cat over the age of four weeks, since they may be treated with a medication called Capstar. If you want to get rid of fleas on cats in under an hour, this medication is worth the steep price. Your veterinarian can determine if this product is safe for use. Some forms of Capstar are safe to use for younger cats two pounds and up.

This pill works to kill all the fleas on the body in thirty minutes or less and can be administered once daily until all adult fleas in the home are dead. Other types of flea medications have an age requirement of eight to twelve weeks.

Administering medication to get rid of fleas to kittens under the age of twelve weeks can be deadly or they may suffer from harsh side effects. If youre not sure which flea products to use, what type of chemical content to avoid, and whether or not a certain product is appropriate for use in kittens, check with your vet. Avoid using flea collars until he or she is twelve weeks of age. Most vets are on the same page concerning kitten care and will advise you to use natural and gentle products until the kitten is older.

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