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MurielLouise · Sep 30, 2007, 12:59 PM

2 weeks ago I adopted a week old kitten from a little girl who couldn't take care of it herself. It is now 3 weeks old (if her assessment of it's age was correct). It weighs about 11.5 ounces and seems to be healthy. I have however seen several fleas on her and I'm sure she is not old enough for treatment. I have read you can drown the fleas, or otherwise give her a water/vinegar soaking, but I don't know if that is the best course of action or if I should simply wait until she is 2 months and start using Advantage per her weight at the time. I bathe her almost every day because she has no mother so there tends to be a poopy mess after feeding, and I haven't been seeing the fleas for the last few days. My dogs are on Frontline and don't seem to have fleas. Do I really need to bomb the house? Will the fleas cause the kitten serious problems? If I don't see the fleas are they probably gone from the baths?

Thank you.

tickle · Sep 30, 2007, 01:44 PM

I would stop bathing her, where did you ever get the idea a two week old kitten could be bathed ?you are lowering her immune system and she doesn't need all those bathings. Why not just wipe her down and not bath her. This is not good. She will eventually learn to clean herself. As for the fleas, yes she is very young but I would ask a vets advice and anyway you will have to have her checked out and find out when she can have your first shots. She will definitely need distemper. By the way, what are you feeding her ?

She must have been so tiny at one week, not soon enough to be taken away from the mother cat. You may have to brace yourself as she may not make it. She isn't even weaned.

MurielLouise · Sep 30, 2007, 02:13 PM

I did not take her away. Someone found her and I took her to prevent her death. She is obviously not weened, she is 3 weeks old. I have been feeding her kitten formula. She weighs almost 12 ounces so apparently I'm doing something right.

Why will bathing her lower her immune system?

To my knowledge a kitten can not begin shots until they are 8 weeks.

bushg · Sep 30, 2007, 03:12 PM

Buy yourself a flea comb and use it on her you should be able to get the fleas like that esp. if you are only seeing a few. If you see your dogs scratching or a lot in the house you will need to bomb. They say for every flea you see there is 100 hiding.Orphaned Kittens ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc. Here is a decent website regarding orphaned kittens. Click on cat health for more information. Good luck

tickle · Sep 30, 2007, 03:52 PM

Muriel, yes I know, I read your post. This small kitty has not had the benefit of mothers milk which contain benefits to instill her immune system. The longer you bath her, the longer it takes her to get back her body warmth. I know, because I took over a little kitty, just too small and too weak in spite of the care she got. She was bathed constantly by the previous people which just wore her down trying to stay warm. She died in my arms, I could not do enough for her, she was just too weak and to small.

I still suggest seeing a vet, I realize you know the ins and outs, but just to be on the safe side because she is so small. Bushy, gave good advice about fleas.

bushg · Sep 30, 2007, 05:45 PM

Tickle is right, also you need to keep her away from a lot of different animals , she may have a weakened immune system and it will make her susceptible to diseases. Also how can you be sure that she got enough antibodies from her mother to fend of diseases. No one is saying that you are wrong for taking in the kitty, that is a great act of kindeness and a lot of hard work.

MurielLouise · Oct 3, 2007, 04:56 PM

So if her immune system is too weak and I shouldn't keep her what would you like me to do with her?

The vet said she is too young to tell...

I think I'll just keep feeding her and watching her gain weight and pat myself on the shoulder for not listening to people who seem somehow to feel some pleasure from being extremely negative. It's not going to be the end of the world if she dies. She's just a cat.

bushg · Oct 3, 2007, 05:04 PM

murel I was all for you keeping the kitten and trying to help you out with a bit of advice. But your statement "It's not going to be the end of the world if she dies. She's just a cat." Just really pi$$es me off. Your attidue is why people treat animals like $hit. Being a cat does not mean that her life has little value. If you feel this way give her to a damn rescue!!

tickle · Oct 3, 2007, 05:07 PM

Negativity is in the eye of the beholder. Not a good quote but you get what I mean. I think I mentioned this to you about the kit that was washed so much by previous owners, she got distemper, no immune system, whatever. But while she was dying and I could do nothing, her last look was directly at my face. Just how good do you think that made me feel, I have never forgotten and I never will.

And you say, its just a cat. I don't agree because that little body breathe.

How calous of you. I don't think our opinions and suggestions were as bad as you say. If you don't want to hear answers, don't ask.