The mother cat is a outdoor and indoor cat she was a stray that I started feeding a few months ago and did not know she was pregnant she had her kittens in my home and now that the kittens are two weeks old tomorrow, I noticed when I cleaned out the box that they had fleas or ticks I do not know which one but when I put flea and tick stuff on them it killed them right on the spot. Should I be doing this with the kittens being so young? If not what should I do?
2007-11-22 00:21:35 · 11 answers · asked by tldtoots 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
I heard if you bathe your pet in dawn dishwashing soap that it will kill the feas instantly. Then after the fleas are gone, I would remove the ticks. Make sure they're nice and dry and keep them warm afterward.
2007-11-22 00:26:25 · answer #1 · answered by barsh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a mother cat has fleas, the kittens will pick up the fleas soon after birth - even on the first day, giving rise to the myth that kittens can be born with fleas. So no, it's not unusual at all for 2 week old kittens to have fleas.
It's only dangerous to put flea and tick treatment on them if it's the wrong stuff. All pet store treatments will say they are only for use for cats over 12 weeks of age. In truth, they should not be used even on adult cats. Please get your flea treatment only from vets - these spot-ons can be used from 8 weeks of age. Frontline spray can be used from 2 days of age.
Chalice
2007-11-22 12:10:16 · answer #2 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually you should not use the powders and the flea shampoos on them this young. We ruscued two kittens a couple months ago who were covered from one end to the next with fleas and i bathed them in dawn dishsoap and you can even use Ivory dishsoap. You may have to do this several times to keep the fleas under control since mama is in and out. Put a flea collar on mama and put the powder on her. You can also try the stuff that you squeeze on the back of the neck that lasts for about three months on mama cat. Wal mart ones don't work, but you can get a good one at sams club that costs somewhere between 12 and 15 bucks, but I think it's a large pack, should last a whole year. I'm sorry i can't remember the name of it, it's been about 3 years since i used it. It's the next best thing i found to what the vets sell. good luck to you. Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless.
2007-11-22 08:34:44 · answer #3 · answered by ledbytheholyspirit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't put the kittens in the box after you've put flea powder in it. It's too strong for them.
Washing the kittens with Dawn dish liquid is a good idea - but make sure Mom doesn't mind you handling them. Treating the kittens without treating Mom isn't going to help much though.
If they had ticks, you probably wouldn't see them as they aren't like fleas and hop around - they bore under the animals skin.
You're a good person for trying to help out, but keep in mind that mother cats don't like a lot of interference after giving birth.
Good luck.
2007-11-22 08:32:58 · answer #4 · answered by MARY N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our mama stray was infested with fleas and ticks. So were her kittens. The vet treated mama with Frontline, but not for the kittens. He told me to give them a bath in warm water and use baby shampoo on them. This gets rid of the adult fleas and washes away the eggs. Also a flea comb helps too. He told me to do this once a week until they were old enough and weighed to treat them with Frontline.
Good Luck
2007-11-23 08:12:12 · answer #5 · answered by fruitie7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt they have ticks, but entirely possible they have fleas, given to them by their mother. Treat the mom first, remove all bedding and give new bedding. Use frontline or a similar liquid spot treatment that you put on the fur at the neck/shoulder area. I believe kittens need to be a little older before you can use most flea treatments on them, but if you put it on the mother cat, that will help a lot and keep them from spreading to the rest of your house, which is about as important as anything at this point.
2007-11-22 08:29:07 · answer #6 · answered by Brenda T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the chemical in the spray you should take it to the vet oh and by the way if the cats are some times outside you can expect ticks and fleas keep them off the carpet some times fleas hide there
2007-11-22 10:14:47 · answer #7 · answered by newyorkgirl_92 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BE VERY CAREFUL!!! it is harmful for the kittens. and if they do get fleas/ticks then they will be to young 4 any treatment.
take them to the vet, in separate cages, the vet will take care of that on momma and see if the kittens have it. do this A.S.A.P.!!! if the momma does have fleas,(they gather around her stomach) then it would be bad 4 them to nurse!
good luck and sorry!
i hope i could help!
2007-11-22 08:31:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem with my kitty when she had her last litter.
I called the local vet. What they told me to do was to put frontline on the mommy, because frontline is safe to use on mothers that have kittens to feet. After you put it on mommy, they will eventually get off of the babies too. Also, change/clean their bedding every few days. Vaccuum the area every day.
It worked for me.. after about a day of using frontline there were no fleas on the babies either.
2007-11-22 10:40:42 · answer #9 · answered by Trish 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get frontline spary which does both fleas and ticks (the safest treatment) from your vet. Fleas also carry tapeworms , so ensure you do the wormings when they are old enough.
2007-11-22 08:31:37 · answer #10 · answered by Brainteaser 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋