Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs

1. 

   Right now I have three, 6 week old kittens and a nursing mother--on top of that, we have had a month long battle with fleas. When I first discovered them, I already had a handy flea comb and it took awhile, but I stopped seeing the flea dirt and fleas on my kittens, furthermore, we've either washed or gotten rid of the bedding they were on when the fleas were found. And we don't have any carpeting, so that's a plus. But now I'm seeing a flea here and there on them and it's just a little frustrating considering I've spent every day checking for them for the last month and I just can't seem to shake them. Does anyone know of any kind of flea treatment I can use on kittens as young as 6 weeks? We're about to move at the end of the month (to a place with carpeting) and I don't want to bring them there just for them to begin breeding in the carpets.

   Can anyone help with other options?

   Posted 1 month ago by Tobert #

2. 

   you could board your kitties at the vets for a few days, having them treated while flea bombing you home. you need to bomb for the fleas that are there and bomb for the flea eggs that will hatch a few days later. you can dust with diatomaceous earth (dehydrates them) as well as wash every piece of clothing and drapes and curtains you have. i know that sounds a bit much, but it will guaranteed a flea-free environment...

   also restrict people coming in that you know have kitten and probably fleas too, that's how i got a flea infestation in my home, it was clean before they came in and they knew they had fleas on their kittens and themselves...

   Posted 1 month ago by Cheri 12/22 #

3. 

   drown those fleas on your kittens by giving them repeated baths in dawn dishwashing liquid...

   Posted 1 month ago by Cheri 12/22 #

4. 

   And keep combing...

   Posted 1 month ago by jcat #

5. 

   Thanks for the replies.

   Well, we live in a 4 unit apartment so bombing would most likely be out of the question. I tried giving one of the kittens a bath previously but she just got so panicked during it. Afterwards, maybe that night, I saw another flea on her. And like I said, I have been checking them every day and combing them now and then. All the sheets we had (on our bed) we washed, and we don't have any curtains or other such linens available. I've looked it up and Revolution is advertised as being alright for kittens older than 6 weeks, but I'd like to try the bath thing again. It's just that I can't envision how we're going to give all three kittens a bath, then the mother a bath (who was a cat we took in while pregnant), then make sure the floors are mopped/vacuumed and the bed linens are washed again--all simultaneously. We're moving on the 1st and we have to find homes for 2 of the kittens and the mother before then, but I don't want to hand them off to new homes while carrying fleas which is why I've been trying my best to keep the flea-free and get rid of the problem. I've had this flea shampoo for the mom but she's still nursing and I believe (I'd have to recheck it) that it says not to use it on nursing cats...so we're just left with the kitten safe shampoo. We do have dish soap though it's not the dawn brand so I don't know if it'd do the same thing or not (?). I suppose I'll remain vigilant in my combing and see if baths would be possible.

   Posted 1 month ago by Tobert #

6. 

   Dawn is pure soap, I understand, so it's very gentle. Make sure you towel the babies off gently but quickly and in a warm place, so they don't get chilled. A thorough combing session to get as many off as possible and then another go each day is important. And the diatomaceous earth is safe, cheap and effective, as long as you use food-grade diatomaceous earth, not swimming pool grade. Good luck!

   Posted 1 month ago by jcat #

7. 

   Dawn is detergent, not soap.

   Posted 1 month ago by Sheba's Mom in Phx, AZ #

8. 

   Well the Vet's office said I should try the Dawn, but that after their exam in a week or two, they should be able to prescribe some sort of flea-medication, so I'll bathe, comb, and wash linens until we move and hopefully we can prevent carrying them over into the new place >.>

   Posted 1 month ago by Tobert #

9. 

   Hmmmm...We've started using diatomaceous earth. You can find it at the nursery quite reasonably. It's a fine powder and suffocates the fleas. It is safe to rub into the cat's coat. You might give it a try if the bathing doesn't seem to work. It works for our four cats and if you have fleas in the carpets it can also be sprinkled into them and left for a few days. If you don't mind looking at the powder in the carpets it works well. Then you just vacuum it all up. Good Luck Tobert!

   Posted 1 month ago by Karenopa #

10. 

    Ditto Karenopa...that stuff is great/natural!

    Posted 1 month ago by jeankit #

11. 

    I'm going to try to order some of the D. Earth online to use it, but since I haven't yet moved to the new apartment, should I be worried about fleas/eggs in some of the boxes we have sitting around not yet unpacked fully? We just vacuumed everywhere and did all the sheets and linens lying about, and I'll hopefully get the powder before we move, enough time to use on the cats, but should I be worried about the fleas stowing away on my other non-furniture/linen related belongings? And if so, how do I go about getting rid of them? The kittens will also be going to the vet next Friday after I make an appointment and I was told they could be prescribed some flea treatment that day, so I'll have that going as well. Any thoughts?

    Edit: I just ordered a 1 lb. bag and a 6 oz. shaker bottle for dirtworks.com, so when it gets here I'll put it around the cats sleeping area, the dresser drawers (because they apparently love to sleep there) and on the cats. I think it said I had to let it sit for 48-70 hours (need confirmation on this) for it to kill the bugs completely. But this teamed with the flea treatment they're likely to get will hopefully stop the fleas and prevent us from tracking them to the new apartment. Here's to no more fleas!

    Posted 1 month ago by Tobert #

12. 

    Sounds like a plan! But I would put some in the boxes just to play safe--those little buggers will hide anywhere.

    Posted 1 month ago by Sheba's Mom in Phx, AZ #

13. 

    Before you move in to your new place you probably could use Raid Flea Spray on all of the carpets, just in case. Wait a few days to be safe & then start moving in! Do not spray with animals around tho!(It is supposed to be good for up to 3 monthes!)

    Posted 1 month ago by jeankit #

14. 

    Diatomaceous earth is safe to sprinkle right into the carpets and could be used in the new apartment prior to moving in as well. It may make the carpets look white and splotchy for a few days but will vacuum up beautifully. So glad you're making a move to a healthier environment Tobert. Much happiness to your family in your new digs!! =)

    Posted 1 month ago by Karenopa #

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