wolfcat1
Vidor, Tx.
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What can you treat 2 week old kittens with fleas safely?
A stray cat had kittens and we are trying to take care of them, the poor babies are ate up with fleas...what can I do for them?
thnks, wolfie
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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A good, long bath is soapy water is about all you can do for kittens that young as far as I know. It would be best if momma cat gets bathed, too. Good luck with that... but please resist using any sort of powder or topical on the momma cat, it could harm her kittens.
Be careful not to get water in the baby's nose(s) or mouth(s) and be sure and wash thoroughly around their ears because the fleas will go there to hide.
Thank you for caring and trying to help... a bad flea infestation can actually kill a young kitten.
Cat
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midnightsadie
ohio
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look for a pet rescue center in your area they might lend a hand.
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sue.t
Ibex Valley, YUKON
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If the infestation is serious, it is important to do something. Too many fleas can negatively impact the health of the kittens at that age.
If they're docile enough a flea comb might be a good temp solution. They're small enough it shouldn't take too much time to reduce to population by running the comb through. Have a dish of soapy water next to you to dump the fleas into though.
Wonder if Mama cat will take to being combed too? Our adult semi-feral cat didn't mind being combed, even though she had long fur.
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska from Vancouver Island. Now we live in Yukon.
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wolfcat1
Vidor, Tx.
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Momma cat will let us pet her briefly, then she hisses, not able to handle her at this time..wolfie
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K Charles
Connecticut
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A flea comb over and over and over.
(1)(1).JPG)
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Code2High
One hour past Nowhere, CA
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Joined: 12/21/2004
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What I do is a twenty minute soak in soapy water. Mild shampoo, no toxins. You should have a flea comb on hand and tweezers to remove any that head for the face. You MUST control body temp and keep the little beasts warm. I've put the back end in a ziplock bag to hold in the water.... they don't have to be swimming in it, but they do have to be sudsy and wet to the skin.
After twenty minutes the fleas will have drowned. The wetting effect of the shampoo keeps them from just staying in a bubble for that long.
The problem is that unless you do something about Mama, they'll be covered again in a couple of days. She needs to be capstarred (if that's safe) or something. Unless you take the kittens away from her.
Hmmmmmmmmm....Doug?
susan
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a wabbit, Fuzzy Wuzzy had a dandelion habit! RIP little Wuz... don't go far.
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Capstar sounds like a good idea and I've used it a time or two myself on adult animals.... but I'm not sure on two week old kittens, due to this:
"CAPSTAR® is an oral tablet for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens 4 weeks of age and older and 2 pounds of body weight or greater."
Not sure how it might effect a mother's milk and if it did, would it be problematic for tiny kitties?
I hope Dr. Doug will check in.
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Code2High
One hour past Nowhere, CA
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Yeah, that's a quandary. We need Doug!
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dturm
Munster, IN
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I'd avoid any medications or topicals. I've used a water based flea spray - sprayed lightly on a towel then wrap the kitten in the towel for a short time (body wrapped, head out). I don't recommend this in the hands of someone inexperienced in evaluating condition of the kittens before/during and after treatment.
The safest is to use methods involing nontoxic soap/water and or picking them off with a flea comb, but as Susan said chilling is a significant risk.
Bottom line, you are going to have an ongoing problem until the mother is treated.
Doug & Sandy
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