i found a kitty on the streets, how can i clean it?

Question

i see it has fleas and it's pretty dirty. i wanna clean it. how can i do htis? can i give it a flea bath at home? i don't really have lots of tools like flea pills..

Answer 1

You've already gotten great answers, So I'll keep it short, smaller the cat..smaller the tub, My 20lb cat loves the tub, My 6 lb cat will freak out if it's anything bigger than a tiny bathroom sink...and make sure you keep talking to your kitty in a very soothing voice, both of my cats are great at taking baths, so if you have more questions, e-mail me!!

Answer 2

There is some bad advice coming in this thread. NEVER put a flea collar on any animal. They don't work and they poison the cat. Grocery-store flea treatments and shampoos don't work, either, and some of them are highly toxic to the cats. Go to your vet, or your pet supply store, and buy some Frontline Plus or Advantage, but only if your cat seems old enough, say four or five months. If you're not sure, don't do it. You can check with your vet.

If the cat is absolutely infested with fleas and is very dirty -- road tar and other sticky, gummy matter -- take him to a vet that does grooming. If you want to do it, the baby shampoo is a good bet, but don't wash his head or his ears. Buy a flea comb for a few dollars and gently comb the cat. You will probably get scads of fleas off of him (and don't be surprised when you bathe him, if all the fleas run to his head -- it's awful, but you can comb them out). Have a sinkful of warm, soapy water at hand to scrape the fleas into. The flea comb will NOT get the "nits," or flea eggs, off of him, so you might have to keep combing for a while until you can get some flea treatment from your vet. And don't forget, if your cat has fleas, so does your house. Flea treat your house with something that won't hurt the cat.

A vet visit is mandatory. He needs to be checked over and given his shots. And don't forget to get him neutered or spayed once he's old enough.

You've done a wonderful thing in rescuing this cat. You have brought a friend into your life. Treat him well and you will have years and years of love and affection in return. Good luck.

Answer 3

You can wash it with warm water and mild shampoo. Usually the grocery store will carry flea bath, if not, local pet shops do.

hold it firmly, wrapped in a towel, (it will shiver a lot), Get somebody to help you if you can. Check it's belly and neck for scabs, sores, or open wounds. Small sores and scabs are a sign of really bad fleas, so you'll need to use a fine tooth lice comb a few times. Dry it off with a different towel, then comb it again. If you can do it, use a hairdryer... but it might scare the kitten.

You really should take it to the vet to get looked at, especially if you plan on keeping it. Strays can have all kinds of parasites and genetic problems. If you see more than 5 toes per foot and what appears to be whiskers all over it's body, it's probably inbred from strays in your neighborhood.

I've had many cats like this and they've led healthy, normal lives. They have to get shots and eventually get fixed.

good luck.

Answer 4

take some VERY mild soap or just water - luke warm and put it in cups

grab the kitten by the back of the neck and pick him up, so you are controlling him

wash him a bit with your other hand then thoroughly rinse him off

have a towel ready and dry him as well as possible then if you have a brush you don't mind wasting, brush him if he likes it and get him free of more dirt

alternate to above:

do the same except use a very light shower head and get as much dirt off as possible


repeat the next day or two, until he can clean up the rest himself

By the way Hartz makes some really poisonous products and flea collars are worthless and toxic to kittens.

If you still have a flea problem after cleaning him up, get a flea comb from a pet store and have water to douse the fleas in, comb him for a few days each day till no fleas.


ALSO NOTE: do not try to clean or get wet his head or ears or nose.

Answer 5

Yes, you can give this cat a home flea treatment. You can purchase flea shampoo at a low price ($5 or so) at Wal-Mart or other such stores. I suggest you also ask for somebody to help you - giving a bath to a strange cat is totally impossible if you're alone! It's already tough enough when it's your own cat... ;) You should also clean the area where the cat is right now. Fleas travel fast - they are the worst critters possible!

Good luck with the kitty! Hopefully you will find his owners or at least a great furr-ever home - unless you plan on keeping him, which is a great choice! Cats are soooo rewarding. :)

Answer 6

Well, if you don't have any products specific for fleas, you'll need to purchase some at your vets, or at walMart. In the mean time, you can just give it a regular bath in the sink ( you should know how much water is too much water), and rhub her gently with a warm towel, to atleast get the dirt off for now.

Answer 7

You can give it a bath . warm water and regular shampoo will work fine just don't use a lot of shampoo .
I use baby shampoo on puppys and kittens . surprisingly most of the fleas will not stay , and it will wash away many of the flea eggs.
I have used dishwashing liquid and it seems to make the hair and skin real dry and some rash like sympoms.

Answer 8

If it will tolerate it, give it a bat with pet shampoo. After that make sure you towel dry her well!! the brudh her, and take her to the vets because the fleas will! take over your horse!

Answer 9

sometimes, a kitten can be scared of water, but you need to bathe him. Dawn dish detergent will kill fleas. Remember to give him a good rinse afterwards, and towel dry.

Answer 10

You can purchase flea shampoo for cats at a pet store or department store.