Kittens are soon weakened by flea attacks. Even one flea on a small kitten can make the kitten anemic, lethargic and sick. There are risks from infection of bite wounds, and some kittens will be so distracted by itchy skin that they can fail to eat and drink properly and become underweight and dehydrated. Kittens with fleas are at risk from other diseases and parasites too. To save unnecessary suffering it is imperative to treat the kitten, the home, and all other pets in the household as a matter of urgency.
Fleas Never Exist in Isolation
Some pet owners believe if they pick single fleas off a kitten, this eliminates the problem. Fleas never exist in homes in isolation. If there is a single flea on an animal, it can be assumed that there is an infestation not only on the kitten but on its litter-mates, its mother and in the home in general.
There is no sense in looking for evidence of more fleas; treat every kitten and adult pet as if it has an infestation.
Get Rid of Fleas in the Home
The first step in eliminating fleas from kittens is treating the environment. Chemicals must be used; no natural product will treat the household and its soft furnishings effectively. Many veterinary sprays eliminate fleas from the home; ask a veterinarian for a recommended product and follow guidelines on the product pack. It is safe to use chemical sprays in households with kittens because kittens can be safely removed from treated areas until an hour has passed.
Remove kitten from the room and separate it from its bedding. Put bedding into a hot wash. Thoroughly clean the area where the kitten sleeps. Note that it is easier and more humane to keep young kittens in a cage or penned area; this protects kittens from many hazards. Treat kittens for fleas and then re-house them into a totally flea-free cage, raised from the ground substantially, where reinfestation cannot recur. Spray-treat carpets, soft furnishings and all floor areas of the home, paying attention to corners and crevices, and steam cleaning also helps reach difficult places. Leave the treated area for one hour before replacing kittens in their pen. Meanwhile, flea-comb or bathe the kittens.
Treat Kittens for Fleas, the Natural Way
Use a fine flea comb to groom the kitten, dipping the comb periodically into hot soapy water to drown the removed fleas. Do not just comb the areas obviously infested with fleas, as combing all over can be effective in removing eggs and debris and this is equally important.
Bathing a kitten in warm soapy water can also drown most fleas and this is a very good method of controlling infestation harmlessly. Make sure the water is not too hot or cold, however, and the kitten not overly distressed; most kittens can be bathed quite easily. Once kitten has been bathed, it needs to get dried as soon as possible to ensure the kitten does not become cold. Lots of towel-drying is important, followed by a very gentle blow-dry. Always keep one hand against kitten when drying with a hairdryer, to ensure the dryer does not get too warm. Keep the dryer one foot away from the kitten and never aim it at the face.
Keeping Kittens Flea-Free
Some veterinary treatments are able to be used on kittens but it is preferable to keep them flea-free naturally. A number of home-made natural solutions can be applied topically to kittens' skin, to prevent reinfestation of fleas. However, if appropriate steps have been taken to protect the home and eradicate fleas from mother cat, siblings and all surfaces of the home, then there can be no fleas present to reinfest the kitten. The key, therefore, is to:
- Treat the home thoroughly and regularly using a reputable veterinary spray product.
- Steam clean all floors and soft furnishings.
- Wash all kitten bedding at high temperature and refresh every few days.
- Keep mother cat treated with a monthly veterinary flea treatment - many such treatments can even be applied on mother cats who are still feeding their own kittens.
- Keep kittens themselves flea-combed and bathed.
Following all these steps will ensure a very clean, kitten-safe home and make a great contribution towards maintaining a very healthy litter of kittens.
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Cheryl-Anne Jenkinson - Cheryl-Anne Jenkinson is 44 years old and has spent the last 20 years working in the qualitative strategic research sector, where she has ...
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