Where to apply flea treatment for 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. Topical flea treatment meant for dogs can be toxic to cats.
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.
Who is Jillian Peterson?
Jillian Peterson began her professional writing career in 2007, writing training manuals for the staffing industry. She contributes to eHow, specializing in staffing, employment and business-management topics.
Can fleas live on a kitten?
Fleas live on their host and survive by drinking the host's blood. In large, healthy animals this may cause itching, but in small kittens it can cause flea anemia. A kitten is considered anemic when 25 percent of his red blood cells are depleted.
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 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.
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.
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.
Do flea bombs kill fleas?
While flea bombs do effectively kill fleas, they do not kill the eggs. Flea eggs hatch up to a week later.
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 treat fleas in kittens?
A few more pointers: 1 Again, newborn kittens need manual flea removal. 2 In consultation with your vet, kittens over 4 weeks old may be treated with Capstar (there is a minimum weight requirement). This application kills the adult fleas but not their offspring. 3 Other flea medications safe for kittens list 8 weeks of age as a minimum. 4 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 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, ...
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 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 you use flea medicine on a kitten?
Because of newborn kittens’ young age and fragility, do not apply any type of detergent or medication on them.
Can fleas cause anemia in kittens?
William Miller Jr., VMD. “It sticks its proboscis into the skin and sucks blood. It doesn’t take too much of this sucking to cause anemia in a kitten that is carrying innumerable fleas.
How to get rid of fleas on kittens?
This helps to remove some of the fleas, and keep an eye on whether the infestation is lessening. You may also need to bathe your kittens using a very gentle detergent (your vet can recommend one) to help to get rid of the fleas too. Ensure that you are very gentle, and dry the kittens thoroughly afterwards.
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.
Can fleas cause anemia in kittens?
Additionally, whilst for most adult cats the occasional flea that is quickly treated is not usually a major problem, fleas on young kittens can have a significant impact on their health, wellness and development, leading to potential problems such as anaemia and flea bite sensitivities.
Can kittens get fleas?
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.
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 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.
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.
How long does flea medication take to dry on cats?
The short answer is to wait for it to be completely dry before giving your cat their much-deserved pets.
How long after the flea treatment do I have to wait before I can give my cat a bath?
There should be a leaflet that comes with the treatment package that answers this question. But if there isn’t one, just wait for 48 hours before giving your cat a bath. If you can wait a couple more days, even a week after treatment, that’s even better.
How long should I keep my pets apart after flea treatment?
You have to keep your treated cat away from your other cats and pets for the next 24 hours. Because although the treated cat cannot reach the medicated area on their body, the other cats or pets may possibly lick or rub up on the medication. It can come into contact with their eyes, nose and mouths which we do not want.
Conclusion
After applying your cat’s flea treatment, you have to wait 24 hours before touching them. This is to make sure that the medication is completely dry and the chemical is no longer harmful to you or your other pets. Keep your cat in a crate for the 24 hours so they don’t rub up on furniture or people.
