Defleaing a kitten?

Question

We have just realised that our kitten has fleas. She is only 9 weeks of age, is there anyway of treating her at this young age?

Answer 1

Ask your local groomer about flea shampoos you may be able to buy at the pet store. Invest in a flea comb and comb comb comb. After a good combing a warm bath might get a few more off and then you need to get your kitten on a flea protection plan from your vet.

Answer 2

When I got my kitten at 9 weeks old, the vet treated him with Front Line as a preventative. It's simply put on in a blob onto the scruff of his neck and I think it protects them for up to 5 weeks and kills existing fleas within 24 hours:

http://frontline.uk.merial.com/?Page=14

I would not buy any over the counter products for her, my vet advised me that they are often a waste of money. With things like this it's always best to pay the extra and buy it directly from a vet.

Incidentally, is this a kitten that you have bought from somebody and only just started looking after, or have you reared her from birth? If you've only just got her, and you haven't already done this, you will need to take her to the vet for her first check up. She is also ready for her first set of injections, so kill two birds with one stone and get it all done at the same time - that's what I did when I got my kitten at 9 weeks old!

Also, if you have never let your kitten outside, she's obviously caught the fleas from her mother. If you have let your kitten outside, please don't do this again until she is at least 3-4 months old. Kittens should not go outside until they have had *both* courses of injections; the second one happening at 12 weeks of age. Ideally, you should not let her out until she is 6 months old and has been neutered. I'm not sure of your circumstances, but I thought I'd mention this anyway!

xx Emmie

Answer 3

If you call your local vet, they can put a drop of kitten advantage on them. I rescued some kittens that were infested and most flea medicines will kill a kitten under 12 weeks. I called the vet and asked them what I could do. They told me to get a Q-tip and dip it in alcohol and if I saw a flea, I could get the flea that way, but not to get much alcohol on the kitten. Then when they were about 9 weeks old, that is when they added the drop of Advantage. Talk to them though, it was a special kind just for baby kittens.

Answer 4

There are lighter flea treatments that you can buy from a veterinary practice or pet shop, designed especially for kittens, they are weaker, which makes them better for the skin, but they still work great. Also you could buy a kitten anti-flea shampoo, they are mild and good for the skin and will kill any fleas on the kitten at the time. Ask your local groomer for help, also your vet can give you information.

Answer 5

Flea combs are only useful for testing for fleas and combing out dead ones. They are not a flea treatment or a preventative measure!

Frontline drops can be used on kittens from 8 weeks of age. Frontline spray is safe for use on kittens from 2 days of age.

Please don't bother with any petshop products - some of them are dangerous (Bob Martin) and most are ineffective. Buy something from your vets so you can be sure it will work.

If there are fleas on the animal, they will be living in your environment too - you'll need some house spray from the vets.

Chalice

Answer 6

I think that there are kitten flea treatments but you will need to contact your local vet - if you get one that is too much then you can make her ill so veterinary advice is needed

Actually I just went and read my frontline pack and it says you can give this from 8 weeks as long as your kitten is over 1kg and you don;t need to see the vet to get it!!!

Answer 7

I would recommend Frontline from your vet, but try using a flea/nit comb first after that try a flea zapper which does no harm to your little one you can usually get one of these from a good pet store for approx £14 this just has a couple of batteries and looks a little like a comb with a buzzing noise, after you have used this a few times the cat usually likes this as it can be a pleasure for you and your pet because its like a grooming session.

I wish you luck and hope your little soul gets rid of the pests soon

Answer 8

Firstly i'd buy a flea comb and comb her through. Register her with your local vet and they will give you some great advice on how to deflea her. I think Advantage flea treatment can be used from 8 weeks onwards but again ask your vet just to be sure.(You can only buy it over the counter at your vet so you will still need to register her)

Good luck x

Answer 9

also merely supply the kitten a good previous-shaped bathtub. you are able to cope with some thing they wrestle in the water and it really is going to get rid of many of the fleas. merely watch for the critters attempting to move slowly up into the kitten's ears.

Answer 10

don't use tweezers etc to pop the fleas you aint gonna get the eggs. go straight for the flea treatments like advantage it is applied between the shoulders to the base of the neck, the cat then turns into a flea killing machine. powders and flea washes just don't work.