Treatment FAQ

how old before yki apply flea treatment to a kitten

by Marge Bailey Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

8-10 weeks

How old do kittens have to be to use 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 to get rid of fleas on a 4 week old kitten?

For kittens younger than 4 weeks, there is no safe medication for killing their fleas. You’ll have to pick the fleas out. Photo: cibomahto 1. Dampen the kitten’s coat. First, dampen the kitten’s coat with warm (not hot) water.

Can you use flea dip on a 12 week old kitten?

Flea Dip and Flea Shampoo Products. 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 long does it take for flea treatment to work on kittens?

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, provided the kitten weighs at least 2 pounds.

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 to treat fleas on kittens?

If your kitten weighs at least 2 pounds, you can give her a Capstar pill. These pills kill all living fleas on the kitten and can provide your kitten relief within the first few hours after the medication is administered.

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 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 ...

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.

Can fleas in kittens be fatal?

If you notice any of these warning signs, let your veterinarian know right away. Flea anemia in kittens can be fatal if not treated promptly.

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 old should a kitten be to get flea collar?

If you want to protect your kitten from fleas, you might be considering a flea collar. But unless your kitten is more than 12 weeks old, this could be a dangerous choice.

What is the best flea shampoo for a 12 week old kitten?

If you are looking for a safer alternative flea treatment for kittens under 12 weeks, here are some products you might try instead: 1. Dawn Soap - Flea Shampoo. Though commonly used to wash dishes, you can use dawn soap as a flea shampoo for kitten under 12 weeks of age.

How do I get fleas out of my kitten's coat?

After you’ve treated your kitten with a flea shampoo or powder , you want to go over his coat with a flea comb to remove fleas.#N#Flea shampoos and powders help to kill adult fleas and to prevent eggs and larvae from developing, but a flea comb is necessary to actually remove the fleas.#N#The Safari Flea Comb for Cats is one of the top recommended kitten flea comb options that is safe to use on adult cats as well as kittens - it is also recommended by professional groomers.#N#Watch this video on how to use a flea comb.

How to choose flea collar for kitten?

When choosing a flea collar for your kitten, be sure to read the warning label and follow all instructions. Look for a collar that is made with a breakaway buckle so it will break if your kitten happens to catch it on something – collars that don’t break away pose a choking hazard.

Does flea collar kill fleas?

While the active ingredient in flea collars is very effective at killing fleas, exposing your kitten to this toxin may not be worth the risk. In fact, many flea collars contain a low dose of pyrethrin to reduce the risk for poisoning which, in turn, also reduces the efficiency of the collar. 1.

Can you use flea collars on cats?

You also want to make sure that you choose a flea collar that is formulated specifically for cats, not for dogs. Flea collars for dogs have higher levels of pyrethrin which could increase the risk of toxicity for your kitten.

Can pyrethrin cause seizures in cats?

Symptoms of pyrethrin toxicity in cats may include diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, dilated pupils, seizures, slowed heart rate, and abnormal blood pressure. If your kitten is older than 12 weeks, you can use a flea collar but you need to exercise caution. When choosing a flea collar for your kitten, be sure to read ...

How old should kittens be to get flea treatment?

Flea Treatments for Kittens Under 12 Weeks. Not every type of flea treatment is going to be appropriate for kittens that are younger than 12 weeks old. There are flea treatments that are appropriate for kittens that have no reached the 12-week mark.

How old should kittens be before flea spray?

People will often recommend flea powders, flea rinses, essential oils and other chemicals that are far too dangerous to use on kittens less than 6 weeks old.

How to get rid of fleas in bed?

In order to get rid of fleas in your bed, start by treating your pets (if you have any). Wash sheets and other bedding. Vacuum the bed and floor. Use flea powder.

Why do kittens have fleas?

Fleas are small parasitic bugs that seek a host animal, such as a kitten, and can cause severe itching, discomfort, and anemia. Because kittens' bodies are so small, they are at a high risk of flea anemia due to the loss of blood from the fleas feeding.

How long does it take for Capstar to kill fleas?

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, provided the kitten weighs at least 2 pounds.

How to get fleas out of kittens?

Photo: cibomahto How to Safely Remove Fleas From Kittens 1. Dampen the kitten’s coat. First, dampen the kitten’s coat with warm (not hot) water. Because flea medications are intended for dogs and cats older than 12 weeks, ridding a puppy of fleas can seem impossible.

How old should a puppy be to be combed?

Fleas on the Command Center: Puppies under twelve weeks should only be combed with a proper flea comb, designed to remove critters and eggs, from the skin out, every inch of the puppy's body. Avoid flea shampoos, because they aren’t intended for use in kittens under 12 weeks of age.

What Age Should Kittens Have Flea Treatment?

We have to be careful with what products we use on kittens. Unlike adult cats, kittens are still very delicate and vulnerable. Using full-strength adult treatment on such a small feline can cause several problems. They might exacerbate the issue and cause further skin irritation, or the dosage might be too high for their small bodies to handle.

What are the Best Flea Treatments for Kittens?

The best flea treatment for kittens depends on their age and weight. If you can use flea medication safely, this will be the most effective solution. However, kittens younger than 8 weeks or weighing under 2lbs require different treatments, such as combing or flea baths. Here is a look at these options in more detail.

Tips for Choosing Flea Treatment for Kittens

If you do decide to use a topical flea medication, you can’t just pick any old one off the shelf! Even kittens aged 12 weeks or more are still more delicate than adults. Choose the wrong product and it could cause them more harm. So, here are my top tips on choosing a kitten-friendly option.

Why Do I Need to Use a Flea Treatment on Kittens?

We all know that fleas are pesky parasites that are best avoided. They cause itching and discomfort, besides potentially passing on other infections to our furry friends. But when kittens contract fleas it’s even worse!

How to apply flea treatment?

How to Apply Each Brand of Topical Flea Treatment 1 Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn. 2 Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap. 3 Cats: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin. You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow. 4 Dogs: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one or more spots depending on the size of your dog. For larger dogs, choose two or three spots along the spine to continue the application.

How many active ingredients are in flea prevention?

Flea preventions typically use one or two active ingredients to do the job of preventing fleas. Each brand will use different active ingredients, and these ingredients will work in different ways to prevent fleas. An overdose for most flea preventions could result in the following: Profuse drooling. Vomiting.

How long do fleas live in the environment?

Flea eggs and larvae can live in the environment for days or weeks. It is best to regularly vacuum all the locations of your home where your pet spends time, wash all bedding in hot water, and keep your pets on flea prevention.

How to apply Bravecto to cat?

Bravecto. Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn. Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap. Cats: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin. You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow.

Where to apply hair spray for dogs?

You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow. Dogs: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one or more spots depending on the size of your dog. For larger dogs, choose two or three spots along the spine to continue the application.

Can you treat fleas in your home?

Your Home Hasn’t Been Treated for Fleas. In conjunction with topical flea treatments, you need to treat your home to provide the best defense against fleas. Most flea preventions do not repel fleas. Flea preventions kill fleas either by direct contact with the fleas or from the fleas feeding on your pet.

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