Dealing with fleas on kittens can be a bit tricky, requiring careful attention or a visit to the veterinarian. While there are numerous solutions for mature cats, addressing fleas on kittens demands special consideration.
Looking at the initial pictures from the day I brought Buffy home… it makes me itch. I had never seen so many high-quality fleas on a kitten before. I expected it, especially finding her discarded in the front yard next to a bag she had managed to escape from. Unfortunately, her siblings weren’t as lucky. I was aware that once inside the house, the fleas would be delighted to encounter Soricel. A 5 kg cat, well-maintained, a perfect target for fleas.
Because, in addition to the flea infestation, Buffy was extremely dirty, she ended up directly in the bathroom sink. Fortunately, I happened to have a special cat shampoo within reach. This resolved the “odor” issue she came with, but not the flea problem.
Whether you pick up a stray cat or fleas have somehow found their way to your indoor cat, washing the cat is not a solution for flea removal. These resilient pests can handle water quite well, and giving your cat a bath won’t be effective, especially if the cat is clean. Moreover, washing a cat with fleas may lead to them becoming more agitated and biting even more. Their survival instinct tells them to suck more blood when they sense danger.
Additionally, you’ll have to remove fleas from yourself and embark on a hunt for them throughout the house.
How to get rid of fleas on kittens?
If you need to get rid of fleas on kittens, the best parasite treatment for kittens is either at the veterinarian’s office or at home using solutions recommended by a vet. There are sprays and powders available, but caution is required in their application. Sprays often have a strong odor, so you must protect the head area and avoid spraying in the eyes, mouth, or ears.
Powders are somewhat safer and seem to have a faster effect. They can be applied to the entire surface of the kitten, excluding the mouth area.
Related: Mange in Cats – Types of Mange and Treatment
I chose a risky method that I do not recommend, even though the effect is rapid and certain. As Buffy brought an arsenal of fleas into the house, and Soricel had no chance of being protected, I took a dose of Stronghold for mature cats (2.5 – 5 kg). I treated Soricel following the application instructions that I was very familiar with because I have been using Stronghold for years, and I kept a drop from the pipette for Buffy.
A DROP, no more. And the drop was applied not in the usual way, directly under the hair strands on the neck, but applied from a few centimeters away to ensure that no more than a drop would be applied.
After about two hours, the fleas started falling off her, dead or dried. Fortunately, Buffy had no adverse reactions. Stronghold contains very potent toxic substances that can be fatal to a kitten or cause irreversible neurological damage.
