Treatment FAQ

what age can a cat get flea treatment

by Eliseo Beier Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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8 weeks

What flea treatment is safe for kittens?

Available without a prescription, Capstar is the only flea control product safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks and weighing at least 2 pounds. With other flea control products, whether topical or oral, kittens must be at least 8 weeks old, and sometimes older.Aug 17, 2021

Can flea treatment kill kittens?

Kittens are especially delicate, and some flea treatments are not safe. Follow the advice of your vet. Also, never use medication designed for dogs or adult cats — these could be deadly to a kitten.Feb 28, 2019

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

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However, veterinarians advise that kittens under the age of eight weeks not be treated with flea medication. The fleas can cause anemia in kittens, and they will cause the small kittens to scratch constantly, which can be very annoying and uncomfortable.

How do you get rid of fleas on 4 week old kittens?

Part of a video titled Kitten & Cat Care : How to Treat Newborn Kittens With Fleas
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With a mild shampoo it doesn't have to be a chemical flea shampoo any shampoo will do just lather upMoreWith a mild shampoo it doesn't have to be a chemical flea shampoo any shampoo will do just lather up let the lather sit for like five minutes rinse.

Can 8 week old kittens have flea treatment?

At what age should kittens have flea treatment? Young kittens can be very delicate, so most flea treatments can only be given to a kitten aged 8 weeks or more. However, some flea treatments are only suitable for kittens aged at least 12 weeks.

How do indoor kittens get fleas?

Fleas can hang on to shoes or clothes, and when you return from the outdoors, you can unwittingly carry fleas into your home. The same can happen if you also have dogs. Dogs are the primary way fleas get into a house. So even if your cat is strictly indoors, fleas can hitch a ride on your dog and come inside.May 30, 2018

Can you treat a 7 week old kitten for fleas?

If the kitten weighs more than 2 pounds, you can safely use Capstar, an oral medication that will kill adult fleas. Get it from your vet. You can also bathe the kitten in warm water with a few drops of Dawn dish liquid.

Can you flea a 5 week old kitten?

Never use a chemical flea treatment on a kitten younger than 8 weeks.

How do I get rid of fleas on my 7 week old kitten?

Treat Fleas With A Dish Soap Bath
  1. Use comfortably warm water and a fragrance free dish liquid or a natural baby shampoo.
  2. Try to complete the entire bath in less than 2 minutes, as kittens can become panicked or chilled during this process.
  3. Wash from the neck down, avoiding the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.

Can you give a 3 week old kitten a flea bath?

Do not use flea products on newborn kittens; it's not safe as they are too young. If you see fleas on the kittens, you can bathe them using Dawn dishwashing liquid and use a small flea comb as needed to get the fleas off. Avoid antibacterial soaps.

What can I give a 6 week old kitten for 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. While Capstar is fast-acting and effective at killing fleas, keep in mind that the effect only lasts for 24 hours.

Can you give a 3 week old kitten a bath?

Bathing too often can dry the skin, so try to avoid anything more frequent than every 4-6 weeks or so. 1 Kittens accept baths most readily so start as soon as you adopt one, as long as it's at least 4 weeks old.Oct 20, 2021

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.

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.

Do flea treatments kill fleas?

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.

Can you use flea shampoo on kittens?

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. Small kittens are subject to poisoning if you use ...

How to get rid of fleas on kittens?

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. Place the kitten in a basket lined with a heating pad covered in a blanket and let the kitten groom him/herself.

Can you leave your house with flea bombs?

When using flea bombs, you and your pets must leave your house for a few hours while the product works. This is problematic, especially with kittens that may not enjoy traveling. If you opt to stay overnight in a hotel, it can be hard to find hotels that accept animals.

Can you give a cat flea treatment?

If you give a flea treatment to a cat through the wrong delivery method, it can be dangerous, so you should always follow the package recommendations for how to administer a product. A Warning About Flea Collars. Flea collars can be dangerous to cats and the people who live with them.

What is the best flea treatment for cats?

Flea treatments for cats may come as shampoos, dips, sprays, bombs, powders, spot-ons, orals, collars, combs, and even injections. Some delivery methods are only appropriate for killing live fleas while others will help prevent a flea from being able to reproduce.

What does it mean when a cat has fleas?

Cats that have fleas are often very itchy and may have hair loss, skin redness, and even scabs. The hair loss is often most prevalent at the base of the tail but can occur anywhere. Flea dirt, which is the black flea feces, can be seen in the fur.

Can cats get fleas?

Fleas are not only a nuisance but they can also transmit serious diseases to your cats. Thankfully, various flea preventatives and treatments are available to help limit your cat’s chances of attracting and harboring these external parasites. However, they aren’t all created equally. Some flea treatments aren’t even effective and worse yet, ...

Does Revolution Plus kill ticks?

With not only safe and effective fle a killing power, Revolution plus also combats ticks, heartworms, ear mites, and intestinal parasites . This makes it a top choice for cat owners who want to protect their cats from as many parasites as possible.

How long does it take for Comfortis to kill fleas?

Does not protect against any other parasites. Flea prevention for up to one month in cats and kittens 14 weeks and older can be found in the chewable tablet option called Comfortis. This tablet works very quickly to kill fleas in as few as 30 minutes and can be crushed and mixed in your cat’s wet food if necessary.

Is flea shampoo safe for cats?

While you may be thinking that this isn’t a flea shampoo, the truth is that shampoos designed to kill fleas can be very dangerous to cats. Even shampoos labeled as “all-natural” often contain oils that can be toxic or harmful to cats and the traditional flea shampoos contain pyrethrins which can be extremely dangerous.

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.

Can fleas kill kittens?

Fleas can cause serious illnesses in kittens. Because kittens are so young and small, with immature immune systems, flea infestations 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.

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.

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Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. In addition to reporting for a major newspaper chain, she has been published in "Horse News," "Suburban Classic," "Hoof Beats," "Equine Journal" and other publications.

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 to get rid of fleas on kittens?

Bathing your kitten is another pretty safe and effective option to help your kitten get rid of fleas. Follow these safety tips: 1 Don’t bathe your kitten more than twice a week, because frequent bathing can be damaging to their skin. 2 Keep your kitten warm during the bath and dry them quickly afterwards—kittens are not very good at maintaining their body temperature at this age. 3 Avoid flea shampoos, because they aren’t intended for use in kittens under 12 weeks of age. 4 If you use soap, choose a nonmedicated, tear-free, gentle soap only—like Dawn or baby shampoo. Soapy water helps prevent fleas from jumping out of the bathwater, although it isn’t actually necessary to remove or kill fleas. 5 Be sure to thoroughly rinse the soap off so your kitten doesn’t ingest the soap while grooming after the bath.

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.

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.

Is flea medicine safe for cats?

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. If you’re not sure a product is safe, simply ask your veterinarian.

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.

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.

What to do if my cat has fleas?

Alternative flea treatments include peppering your cat's food with brewer's yeast to make his blood unpalatable, or using citronella, rosemary and wormwood scents to drive away the fleas. Methodology aside, it's important to stop flea infestations.

How long does it take for fleas to die in cats?

Most work by lacing your cat's blood with a chemical that, once ingested by adult fleas, prevents their eggs from developing. As fleas age and die—within two months, usually—no new fleas are around to continue the infestation.

How to treat an aging cat?

In addition to treating your aging cat, make sure you vacuum your house, especially carpet and furniture, and wash your cat's bedding weekly. A change in routine affects any cat, but older cats appear more slavish to habit, so don't turn their world upside down with obsessive cleaning. Be thorough, quick and efficient.

How do flea treatments work?

Most work by lacing your cat's blood with a chemical that, once ingested by adult fleas, prevents their eggs from developing. As fleas age and die—within two months, usually—no new fleas are around to continue the infestation.

How do flea pills work?

Most work by lacing your cat's blood with a chemical that, once ingested by adult fleas, prevents their eggs from developing. As fleas age and die—within two months, usually—no new fleas are around to continue the infestation.

Why do cats lose their sense of smell?

Aging cats sometimes develop subtle chronic health issues that complicate treatments. Often, older cats lose their sense of smell, reducing their appetite and, by extension, their overall health. Aging cats have weaker immune systems, which means the poisons in most products that kill fleas can also harm them.

How to treat fleas on kittens?

Fleas do not just exist on your cats and kittens. They can live in the surrounding environment for a long time. In addition to treating your cats with flea combs, medications, and baths, you should wash all the bedding they use in warm water.

How to get rid of fleas in cats?

Topical flea medications are poisons that kill fleas when absorbed through your pet's skin. Usually, you would apply a topical medication between a cat's shoulder blades or on the back of the neck. Within a certain time frame, the medication would begin to kill fleas.

Can kittens have fleas?

Learn more... Fleas are annoying to humans and animals, and can actually be dangerous for very young kittens. While you can safely use flea medications on nursing mothers, manual removal is usually necessary for newborn kittens.

Do fleas live on cats?

Fleas do not just exist on your cats and kittens. They can live in the surrounding environment for a long time. In addition to treating your cats with flea combs, medications, and baths, you should wash all the bedding they use in warm water. Wash the bedding regularly as long as an infestation lasts.

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Is flea medicine safe for cats?

In addition, some drugs will be riskier if a cat has a particular underlying condition, whilst others might be safer in certain ages, or in pregnancy . Of course, when in doubt be sure to consult your veterinarian who can provide ...

Can flea treatments cause hair loss?

However, the side effects most often noticed after flea treatments include : Drooling (thought to be from licking spot-ons) Hair loss (usually at site of application or collar) Vomiting (after tablet flea treatments) However, even though these are the ‘most commonly seen’ side effects, they’re generally very rare.

What is a flea collar?

Flumethrin/imidacloprid (flea collar) – temporary itchiness, redness and hair loss (less than 1 in 100 cats), eczema, inflammation and skin lesions (less than 1 in 1000 cats), change of food intake, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhoea (less than 1 in 1000 cats). From this information, the product with the least serious and least frequent side effects ...

Can you mix flea treatments?

Some products need applying differently to others, so check before each application that you know exactly where and how to apply and how much to give. You should never mix products, use a flea treatment designed for or prescribed for a different animal, or use a different dosage than the one that was prescribed.

How long does nitinpyram last?

Nitenpyram (tablet) – hyperactivity, panting, excessive grooming, yowling and itchiness lasting less than an hour (less than 1 in 10,000 animals treated), muscle tremors, wobbliness, and seizures (less than 1 in 10,000 animals treated).

What is a topical flea treatment for cats?

Topical Cat Flea Treatments are meant to be directly on the cat’s body o treat or prevent fleas. Here are the different types of topical flea treatment available for cats:

How long does flea treatment last?

This treatment will offer protection for 30 days after a single application. It is important to not bathe your kitty two days before and after application for better effect. The pack can last for six months and the product kills the fleas within 24 hours of applying.

Can flea spray be used on cats?

Topical flea treatments such as collars and sprays can sometimes be effective to only a certain extent. It can be either be because the infestation is very severe or the product does not suit the cat.

Does flea shampoo kill fleas?

However, dips, sprays, and cat flea shampoos are only effective at killing fleas on the cat at the time of application. They can do little to kill the freshly-hatched fleas that may get introduced through the environment after the treatment.

Do flea collars work for cats?

Cat Flea Collars. Many cat parents have been attracted to cat flea collars because they are easy to use and have no side-effects. Old-style flea collars are not very effective in areas of your cat’s body that are farthest from the collar. Though effective, some newer products are expensive.

Can you give a cat flea medicine over the counter?

While many oral flea medicines for cats are available over the counter, many are also strictly available only on prescription. Oral flea medicines have two distinct advantages; No chemical residue is left behind post-use and Their effect is felt equally all over the cat’s body

What is a flea comb?

Just as the name suggests, the flea comb is a grooming device for your pet’s fur. Unlike regular combs, the teeth of a flea comb are more closely spaced enabling it to physically weed out fleas, flea eggs, and flea dirt from the fur.

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