Treatment FAQ

at what age can kittens get flea treatment

by Pattie Upton Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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8 weeks

Can you put flea treatment on a 6 week old kitten?

Look at the age restrictions for the following products: Advantage - Kittens must be eight weeks or older. Frontline® - Kittens must be eight weeks or older. Revolution® - …

How old do kittens have to be to get fleas?

Flea treatments for kittens 14 weeks of age and older Once your kitten is at least 14 weeks of age or older, your kitten can use Comfortis, a prescription oral flea treatment. Comfortis 6 Pack, 12 Pack $106.07 $151.53 $100.77 Shop now Tip For more information, read our guide on how to care for a new kitten.

How do you treat a flea bitten kitten?

Aug 23, 2021 · The challenges with flea treatments in young kittens Once kittens reach eight to twelve weeks of age, many of the most popular veterinary approved flea products can be used on them, and so the main issue when it comes to fleas occurs in kittens under eight weeks old, which is when a flea infestation is potentially the most risky.

How old does a kitten have to be to get frontline?

The challenge in treating a flea-bitten kitten is that most readily available topical flea treatments cannot be used until a kitten is eight weeks old. Topical Flea Treatments Topical flea treatments are drops or gels that are applied at the base of your kitten's neck.

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How old do kittens have to be to get flea treatment?

With kittens, flea treatment products place restrictions on the minimum age of the pet using the product. Look at the age restrictions for the following products: Advantage - Kittens must be eight weeks or older. Frontline® - Kittens must be eight weeks or older. Revolution® - Kittens must be eight weeks or older.

How old do kittens need to be to use flea shampoo?

Most flea dip or flea shampoo products, like Ectokyl, state that the treatment product should not be used on kittens under the age of 12 weeks. Veterinarians may recommend a diluted version of these products for younger kittens, but you must ask first.

How to get rid of a kitten's fur?

Make sure your bathroom is warm, use a space heater to heat the area up. Bathe the kitten in warm water using the baby shampoo or dish soap, avoiding the nose and eyes, to create suds in the kitten's fur. Leave the suds for five minutes before rinsing.

How to get fleas off a kitten's head?

Fleas will crawl to areas on the head, such as the nose, eyes and ears. Pick them off with fingernails or blunt-tipped tweezers. Wrap the kitten up in a warm towel and scrub well. Once the kitten's fur is drier, use a flea comb to remove any addition fleas or flea eggs.

How to treat fleas on kittens?

When you want a safer method of kitten flea treatment for your pet, purchase a box of Borax Powder, some baby shampoo or Dawn dish soap and a flea comb. Make sure your bathroom is warm, use a space heater to heat the area up.

What is the best flea treatment for kittens?

Topical flea treatments effectively kill fleas and the eggs they lay. They require a prescription from your veterinarian. With kittens, flea treatment products place restrictions on the minimum age of the pet using the product. Look at the age restrictions for the following products: 1 Advantage - Kittens must be eight weeks or older. 2 Frontline® - Kittens must be eight weeks or older. 3 Revolution® - Kittens must be eight weeks or older.

Why are kittens anemic?

Younger kittens can become anemic as fleas feast on their blood. Fleas multiply quickly, so you must take immediate action on removing these parasites. However, kittens are often too young for commercialized flea treatments.

How old is a kitten when fleas are treated?

Flea treatments for kittens 8 to 13 weeks of age and older. If your kitten is at least 8 weeks of age or older, you have lots more options to treat fleas, including these topical treatments: Advantage II: Can be used on kittens 8 weeks or older and weighing 2 pounds or more. Frontline Plus: Can be used on kittens 8 weeks or older.

How long does it take for capstar to work on kittens?

Flea treatments for kittens 4 weeks of age and older. For kittens with biting (adult) fleas, you will likely want a product that works quickly to kill these parasites. Capstar is a popular flea product that works within 6 hours to kill 90% of fleas, and it can be used on kittens as young as 4 weeks of age and older, ...

Why are my kittens' gums pink?

Fleas can remove enough blood to make kittens anemic, so confirm that the kittens' gums are pink. If not, contact your veterinarian right away for advice. And because fleas carry tapeworms, watch for rice-like dried tapeworm segments at the rectum or in the stool over the next several weeks.

What are the products that affect flea offspring?

Products that affect flea offspring-the eggs and larvae. Products that affect flea offspring are called insect growth regulators (IGRs). IGRs are very effective when you can clean up the environment and the kitten will have little exposure to fleas in the future, either from the environment or from other animals-such as our indoor cats.

How to keep kittens warm?

To prevent a recurrence of the fleas, it's important to also wash the kittens' bedding, vacuum the surroundings, and treat the kittens' mother if she's living with you . Fleas can remove enough blood to make kittens anemic, so confirm that the kittens' gums are pink.

Can fleas cause anemia in kittens?

Therefore, it's important to eliminate the fleas as soon as you identify the problem. But not all flea medications are safe to use on delicate young kittens.

Can fleas be used on dogs?

Note that you should NEVER use a flea treatment labeled for use on dogs on your kitten as it can result in serious side effects or even be fatal to your kitten.

How old do kittens have to be to get fleas?

Once kittens reach eight to twelve weeks of age, many of the most popular veterinary approved flea products can be used on them, and so the main issue when it comes to fleas occurs in kittens under eight weeks old, which is when a flea infestation is potentially the most risky.

How do I set up a flea trap?

To set up a flea trap, get a large, shallow bowl of water and add a little washing up liquid to it to create some surface tension. Then, position an angled lamp over it, with the light aimed at the bowl, and turn it on.

Can you use fleas on kittens?

Dealing With Fleas On Young Kittens. Kittens can become infested with fleas virtually as soon as they are born, and while fleas are easy to treat and resolve in older cats with a spot-on treatment or other method, few products are safe to use on very young kittens. Additionally, whilst for most adult cats the occasional flea ...

Can you put flea traps in the room?

At night, you can set up a type of flea trap in the room where the litter sleeps-this is not generally one of the most effective ways of reducing flea infestations in the home when compared to proper treatments, but when you are limited in terms of options for small kittens, every little helps!

Can fleas kill kittens?

However, virtually all effective flea treatment products contain an antiparasitic agent to kill fleas, which is not harmful to older cats but that can be too strong for young kittens, and so, this makes them inappropriate for treating tiny cats.

Is it safe to have fleas in your queen before she has her litter?

It is wise to ensure that your queen is of course flea-free well before she has her litter, and as well as checking your pets themselves, make sure that your home is not harbouring an infestation or fleas in larvae form.

Can fleas spread across a queen's neck?

Treating the queen herself is important too, but take care to ensure that the flea product that you use is concentrated enough that it is effective but does not spread across her neck when wet, so that the kittens can rub against it.

How old do kittens need to be to get flea medicine?

This application kills the adult fleas but not their offspring. Other flea medications safe for kittens list 8 weeks of age as a minimum. Natural, homeopathic or essential oil treatments may harm your kitten, so avoid using these, especially if you haven’t consulted your vet first.

How to treat a kitten with fleas?

Place the dry kitten in an area free from fleas and grab a plastic bag or trash bag. Gather up all bedding and fabric the kitten may have come in contact with and wash them in hot water. Vacuum any areas the kitten has come in contact with, and treat any other kittens (or the mother, if present and also carrying fleas).

Why are my kitten's gums pink?

Make sure your kittens gums are pink since this condition can be deadly, and bring your kitten to the veterinarian if you notice a discoloration. Fleas on kittens (and on any other animal) can also cause excessive scratching and skin irritation. Kittens are especially delicate, and some flea treatments are not safe.

How to remove fleas from a kitten?

A kitten’s body is small so there isn’t a large area to cover, and you should be able to remove the fleas with your fingers or tweezers easily. Because of newborn kittens’ young age and fragility, do not apply any type ...

How to get fleas out of kittens?

How to Safely Remove Fleas From Kittens. 1. Dampen the kitten’s coat. First, dampen the kitten’s coat with warm (not hot) water. “Exercise caution when bathing the kitten, as baths can be traumatic to a kitten if done incorrectly,” says Hannah Shaw, who has fostered many young kittens. “Try to complete the entire bath in less than 2 minutes, ...

How to keep a kitten warm?

Towel dry the kitten. Dry the kitten right away — and completely. “Place the kitten back into a warm environment, such as a heating disk or baby blanket,” says Shaw. “Kittens can easily become chilled from a bath, and it is of utmost importance that the kitten be kept warm.”. 4.

Can fleas get into a kitten?

Fleas can find their way to a kitten in many ways, even if the kitten is strictly an indoor-only cat. For example, the mom cat may have fleas, other pets may have brought in fleas, and sand tracked indoors can even contain fleas. As soon as you notice there are fleas either in the house or on a pet, take action.

How to get rid of fleas in kittens?

A professional exterminator can treat your house and yard with pesticides that are safe for both humans and pets. Your kitten's bedding should be washed weekly, and the floors vacuumed after being treated to remove flea eggs. Remember to throw away the vacuum bag afterwards, or the flea eggs can hatch inside the vacuum cleaner and start the cycle over again.

How old can kittens be to use Frontline?

Frontline and Advantage are two popular brands that can be used on kittens as least eight weeks old. Revolution is a newer product that can be used in kittens as young as six weeks.

How often should I clean kitten bedding?

Your kitten's bedding should be washed weekly, and the floors vacuumed after being treated to remove flea eggs. Remember to throw away the vacuum bag afterwards, or the flea eggs can hatch inside the vacuum cleaner and start the cycle over again.

Can flea shampoo kill fleas?

Flea shampoos and flea combs are effective for removing adult fleas from your kitten's fur, but they do not prevent re-infestation. If your kitten is too young to use a topical flea treatment or Capstar, consult your veterinarian before using any products that claim to kill fleas.

Can fleas be treated on kittens?

Kitten Flea Treatment. i. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images. Flea infestation is not only uncomfortable for your kitten, it can also cause severe health problems, ranging from open sores to anemia if left untreated. The challenge in treating a flea-bitten kitten is that most readily available topical flea treatments cannot be used ...

Where to apply flea drops on kittens?

Topical flea treatments are drops or gels that are applied at the base of your kitten's neck. Because topical flea medications are pesticides, it's very important to follow the manufacturer's directions carefully and only use products labeled for use on kittens.

Can flea products cause seizures in kittens?

Avoid using any flea products that claim to be "all natural" unless they are recommended by your veterinarian. Many of these products are not regulated and can cause serious side-effects in kittens, ranging from drooling to seizures.

How old should kittens be treated for fleas?

While your vet should sell you age-appropriate products, read the label on any over-the-counter topical medication. Safe ages for treatment range from 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the pesticide. If you're not sure how old your kitten is, don't take the risk unless your veterinarian gives you the go-ahead.

How to treat fleas on kittens?

Old-fashioned, safe flea treatments for kittens still work. Buy human baby shampoo, a flea comb and Borax powder. Bathe the kitten in warm water with the shampoo, lathering up to create suds. Leave the suds on the kitten for a minimum of five minutes before rinsing with warm water. Any fleas on the kitten should crawl to his head, where you can pick them off, either with your nails or blunt tweezers. Dry him well in a warm towel. Once he's dry, comb him thoroughly with the flea comb. Put him in a warm, enclosed area.

How old can a kitten be to get rid of a slug?

Safe ages for treatment range from 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the pesticide. If you're not sure how old your kitten is, don't take the risk unless your veterinarian gives you the go-ahead.

What to do if kitten is infested?

If your kitten is infested, take him to the vet. Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion. Pet Informed: Flea Control for Kittens -- A Guide to Treating Fleas on Kittens.

Why do kittens have fleas?

Because kittens are so young and small, with immature immune systems, flea in festations can lead to anemia. This condition kills kittens. If you see a flea or two on your kitten or evidence of flea dirt -- those small black bits often found around the head -- try treating the kitten yourself. If your kitten is infested, take him to the vet.

Can you bathe a kitten with fleas?

If your kitten has fleas, you can try a flea dip or shampoo, but these treatments are not recommended for kittens under the age of 12 weeks. Ask your vet if you can bathe or dip your kitten in a particular flea-control product. In some cases, diluting the shampoo or dip may be safe for your kitten, but always get veterinary advice before doing this. There are less toxic ways to bathe a kitten and get rid of fleas.

How old do kittens need to be to get flea treatment?

Generally speaking, flea treatments are unsuitable for very young kittens under the age of eight weeks old. Make sure you know what flea prevention tactics you can deploy to keep your kitten flea-free depending on their age.

How to get rid of fleas on kittens?

Bathing your kitten in warm water with vet-recommended soap can help flush out the fleas taking refuge in their fur. Your kitten might not be so keen on being bathed either, and, just like a flea comb, soapy water will only remove fleas that are on the fur there and then and won’t help to prevent re-infestation.

How to get rid of fleas under furniture?

Wash bedding, curtains and fabrics. Put bedding, curtains and cushion covers on a hot wash to kills off any life stages of the flea that may be hiding there.

How long can kittens stay indoors?

Although kittens will generally stay indoors at least until they’ve completed their first course of vaccinations, usually at 12 weeks old, they can still easily catch fleas from living in the household.

How long does it take for a spot on to kill fleas?

Some spot-ons will interrupt the flea life cycle simply by killing adult fleas, while others will target larvae too. Advantage for cats is a monthly spot-on which can be used on kittens from the age of eight weeks and older. It works by spreading throughout the skin and fur to kill fleas through contact1 within 24 hours.

How to keep kittens from fleas?

One of the easiest ways to keep kittens clear of fleas is to ensure their home is a flea-free zone. But, in the event of fleas, here are some ways to keep fleas away from your new-born bundle of fluff until they’re eight weeks of age. • Use a flea comb. Flea combs are designed to pick out tiny fleas from fur.

What is spot on flea treatment?

They are a popular treatment among pet owners because they’re easily applied to the back of the kitten’s (or cat’s) neck. Different active ingredients in the products will treat a flea infestation differently.

How old do kittens have to be to be flea free?

Your kitten must be more than 12 weeks of age. Use a flea collar with a breakaway buckle so your kitten can free himself without choking if the collar gets caught on something. Purchase a flea collar that is formulated for cats, not dogs -- pyrethrin levels are higher in dog collars and can cause severe illness or death in cats.

How to get rid of fleas in kittens?

The safest and most effective way to remove fleas from a kitten under 12 weeks of age is to bathe him and manually remove the fleas. Use a mild dish soap such as Green Works Free and Clear. Keep your kitten's head dry.

How long does it take for a flea collar to kill a kitten?

Mid Hudson Animal Hospital in New York gives this example on their website to illustrate the effectiveness, "It takes about four days for a flea collar to kill a flea. In that amount of time, the flea has laid about 400 eggs.". Advertisement.

How to get rid of fleas in a dog?

Use tweezers to remove as many fleas as you can. After the bath, set him on a clean towel and go through all of his damp fur with a flea comb and tweezers to remove the fleas. Kill the fleas by submerging them in a bowl of hot water. Advertisement.

When can kittens wear flea collars?

A kitten can wear a flea collar at the age of 12 weeks; however, according to the Pet Poison Helpline, flea collars can be life-threatening when used incorrectly.Consult your veterinarian before using flea collars or any flea products on your kitten.

Do flea collars kill cats?

Pyrethrins are the most common active ingredients in flea collars. They do kill fleas, but they are toxic to cats. Accidental ingestion and incorrect use of collars can cause central nervous system, gastrointestinal system and cardiac system problems.

How old do puppies need to be to get flea and tick treatment?

Most of the products available are not recommended for use on animals younger than 8 weeks old, and that can leave new pet parents in a pickle. Thankfully, there are safe and effective options for young puppies and kittens. Read on to learn more about flea and tick ...

Why is flea prevention important for dogs?

Kitten and puppy flea and tick prevention is important for your pet’s health and happiness—and your own health and happiness, too. Those little bloodsuckers can cause distress and anemia in young animals, not to mention skin irritation or worse, Dr. Dryden says.

What do fleas eat?

Adult fleas deposit white, oval, 0.5 mm-long eggs on the pet, which then fall into the environment—like the pet’s bed, the carpet or the couch. Shortly thereafter, larvae come out of their shells and feed on blood contained in adult flea feces and organic debris like flakes of skin.

What does a flea or tick feed do?

When a flea or tick feeds, it takes in the chemical.”. The active ingredients in the topical and systemic treatments eradicate the insects in various ways, Dr. Dryden says. Some kill adult fleas and ticks. Others kill the larvae or sterilize the eggs.

What is the most common type of flea in dogs?

Fleas. The most common type of flea to affect dogs and cats is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Counsel. C. felis goes through a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult.

How long does it take for fleas to emerge?

Then they cocoon themselves in 0.5 mm-long pupae as they develop into adult fleas. It usually takes 8-28 days for the pests to emerge, depending on the climate, though they can remain dormant in their cocoons for up to 50 weeks depending on temperature and other stimuli.

Can pyrethrin kill fleas?

Pyrethrins are natural compounds found in certain types of flowers, like chrysanthemums, that can kill and repel fleas, ticks, and other parasites. Pyrethrins can be quite safe, including for cats, but are not very effective, according to Jennifer Coates, DVM, a veterinarian in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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