Treatment FAQ

how old do kittens have to be to use flea treatment

by Kendall Watsica Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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8-10 weeks

What are the age restrictions for flea treatment products for kittens?

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.

How often should you use flea treatment on a kitten?

For very young kittens—under 8 weeks—the safest option is using a flea comb on them once or twice a day. This will allow you to physically remove the adult fleas without exposing your young kitten to potentially toxic ingredients in products.

Can you put flea treatment on a newborn kitten?

Because of newborn kittens’ young age and fragility, do not apply any type of detergent or medication on them. For kittens younger than 4 weeks, there is no safe medication for killing their fleas. You’ll have to pick the fleas out.

Can I use flea treatment on a 10 week old puppy?

If the label indicates it is safe to use on puppies 10 weeks & older, then yes you can use it. Otherwise, consider using a topical like Frontline which is safe for puppies 8 weeks & older. ... Can I use flea powder on a 1 pound Yorkie puppy 12 weeks old?

How to treat fleas in kittens?

How old do kittens need to be to wear a seresto collar?

How to get ovitrol out of a kitten's mouth?

Can you use Vet Kem on kittens?

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

Once kittens are 8-10 weeks and over 1.5-2 pounds, they can safely receive appropriate topical flea treatments. These products not only kill fleas on your kitten but can prevent new fleas from hitching a ride on your pet.

How much does an 8 week old kitten weigh?

An 8-week-old kitten only weighs about 1.5-2 pounds. Most products are safe for use in kittens older than 8-10 weeks or over 1.5-2 pounds, but every product is different. Typically, flea products haven’t been tested on kittens younger or smaller than that, so they may contain doses that are too high for very young, tiny kittens.

Does soap kill fleas?

Soapy water helps prevent fleas from jumping out of the bathwater, although it isn’t actually necessary to remove or kill fleas. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the soap off so your kitten doesn’t ingest the soap while grooming after the bath.

Can you use OTC for kittens?

If you’re using an OTC product, remember to check all ingredients and be sure to use the right dose for your kitten’s weight. Your veterinarian can prescribe a safe product and also give you guidance on which OTC products would be safe and effective for your kitten. Featured Image: iStock.com/SolStock.

Is permethrin safe for cats?

However, while it is safe for dogs, it’s very toxic to cats. Be extremely careful to check over-the-counter (OTC) flea products to make sure they don’t contain permethrin. It’s critical that you read all labels very carefully. Even if a flea product is safe for cats, it does not mean that it is safe for kittens.

Can cats use essential oils?

Many natural flea treatments use essential oils because they can be effective against fleas. However, essential oils can be very dangerous for cats, so it’s best to avoid these products, especially for kittens.

Can cats take permethrin?

Do Not Use Products With Permethrin. Cats actually have a very poor ability to process certain kinds of drugs and chemicals that humans and dogs can easily process. This poor processing ability means that these substances can be toxic for cats at very low doses, even though they are perfectly safe for dogs and humans.

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 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 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 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 to get rid of fleas in kittens?

Fleas are very bad for kittens. You need to vacuum the cattery/your house often (minimum 2-3 times weekly and dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag outside. Replace the bedding with new bedding and wash the old hot. Vacuum the box in which they reside. Put flea powder into the vacuum cleaner bag. Frontline spray for cats is safe for kittens over two days old. Wear gloves and put the spray on your hands and then spread it over the kitten. The mother needs to be treated too.

How often should I vacuum my cat's house?

You need to vacuum the cattery/your house often (minimum 2-3 times weekly and dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag outside. Replace the bedding with new bedding and wash the old hot. Vacuum the box in which they reside. Put flea powder into the vacuum cleaner bag. Frontline spray for cats is safe for kittens over two days old.

How to treat fleas in kittens?

Dry the baby with warm towels so we don’t drop their temperature too much and dry the best you can. 2. The Preventive To Treat Kittens With Fleas.

How old do kittens need to be to wear a seresto collar?

Normally kittens under 6 weeks are tiny and need to be kept warm and in a confined space. Placing the Seresto Collar in the confined space will apply what is needed as the baby moves around on it. Use caution with your Seresto Collars- if it’s not from a Veterinarian, it’s not guaranteed to be a true Seresto Collar. 4.

How to get ovitrol out of a kitten's mouth?

Take a dry hand towel and spray the Ovitrol in the towel. Then rub the towel over the baby kitten being sure not to get it in its eyes, ears, or mouth. Apply a new layer with a towel every couple of days. 3.

Can you use Vet Kem on kittens?

In conclusion, there aren’t products for kittens under 6 weeks that don’t have their consequences for something so tiny. Even with using Vet-Kem and a Seresto Collar you take the chance of the fumes being too much for the kitten. Even a frequent dawn bath can dry their skin out and drop their temperature. As always, it’s best to contact your local Veterinarian if you have questions or concerns.

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