View Full Version : Kittens have flees!
killercatfish
Jul 14, 2007, 07:25 PM
Hello!
My fiancé and I took in a mother cat and her 6 kittens and they are now 4 or 5 weeks old and are being over-run with flees. The mother must have had them since we got her since she hasn't been outside since. We are just now starting to find homes for them and plan on keeping two of them. We brush them daily but they are kittens and have free roam of the apartment.
Can I get some help? What I should do now with all of them, and a plan once I only have two kittens---how to get rid of the flees from them and the apartment for good, and keep the kittens safe and healthy!!
Thanks!! :confused:
bushg
Jul 14, 2007, 11:18 PM
Bombing the house is an option but you have to turn off gas sources before you do that. I'm not sure if you can do this in an apartment Also all animals must be removed including fish. . At their age bathing them should be OK, I use ivory soap, it is pretty gentle and kills the fleas. Start at the head making sure that you do not get it in their eyes. You could dab a bit of vaseline around their eyes first. Also you could buy a flea or lice comb and comb them out I would do this on a white sheet and have a pan of soapy water handy to flick the fleas in. I find it helpful to wet the comb first. Just make sure to keep them really warm during and after bathing. Revolution can be used on nursing mommas and kittens as young as 6 weeks old. I you must purschase from a vet. There are many sprays/powders that you can buy to treat fleas in and around your home, but I have not used any. It is also important to vacum everyday until they are gone. Also washing their bedding in hot water or putting in a dryer will kill the fleas. I hope that you are considering spaying/neutering your cats there are many health and social and financial benefits in doing so. ASPCA: Pet Care: Cat Care (http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_catcare) has some really great information. Here is a link that list low cost spay/neuterprograms. You may qualify for Low cost or free spay-neuter programs in U.S. for pet and feral cats listed by state and area code . Love That Cat Store (http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html) Good luck
killercatfish
Jul 15, 2007, 07:56 AM
Thank you!
We have been combing through them daily now for a couple of days. I think a big problem is the mother cat is pretty infested, so we are trying to ween the kittens so as to treat her and give her away and hopefully begin to contain the problem.
My fiancé is certainly glad you said to vacuum daily, seeing as how I'm the unemployed one I now have no excuse for the apartment not being spit shined daily.
We most certainly will have the two we keep fixed, when would you say the soonest we can do that is?
Is rubbing the kittens with vasoline in their fur a bad idea? I haven't tried it or anything since we are butting heads about it and my fiancé is in charge of this situation.
We greatly appreciate your help!
Thanks!
bushg
Jul 15, 2007, 09:07 AM
Vaseline was for around the eyes to keep soap from going in them.Only if you think that you can not keep the soap out of the eyes. Not for the entire body. Spaying/neutering really depends on your vet some will do it as early as 6 to 8 weeks or some recommend waiting to 6 months. You may start weaning the kittens now. You may offer the kittens dry kitten food maybe mixed with a little water to soften it. Not cat food they need kitten food. A nursing cat should be eating kitten food as well. As for the mamma please get her spayed asap or make sure the home she is going to agrees to spay her. I would rather see her go to a shelter than have a more kittens. Try and contact a no kill shelter, maybe they will be willing to take her. Rememebr your cute kittys will grow into adult cats. Also it is nice that you are willing to adopt 2 of them. I believe that 2 kittens are much happier together than one alone.
Shhhdaisy
Aug 4, 2007, 07:24 PM
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