FLEAS

by One of Our Readers

CAT FLEA

QUESTION How do you treat a 9-week-old kitten with fleas?


ANSWER

Very carefully! A 9-nine-week-old kitten can die from pesticides quickly. Of course, fleas can kill kittens also. Fleas can cause anemia or a disease such as Hemabartonella. So, of course you have to get rid of the fleas.

Products such as FrontlinePlus, which I like very much and is the safest flea product I have ever used, are considered safe for young kittens. However, I first try to control the problem in other ways until kittens are just a little bit older.

(1) I recommend using a flea comb diligently at least daily if not more often.

(2) I also prefer bathing kittens with a very mild, safe-for-kittens, flea shampoo followed by very thorough rinsing.

(3) The kitten must be dried as much as possible afterwards with warm towels and possibly a hand-held hair dryer. It is very important that kittens are kept warm.

Monitor the kitten constantly for appetite, activity level, and live fleas using the flea comb. If you finally need to use Frontline, I do not give kittens a full dose. I always start with 1/4 to 1/3 of the normal dosage.

Good luck, write anytime.....Dr. Neely