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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Bugger. New kitten has fleas

48 replies

EustaciaVye · 07/11/2013 21:36

I haven't seen any fles but lots of debris in her fur and bed that goes pink if I wet it. She is 9 weeks. I only collected her on Tuesday.

She has a vet appointment tomorrow. I assume I can flea her this early. I was told 12 weeks but obv need to treat her.

Also she has only been in my living room and hallway so do I just treat these areas, or do fleas travel?

Thanks

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/11/2013 21:56

Poor little stick - a heavy flea infestation is really dangerous when you're that age.

Maybe give the vet a phone first tomorrow morning and warn them? They're probably used to it but 'twould do no harm.

She'll need wormed as well when she's there because she's probably got those as well.

You'll need to contact the breeder to let them know also.

Oh - and I'd hoover the whole house (fleas travel) and certainly treat the living room and hallway - with hot washes for bedding. I'm not sure about treating the whole house because she'll have a lot of chemical load around her for a small morsel of life. Personally, I would but maybe one of the vets who post will give a view.

cozietoesie · 07/11/2013 22:00

PS - have you got a fine tooth comb/flea comb to get the dirt out from her coat with? She won't likely manage it herself. (You keep the comb damp and wipe it on damp kitchen towel every two or three passes.)

Original poster
EustaciaVye · 07/11/2013 22:04

We have her first check up at the vets tomorrow anyway so I can talk to them then.

I emailed the breeder and she apologised. didnt think they could be treated before 12 weeks.

we had fleas years ago with our other cat and it was grim so I know about spraying/hoovering. just wasnt sure if they would travel or not
Sad

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/11/2013 22:21

Your breeder sucks has certain limitations, Eustacia. Any of the breeders I've got my boys from would have declared martial law if they'd seen a single sign of a flea on their animals. Out of concern for their health, I should add, and not for their reputation. Although one does follow the other doesn't it?

Fleas can, if nothing else, lead to a kit being pretty seriously anaemic if allowed to become entrenched. Glad you'll be getting it under control.

Lonecatwithkitten · 07/11/2013 22:24

The vet will have products that are safe on you kitten. The vast majority of prescription only are safe from between 6 and 8 weeks, though there are options from as young as 3 days.

cozietoesie · 07/11/2013 22:47

Useful to know, Lone. Many thanks.

Is it possible to use the various house sprays (eg Indorex) with young kits around? (With normal precautions re chemicals use of course.)

timtam23 · 07/11/2013 23:06

My stray kitten had loads of fleas - he was 7 weeks old & very skinny, too little for Frontline or similar. The vet sprayed him with something suitable for tiny kittens. Unfortunately he didn't spray the head/face area so all of the surviving fleas moved up to neck & ears. I got them off with a flea comb on Day 2 althought the fleas were very very quick to jump off the comb - a tip I was given was to put a little bit of Vaseline onto the comb, the fleas will stick to this and can be caught & destroyed.

I also bathed him, fleas hate water even more than cats do, & I reasoned I might as well do it when he was still small enough to hold in one hand

cozietoesie · 07/11/2013 23:13

Dear God in Heaven

I bow to you timtam. I had to bathe Firstcat wen he got up a chimney at 12 weeks old. (To be precise, I was one of a 'team' who had to bathe him - one holding each extremity in the kitchen sink plus one to soap and rinse.) I have the scars still.

Interesting tip about the Vaseline.

catameringue · 08/11/2013 07:15

I got a kitten once, seemed really weak and turned out she was covered in them. Vet gave me something and it wiped the fleas out.

I kept her confined then once I knew everything had died on her I moved her to another room and decontaminated her original room. The fleas didn't spread on that occasion. I flea combed her every day looking for flea dirt.

To this day she is a bit weaker than the other cats and I have a soft spot for her. Which means she gets away with everything.

Good luck op, hope you eradicate them.

Original poster
EustaciaVye · 08/11/2013 07:46

Thanks everyone. She is really lively so not affected by it yet.

I have hoovered everywhere downstairs except living room and I will spray later.

Going to deal with living room after trip to vet when I know she is sorted.

Question. can guinea pigs get fleas? I have some in my kitchen but older cat sleeps in there. He is always treated but wondering if flea might jump on him and then on to my guinea pigs Sad

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Original poster
EustaciaVye · 08/11/2013 07:48

I haven't seen any fleas on her, just dirt. Is that good or bad?

OP posts:
catameringue · 08/11/2013 08:21

It can take 24 hours to kill them after treatment.

I'd say not seeing them doesn't mean much. They often go for behind the ears, under the chin or near the tail.
Or she's been dropping them around your living room.

Vacuum skirting boards, every cushion, seam, nook and cranny. And then do it all again in a couple of days.

Don't know about other fluffies sorry.

Original poster
EustaciaVye · 08/11/2013 08:36

my poor little love. Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
EustaciaVye · 08/11/2013 10:39

She has had frontline sprayed all over as she was too small for the pipette. The vet told me not to worry too much about fumigating the house as we have only had her a couple of days Hmm.

I will spray the living room tomorrow though I think.

She has been vaccinated and wormed too :) and is booked in for 2nd vacs and microchipping.

I think the vet nurses fell in love with her a little bit as they both had a cuddle :)

OP posts:
catameringue · 08/11/2013 11:53

Thorough vacuuming is the best defence they say. Don't forget things like under the sofa etc if she's been there.

Original poster
EustaciaVye · 08/11/2013 12:14

I have hoovered everywhere Grin

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 08/11/2013 13:37

Well done (re the hoovering.)

Original poster
EustaciaVye · 08/11/2013 17:28

She has been subdued all afternoon. I assume this is due to the vaccination :(

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cozietoesie · 08/11/2013 21:05

Probably. Don't worry about it.

timtam23 · 08/11/2013 22:28

my kitten was very quiet after his vaccinations, he slept all day
I'm sure she will perk up overnight, that's what mine did - extra-lively because he hadn't run around during the day Smile

catameringue · 09/11/2013 00:16

Mine was tired after flea treatment. She should be better tomorrow.

Original poster
EustaciaVye · 09/11/2013 12:02

So, I have hovered and sprayed living room.

I have combed through little kitty and found 4 adult fleas :( How on earth I didn't see them earlier I have no idea. They must be a bit dopey now as I was able to drown them.

Happy to comb her every day. How long am I likely going to have to do it for?

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 09/11/2013 12:45

I'd transmogrify the combing into grooming. No furrball sicks and a contented cat.

Smile
catameringue · 09/11/2013 13:38

Until you're convinced they're gone?

On the bright side, fleas dont survive well in the winter so if you can conquer them now you're probably ok til spring. Apparently they fall off into long grass and so cats keep reinfecting themselves every time they go outside.

Original poster
EustaciaVye · 09/11/2013 14:48

I have never been able to groom my older cat as he hated it so it might be nice to carry on :)

dd is on a mission. she caught one before and rather than freaking out she is determined to try and rid the kitty of them Grin

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