how do i get rid of fleas on my 8 week old kittens? they are going to new homes tomorrow?

Answer 1

Why didn't you think of this sooner???? Even a week ago.

Here's the answer:

Fleas spend very little time on the animal. They feed, hop off, and lay eggs. The eggs hatch in about 3 weeks, jump back on and start the whole process again. The eggs can also lay dormant for up to a year.

What you need to do is give the cat a bath, rinse very well, and blow dry.

An alternative is to ask the vet for Capstar, which will begin killing fleas within half an hour. There are some very good flea prevention products on the market. My favorite is Frontline Plus. This kills fleas and prevents more from hatching. You apply it once a month.

In addition, you really need to treat your home with a flea “bomb”. My favorite brand is Zodiac with Precor. Kills the fleas and contains a growth inhibitor to prevent more from hatching. Lasts for 7 months. Then apply a premise spray under any large furniture, such as your couch.

If this is an outdoor cat (hopefully not), you may want to treat around your house as well.

Here are a few sites where you can buy these products:

www.jefferspet.comJeffers Vet Supplies (Dr. Jeffers & vet techs answer questions, too)
www.petedge.com/PetEdge
www.drsfostersmith.comDrs. Foster & Smith

Answer 2

Fleas
Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

For effective control, adult fleas on the kitten must be killed and reinfestation from the environment prevented. Traditional flea preparations - sprays, shampoos and collars - can contain substances that are potentially toxic to kittens and may not be very effective. Your vet can supply a number of new products to kill fleas that are very safe because they act at receptors that are not present in mammals, only in insects. The 'spot-on' products are very easy to apply and can be used from a young age.

Other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that can tackle the fleas in the house, including some that can be taken by the cat to prevent the flea reproducing.

Answer 3

The best thing would be to apply Advantage or Frontline Plus to the kittens. Neither of those items require a prescription and many Petsmart stores sell Advantage (I'm not sure about Frontline at Petsmart). As for bathing them, the best thing is to bathe them with a mild soap such as Dawn. Many shampoos that claim to be flea & tick shampoos have chemicals in them that can cause cats, especially kittens, to get sick or worse. If they have a heavy flea infestation when you bathe them you may notice a red tint to the water. Don't panic, that is the flea dirt (a nice way of saying flea poop) and since fleas eat blood it only makes sense that there are small amounts of blood in their feces. After bathing the kittens comb them out with a flea comb (you can pick one up at any pet store). I wouldn't recommend blow drying them as it will not only scare them but it can dry out their skin and make them itchy. Oh, be sure to apply the Advantage or Frontline Plus AFTER bathing the kittens. If you bathe them right after applying it, it will only get washed of. They don't have to be dry before you put the flea preventative on them so once they are clean and flea-free (for the most part) you can apply it. Both Advantage and Frontline Plus should have 100% flea kill within 12 hours. The fleas that fall off will be dead so if you do see the fleas they should be little corpses or close to it. Other than that be sure to treat the environment that the kittens are in so they don't get more fleas, and neither do any other pets you may have or yourself! Good luck!

Answer 4

you can go to a pet store and buy a flea comb and comp the fleas off and then put the fleas into some rubbing alcohol. even just a small amount of adam flea control on a cotton ball and just wipe it on its head tummy and hind end.

Answer 5

Advantage would be the best and fastest bet. Hope you don't send them to new homes with fleas!!!
Make sure the new owners watch out for tapeworms!! They follow the flea problem!!!!!!
Then spay the mother so this won't be a problem again!!

Answer 6

go to any pet store and ask a specialist to find you the best flea bath they have that should get rid of the little buggahs

Answer 7

bathe them with Adams flea shampoo for kittens.

Answer 8

you could use a flea comb or you could bathe them in vegetable oil i mean get theyre neck wherever the flees are put them in like a little bowl or pail and put the oil on them massage it get it nice and even and wash it out it smothers the fleas my cat had 2 litters of kiottens we did it on both

Answer 9

bathe them in flea shampoo and also put them in a very vey cold area not to torture them but the combo of water+shampoo+cold will kill those suckers fast

Answer 10

there is a flea bath just for cats, just be careful because cats dont like water much.