I just found a baby kitten and I have him sleeping with me but the fleas are really biting me now. Help!

Comments

  1. Gaiana R

    Go to the pharmacy and look for a dandruff shampoo with “coal tar” as an ingrediant. It should be a very basic formula with coal tar and just a couple of other things in it. It’s the “old fashioned” type of dandruff shampoo and is usually a brown color.
    Make sure the bathroom is warm and then run a little warm (not hot!) water in the sink or in the bathtub, depending on what is more comfortable for you. Wet the kitten down (be very careful not to get water into his/her ears!) and then soap him/her up with the dandruff shampoo. You’ll need to keep this lather on the kitten for at least five minutes and while you’re doing that, keep a close eye out on his/her face. The fleas will go there to try and escape the water and shampoo. Have a flea comb ready and comb off any fleas you see around the face and either put them in a cup (disposable, of course) full of water or down the toilet or something. Do not use the lather around the face, it can really sting in the eyes (I know this firsthand as I’ve had kittens shake it into my own eyes). After the minimum five minute wait, rinse the kitten in warm water very thoroughly and then comb it with the flea comb to remove any dead or stunned fleas. Dry the kitten gently with a soft towel. It’s good to rub in little circles to aid in circulation. Make sure to keep the kitten warm the rest of the day so he/she doesn’t get a chill. Don’t use a hairdryer as it is way too easy to burn the kitten accidentally. Their skin is very delicate (think of a human baby’s skin). It also tends to really panic them. Also, have a nice lukewarm bowl of kitten milk or canned kitten food ready immediately after the bath as this will help calm the kitten and also associate the bath (unpleasant experience) with food (pleasant experience).
    Oh, also make sure you clip the kitten’s claws before starting! This will save you some blood and tears during the bath ;p
    We’ve used this on many of our small kittens and it works very well and is very safe.
    Once your kitten is older (we usually wait until around 12 weeks) you may use Advantage, Frontline or Revolution, (make sure you get the proper dose for the age/size of your kitten) which are all extremely effective and have a lot longer duration. The flea bath described above only lasts a brief time, depending upon flea exposure (and if the kitten has had fleas in the house, there will be new fleas hatching). You can clean up the environment by vaccuming -everything- very thoroughly and washing all bedding in very hot water. There are products you can use to kill fleas in the environment, but most are extremely toxic both to the kitten and to humans. NEVER use the remedies you can find at the grocery store or Walmart (such as Hartz, Zodiac, etc). These have been found to cause neurological damage both to animals and humans.

  2. ASHLEY MARiiE <3

    If he’s old enough give him a bath with flea shampoo specially designed for kittens & they have flea powder too as well as flea collars. Make sure he’s old enough though – try taking him to your vet and he may be able to get you some medicine. However – dont go out & just buy the product it’s important to make sure the kitten is old enough so he doesnt get sick from it being so strong.

  3. Mugsy's Place

    You need to be very careful with kittens. If they are too young you can’t use anything on them for the fleas.
    Look at him gums and if they are pale, you need to take him to the vet right away, he might have anemia from the fleas. It would be a good idea to take the kitten to the vet in any event and find out what they recommend.
    If you are going to keep the kitten, you need to make sure you get it vaccinated and it would be a good idea to have him tested for aids and leukemia. Then the responsible thing to do would be to have him altered when it’s time.
    If money is a problem, the local animal shelters usually have a low cost clinic where you can take your pets for vaccinations and to have them altered. Pets can be very expensive!
    You can purchase a box of Borax laundry detergent and sprinkle it in the carpet (or you can purchase the expensive stuff from the vet, lol). That will help with the fleas.
    Good luck to you both!

  4. batgirl1

    I actually rescued a kitten and when i got it home I noticed the fleas. I went to the library and checked out a book on natural remedies. It said just a little chunk of garlic once a day. It worked really well, but I had to keep up with it.
    They also make a product you can get at the vet named FrontLine. I’m not sure if it’s safe for kittens…it depends on the age I think. Hope it helps.

  5. Vet_Tech

    Whatever you do, DON’T feed this kitten garlic like some people will tell you. Garlic consumption in cats can lead to a condition called “Hemolytic Anemia” and eventually death. http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/… . If this kitten is over 8 weeks old, you can put a product called Revolution on him. This is an oil that you place on his skin between his shoulder blades. If he is over 12 weeks old, you can put Frontline on him. This is also an oil you place on his skin between the shoulder blades. If you are looking for a temporary fix, you can bathe him in Dawn dish soap. Use the regular kind (no bleach) and start at his neck and work your way down (that way the fleas don’t run to his head and not get killed). Make sure you completely rinse all of the soap off and then use a flea carpet powder on your carpet and vacuum. DON’T use flea collars, they are way to dangerous for kittens and cats. Also, DON’T use an off brand like Hartz. I have seen way too many kittens and cats come in the vet clinic where I work that have had a severe reaction to that product.
    Make sure to get this kitten dewormed at your veterinarian’s. Tapeworms are caused by the ingestion of fleas, so its likely your kitty has Tapeworms and probably a few others.
    Hope this helps and good luck with your new kitty!!

  6. Kristie is my name

    Since you need to take a new kitten to the vet for a check-up anyway, ask the vet for a recommendation. You could also be exposing yourself to tapeworm and other worms from being in such close contact with a rescue animal. Many worms come from fleas!!! The new kitten needs deworming and Revolution or Frontline. Also, ask your vet about a food recommendation. Kittens need a good growth formula food without all the ash and filler that grocery store foods have.

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