Is It Bad If Newborn Kittens Have Fleas

Blood sucking parasites can be fatal to kittens as they can cause anemia or a low red blood cell count or carry lyme disease.

Is it bad if newborn kittens have fleas. A kitten has less blood than a full grown cat. The worst thing you can do is nothing. This application kills the adult fleas but not their offspring. As soon as you notice there are fleas either in the house or on a pet take action.

If their mum or any other household pet has fleas kittens can become infested immediately after birth. It also lacks the strong immune system to properly defend itself. Never use a topical chemical treatment on a neonatal kitten as this may be toxic to a young kitten. Newborn kittens with fleas or ticks should be treated immediately.

In consultation with your vet kittens over 4 weeks old may be treated with capstar there is a minimum weight requirement. Signs of fleas on kittens close up of a flea and flea dirt in a cat s coat a flea infestation isn t always evident especially if the cat has a dark coat or the flea population is low. Other flea medications safe for kittens list 8 weeks of age as a minimum. Flea dirt looks like small black flecks of dirt and will be present along the base of the fur.

Kittens cannot be born with fleas. The most notable health issue that kittens with fleas face is anemia. Call the vet to find out if there is a flea med that is safe for the nursing mother and kittens the vet meds are the only ones that are safe to use depending on the age of the kittens. The mother may have fleas the kitten may have picked them up outside or sand tracked indoors can even contain fleas.

Fleas can make a new home on your kitten in many ways even in indoor cats. Fleas can make kittens itchy and spread disease and if they re really severe they can even cause serious blood loss and illness. If fleas or flea dirt are present treat the kitten for fleas right away. Make sure you deflea all of your pets and soft furnishings before your queen gives birth to ensure they don t suffer from a flea infestation.

Again newborn kittens need manual flea removal. Fleas feed on the kitten s blood and the small size of the kitten allows anemia to set in much quicker. Instead you will need to provide the kitten with a bath.