Having a new member in our family is always exciting, just like when you welcome newborn kittens. However, it can be a nightmare if you find out some fleas on your newborn kitten’s body.
Fleas are small, but they can be fatal as they suck the blood. The worst possibility is they can get anemia because of the fleas. You can also read whether cat fleas can bite humans.
Fleas can be present in your kittens’ body, even when they are indoors. Fleas can come from the mom cat, other pets and even from the sand tracked indoors.
As an owner of the newborn kittens, you must be aware of it. Even some ways of preventing fleas are needed. These are the safest things you can do to remove fleas from newborn kittens. They are safe and easy to do.
- Treat the Mother
Some fleas may come from the mother cat. So, the first thing you need to do is check whether the mother has fleas on her body. If she does, treat her. Once you have done with the mother, you can treat the kittens.
Removing fleas from kittens might be easier as you can do it with your fingers or tweezers. As newborn kittens are fragile and still young, never apply any type of medication on them.
If you are a beginner parent of a kitten, learn these safest ways to take care newborn kittens for beginners.
- Dampen your Kitten’s Coat
You can do this by dampening your kitten’s coat by using warm water. Never use water that is too hot, and use warm water instead. You need to practice bathing the kitten as it might create trauma to a kitten if it is done incorrectly.
Try to bathe the kittens in less than 2 minutes to prevent any panic or chill during the process. Learn how to bathe your kittens properly and comfortably.
By dampening the kitten with warm water, it will enable the fleas to move to the driest area. Once you find the fleas, grab them with your finger or tweezers and drop them into a cup of soapy and hot water.
You can also bathe your kittens with a fragrance free dish liquid or a natural baby shampoo. Make sure the shampoo you use do not contain these ingredients on your pets shampoo that should be avoided.
Wash from the neck down, avoid the eyes, nose, ears and mouth. Never ever dunk a kitten’s head under water. Wash the entire body down the neck including the toes, under arms and on the tail. Then rinse completely with clean and warm water.
- Dry the Kittens
After having a bath, dry the kitten right away. Make sure you dry the kittens completely too. Then, place the kittens in a dry and warm environment. Kittens can feel easily chilled from a bath and it is very important to keep the kitten warm.
- Comb out the Fleas
You can comb out the fleas while the fur is still damp. When you find any fleas on the comb, drop them into the soapy and hot water. Repeat this process daily as needed.
- Clean the Bedding or the Blankets
Once the kittens are dry, place them in an area free from fleas. Grab a plastic bag or trash bag and gather all the bedding and fabric the kitten may have come in contact with. Wash them by using hot water.
Then, vacuum the areas the kitten may have contact with and treat other kittens or mother cat too. This is done to prevent if they are carrying fleas.
Cleanliness of the environment is very important. Fleas love to stay in a dirty and moist areas. You need to do the cleaning regularly to prevent any presence of fleas.
Can You Use any Flea Medicine for Kittens?
Flea medications are commonly available for treating fleas in mother or adult cats. Medications can be deadly to kittens. So, before deciding to use medications to treat fleas, you need to consult with your vet before applying anything. Never decide to apply them without any instructions from your vet.
Fleas are tiny insects and regular washings and cleanings are necessary. Flea is also one of the blood sucking animals. They suck bloods on the kittens’ body. So regular treatment is needed to prevent it.
Even after the initial treatment, you may still find fleas on your kitten’s body. Killing and removing the remaining fleas as soon as possible as you see them are very important. Make sure there are not any fleas returning to your kitten’s body.
As your kittens grow older, then you may treat fleas with any medications recommended for them. Still, you need to consult with your vet first before applying any medication as it might be dangerous for your kitten.