Newborn Kittens Have Fleas

Then rub the towel over the baby kitten being sure not to get it in its eyes ears or mouth.

Newborn kittens have fleas. Newborn kittens with fleas or ticks should be treated immediately. One old myth says that kittens can be born with fleas but this is not true. It hasn t let me down yet. However if the queen has fleas or if there are fleas on other pets or soft furnishings in the home kittens can catch fleas pretty much immediately after they are born.

The worst thing you can do is nothing. Fleas can make kittens itchy and spread disease and if they re really severe they can even cause serious blood loss and illness. Cats with a heavy infestation or pale coats are easier to diagnose fleas. You may see active live fleas which will appear as fast moving small dark brown bugs that quickly dart through the fur seeking refuge in the cat s face belly and armpits.

Have tweezers at your side. However most professional flea and tick products contain toxic ingredients that can be fatal to kittens. Every foster parent should have a flea comb. When the fleas surface pluck them out and send down the drain.

Most of the fleas will die and those that won t will be stunned enough so that they re easy to pick off. As for getting the fleas off of the kittens bathe them in warm water and dawn dish detergent. Put a thick soapy lather of dawn around the neck and ears first as they will run fast and far to get away from the soap. Fleas hate it but it is safe for your pet.

This application kills the adult fleas but not their offspring. Other flea medications safe for kittens list 8 weeks of age as a minimum. In consultation with your vet kittens over 4 weeks old may be treated with capstar there is a minimum weight requirement. Some methods for getting fleas off of pets such as flea combing and bathing will only kill the adult fleas on your kitten they don t prevent new fleas from jumping on them.

Check the kitten for fleas by combing through the fur with your fingers or with a flea comb. Take a dry hand towel and spray the ovitrol or other flea tick spray and cover the towel. Fleas can make a new home on your kitten in many ways even in indoor cats. Again newborn kittens need manual flea removal.

The mother may have fleas the kitten may have picked them up outside or sand tracked indoors can even contain fleas. Apply a new layer with a towel every couple of days. While you re drying them pick the fleas off with tweezers and wash them down the sink.