Treatment FAQ

when can you start using flea treatment on kittens

by Lourdes Sipes IV Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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8 weeks

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 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 ...

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.

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.

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 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 a tick to develop?

Many hard ticks follow a three-host lifecycle that can take two or three years to complete.

Spot on cat and kitten flea treatment

Spot on products, whereby liquid is applied to the skin at the back of a pet’s neck, have become a very popular – and effective – method of flea control. Some products contain substances that kill adult fleas, while others work by interrupting the development of fleas – and some do both.

Tablets and injections

Flea medication administered in tablet or injection form is also a good option, if you find it difficult to give your pet a spot on treatment. It works by preventing the development of eggs into fleas, eliminating new generations all together.

Cat and kitten flea treatment combs

This is not an effective method of flea control, and is not preventative. But combs can be useful if you suspect your cat may have fleas, as you can only see them if your pet has lots. Use one of these fine-toothed combs on your cat over a clean white surface.

Cat and kitten flea treatment powders

Flea powders are only active for as long as they remain on the coat and only kill adult fleas, not the larvae. For these reasons they have no long-term effect, so are not a good choice for treatment.

Cat and kitten flea collars

The collars have growth-inhibiting substances in them to stop fleas growing but most are not reliable enough. Some can also cause irritation to your pet. This method should only be used if it’s a high-quality and safe product recommended by your vet.

Cat and kitten flea treatment shampoo

Again, not a long-term effective solution for combating fleas as it will only kill the fleas on your cat at the time of bathing and does not prevent them from redeveloping.

Cat and kitten flea treatment herbal remedies

These are ineffective and some – such as tea tree oil – can even be toxic to cats. Also, many of these have not been through the rigorous safety checks applied to the products recommended by a vet.

When To Start Flea And Tick Treatment

Spring and summer are usually the heaviest time for ticks. But they can live year-round in some parts of the U.S. If you see signs of these pests on your pet, treat them right away. Otherwise, start treatment at the beginning of flea or tick season. Your vet can tell you when if you’re not sure. Some areas require year-round treatment.

Do Dogs Need Flea And Tick Treatment All Year Round?

You definitely need to continue using dog flea and tick medication for your puppies and adult dogs all year round. Does my dog need Flea and Tick prevention in winters?

When Is Flea-And-Tick Season?

Map: What’s Your State’s Flea-and-Tick Season? Although fleas and ticks pose a threat to pets year-round, these pests become most active during the warmer months, starting as early as March in some areas of the United States. Find your state on the map shown here to learn where and when your pets are most at risk for fleas and ticks.

How Long Does It Take For Flea And Tick Medicine To Work?

Some flea and tick medications take quite a long time to become effective, but others can bring your dog or cat relief within just a couple of hours! Information about how quickly a medication starts to work is easily available by reading the product label, visiting the manufacturer’s website, or by talking to your veterinarian.

Can You Put Flea Treatment On A 8 Week Old Puppy?

Flea and Tick Protection for Puppies Most flea and tick products are not safe to use on puppies until they’ve reached at least seven or eight weeks of age (see chart below). Your veterinarian will be able to recommend a flea and tick preventative to use and advise you on when it’s safe to begin administering it to your puppy.

Do Dogs Need Flea And Tick Medicine Year Round?

Due to this, many vets actually recommend that your dog be on some sort of flea and tick prevention program year round. Despite that, many folks don’t like the fact that their dogs do not get a break from a flea and tick medicine treatment due to costs and health concerns.

Does Your Pet Need Flea And Tick Protection Where You Live?

Location, location, location! When it comes time to treat your pet during flea and tick season, those three words ring true. Where you live plays a big role in what sort of flea and tick protection you should be using on your pets, like Revolution for dogs, Frontline Plus, or Advantage for cats.

Why did the vet put flea drops on mom?

The vet put the drop flea treatment on mom because she had fleas and did not want the kittens to get them. Mom did fine and so did all 7 kittens but that was just my experience. You could call a vet and ask if it's okay to flea treat Mom. Nov 28, 2014. Thread Starter.

Is dawn soap safe for cats?

Also, even if the flea shampo is really OK for adult cats, there is a big risk the kittens will get some in them - which isnt necessary safe.

Can fleas flee on kittens?

Wet with the soap foam around her face, so the fleas wont try to flee on her face, and bathe.... Similiar tip if you ever must flea bathe kittens - there perhaps the ring of soap foam around their neck, as htey are smaller. With kittens be extra sure it is warm in the room, no draugh, and dry off them thoroughly afterwards.

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