2007-07-22 16:44:13 · 8 answers · asked by morninstar25 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Give them a bath with dawn dish soap. It doesn't actually kill the fleas but the grease that fleas secrete will be broken down so that when you put them in water they will drown. Before putting the kitten in water make a ring of the soap around their neck and put half of a cotton ball in their ears.this will keep the fleas from running up onto the kittens head to avoid drowning, and keep water out of their ears.. using a cat comb to brush the soap and water through their fur will make sure the soap gets all the fleas. Also if possible buy unscented dawn so the cats won't hate the way they smell. Make sure you get all the soap out and only repeat this if necesary after waiting a week, so that you dont completely strip their skin and hair of its natural oil. borax laundry soap on the carpet should kill all those fleas and eggs, and wash all the cats bedding as you are bathing them.
Yes dawn is safe for kittens this young, so long as you dont let them eat it. I've done it will great results.
2007-07-22 16:56:56 · answer #1 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately no...you can't put anything on the kittens OR the mom...anything you put on her the babies will ingest when they nurse...The only thing you can do is take tweezers and pick them off one at a time...yeah time consuming...a good thing you might want to try is this...take a cake pan or cookie sheet...add some water and dish soap, place this pan next to the box the kittens are in but make sure that the kittens can't wiggle themselves into it...put a desk lamp over the water and turn it on...BE CAREFUL that you or the mom or anything or anyone else can't knock this over!!!!
What happens here is that the fleas will jump towards the warmth of the lamp and land in the soap water. The soap coats them and makes it so they can't fly or jump.
My aunt did this everynight for like a week at her house whenever her cat showed signs of fleas...
another thing you should do is move the box with the mom...and treat the room they were in especially if there was furniture or carpet in the room..change the bedding also!!! This is very important.
Other than that, I don't think there is a thing you can do until they are 12 weeks!! (as per the back of any flea product)
Also, I don't suggest using dish soap ON the kittens as this is toxic to both mom (who cleans them) and baby...Do NOT try to stick anything into their ears..They are probably not open yet and prying them open will cause TONS of damage. I you must do anything with soap, you have to wait until AT LEAST both eyes and ears are open and then you can use baby shampoo...but that is only if you must....call a vet in the morning, they should be able to give you advice over the phone for free...just tell them that you have 4 day old kittens that have fleas and they'll let you now if there is anything else you can do
2007-07-22 23:58:11 · answer #2 · answered by Penelope 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Under no circumstance put any flea preparation on kittens that young. You can bathe them in warm water w/dishwashing soap....keep on them for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly and towel dry. Be sure to keep the babies WARM ... they can chill quickly. If you do the same to the mama, and clean their bedding really well, you should be able to get rid of most of the fleas. The fleas will suffocate in the soapy water..... and you can use tweezers to pick them off, if you want to hurry the process. Just drop the fleas into a container w/soapy water. They'll sink!
I wouldn't put any flea preparation on the mother, yet, 'cause the kittens will be climbing all over her and get the meds on themselves (dangerous!). After they're a little older, you can use a spray that is SAFE for kittens (usually after 6 wks). Good luck.
2007-07-22 23:58:54 · answer #3 · answered by brutusmom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well you cannot apply flea treatment until 8 wks of age. I'm assuming that's the same with shampooing.
Call the vet as soon as it opens tomorrow to ask. Maybe they can recommend a milk soap that would be ok to bathe your kitten in. Johnson & Johnson's Baby Wash is suppose to kill fleas. No matter what, ask your vet. And if you do end up giving them baths, be very careful you don't drop them or squeeze them. And also, DEFINATELY make sure you dry them off good. Do one at a time. And then towel dry each one till completely dry. Kittens that young need help staying warm enough.
Good luck! Try using a flea comb very gently on them. I did mine in my bathroom w/seat up. When I saw the fleas I'd quickly try to take what I could off the comb and squish them (they truly die when you snap one between fingernails). Or I throw them in the toliet, close lid, flush right away. Not sure if they can somehow get out or not.
Good luck and see what your vet says.
2007-07-22 23:56:24 · answer #4 · answered by Malia 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ivory dish soap works the best. Carefully bathe the kittens and mom- fleas can be deadly on kittens this young. You also have fleas in the house which need to be controlled or you won't solve the problem at all.
2007-07-23 00:01:53 · answer #5 · answered by Kati33 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You do need to get rid of them, they can cause anemia and kill your kittens. You can not use pesticides or flea collars at this age. You can, however, bathe them and their bedding to get rid of existing fleas and eggs. You may have to repeat the process in 7-1o days. (That includes Momma, she has fleas too!!!)
2007-07-22 23:50:02 · answer #6 · answered by Darla G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO CHEMICALS !!! start with a clean (flea free bed and location) pick off all the fleas you can find every day at least once. Contact your vet.
2007-07-22 23:48:14 · answer #7 · answered by Mutt Witch 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can not put anything on the kittens you need to treat the mom and this will help control them on the kittens.
2007-07-22 23:47:05 · answer #8 · answered by Bingo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋