Are your cute little kittens flea-ridden? Are these annoying, persistent fleas driving you crazy? You would like to use something to treat fleas on kittens but you are wondering if the products will be harmful to their health. Well, we have lined up some useful methods for you to deal with the situation without putting your kittens at risk.
How to identify a flea infestation on kittens
Fleas are very small jumping insects without wings that bite animals and humans and suck their blood. These tiny, dark-colored creatures can cause serious diseases such as plague, cat scratch disease, tapeworms, flea allergy dermatitis and so on. Therefore, if you don’t treat fleas on kittens, you will be exposing them and yourself to severe health risks.
When your kitten begins to scratch itself, it is time to check it for fleas. To do this, move the fur over the neck until you can see the skin beneath. Go through all the different points around this area and down the shoulders. If you see a small insect crawling into the fur, it is most likely a flea. If you see any small red bumps, they might be flea bites. Once you’ve determined that there are fleas, it’s important that you treat them as soon as possible.
Methods to treat fleas on kittens
There are many methods to treat fleas on kittens, yet some are best for different stages of the kittens’ life.
Newborn kittens
Fleas never do anyone a favour, even vulnerable newborn kittens. They can be infested from their mother. They are so tiny and susceptible to harm from chemicals that you can do nothing but treat them manually.
Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to grasp persistent fleas and drop them into hot, soapy water. Next, you must separate the mother and the kittens for a short time in order to quickly treat the mother cat for fleas.
Kittens under 8 weeks of age
Bathing your kitten in warm water with very mild detergent seems to be the most common and effective method of removing fleas from young kittens. Follow the following steps:
First gather together everything you need for the bath before fetching the kitten. You will need two towels, a flea comb, a mild cat shampoo, tweezers, a cup of hot, soapy water and a plastic bag. Lay down all these supplies near a sink, a tub, a large mixing bowl or anywhere you are going to be bathing your kitten.
Fill the sink with warm, not hot, water. It’s a good idea to fill an extra basin for rinsing all the shampoo off properly. Quickly dip your kitten into the water up to the neck for a few seconds to ensure that all the fur is wet. Dunk its feet in the water first and use a soothing voice to talk to it and keep it calm. Pick the cat up out of the bath and place it on a towel to apply the shampoo.
Pour a small amount of the mild cat shampoo onto your kitten’s back. Lather all over the kitten gently and thoroughly, paying special attention to hard-to-reach and sensitive areas such as the legs and paws. Do remember to avoid the eyes since the shampoo might lead to sore eyes.
Next, you should see fleas running to the kittens’s head and facial areas as they hate water and go for the driest zone. Utilize the tweezers or even your fingers to grab and drop them into the cup of hot, soapy water to kill them.
Soak your kitten up to its neck in the water again to rinse off all the shampoo. Don’t let any soap residue remain. Use the other clean towel to dry your kitten off. Give it some cuddles as you dry as much water off as you can.
In case some fleas escaped from your earlier catch, it is important to pick off all remaining creatures while the kitten’s fur is still wet. Make use of the flea comb or tweezers to do it easier. Again, don’t forget to drop them into the cup of hot, soapy water.
Place the dry, flea-free kitten in a safe area and use a plastic bag to gather up all bedding and blankets the kitten may have been exposed to and wash them in hot soapy water. Vacuum and clean any areas that the kitten has come into contact with to make sure that fleas don’t come back again, at least for a while.
Kittens over 8 weeks of age
Once the kittens are older, other than bathing them, you can use flea products for cats such as Advantage, Advocate, Frontline and Comfortis Tablets. All medications are determined by the kitten’s age and weight, consequently, you must check with your vet prior to applying anything.
Besides the many available chemical flea products on the market, there are some natural ingredients that you can use to control fleas:
Salt: salt is a readily available, cheap ingredient that chokes fleas to death. Directly sprinkle salt onto the carpet to kill flea eggs and larvae. This will break the life cycle of the flea. Do this twice a week to make sure that none remain. Afterwards, don’t forget to vacuum your carpets to get rid of all dead fleas and eggs. Salt is indeed powerful, but it tends to be useless in high humidity environments because of the fact that salt can absorb water and make your carpet damp.
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Rosemary: rosemary is another simple and effective home remedy for fleas. Take some dry rosemary leaves and grind them to a powder. Sprinkle this powder over any area that your kitten has contact with. In addition, you also can prepare a rosemary dip for the kitten. Boil a pot of water and then steep a bunch of fresh rosemary in this water for a half of an hour. Wait until it becomes tepid and then dip your kitten into it. Not only will your kitten be flea-free but it will be fragrant. Put it in a sunny spot to dry off.our text here…
Lemon: cut some lemons into pieces and completely submerge them in boiling water. Steep them overnight. Pour this water into a clean spray bottle and spray the kitten and its surroundings. Alternatively, dip a cloth into the water and rub over any area that your kitten lays down in. Bear in mind that cats are quite sensitive to the smell of citrus, so you should avoid direct exposure to lemon on their skin.
Essential oils: give your cats an essential oil bath to help them overcome itchiness. Some commonly used essential oils for this purpose are lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus or cedarwood. Nonetheless, some of them are not safe for use on cats because of allergies, so it’s best to consult your vet before implementing any treatments.
Vinegar: mix distilled white vinegar and water in a proportion of 2:1. Gently shake to combine it and pour it into a spray bottle. Afterwards, just spray all potentially flea-infested areas.
After treatments on kittens
Right after you have treated fleas on kittens successfully, do remember to treat the environment as well. Wash all carpets, bedding, linen etc. in hot, soapy water. Vacuum frequently. Clean up your yard. Limit your kittens to outdoor exposure.
Last, but most importantly, always keep an eye on the kittens after treatment to make sure there are no allergic reactions or skin rashes. If you do notice any ill effects, do not hesitate to see your vet.
To sum up
In conclusion, there are many ways to treat fleas on kittens. No matter what method you choose, you must bear the age of the kittens in mind. You must give first priority to the kitten’s health and not use chemical sprays and dips if the kitten is too young. If any side effects emerge after the treatment, see your vet immediately. Do keep in mind that prevention is better than cure, so always keep a hygienic environment for yourself and your pets.