what's making my new kitten itch? (not fleas)

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Only been with me since yesterday
He's never been outside
I can see black crawling insects on him, on the skin rather than down the fur length and he keeps scratching. I try and pick them off him but they are right on the skin and they move so fast
Not fleas and they don't jump
Could they be mites???
How do I rid them?
Am assuming he got them off his mum who was going outside?

You need to pick each flea off. I did it by hand and squashed each flea between my thumb nails. You hear them crack and know they're dead.

That's a good point, Fluffy. I'm sure that past posters have mentioned various schemes which offer assistance in neutering (although I don't know where alltoomuch and her friend live) so she could mention that to her friend. (She's going to have to mention the fleas anyway - as soon as she stops hoovering - so it would be a good opportunity to bring up the issue of spaying.)

Blimey, that's pretty shocking advice Pets At Home gave you! The dunking in water would have shocked and scared him.

As other posters have said, do get some flea treatment from a vet. I actually use Pets At Home's in-house vets (Vets 4 Pets) and am very happy with them.

Very surprised at the odd advice they gave you about the fleas though.

That would get rid of some, Viva, but I think a vet visit for treatment is indicated because you only have to miss one. (They just eat, poop and make baby fleas so you need to get on top of it early.)

yes she has vouchers for the mother cats
I just hope they are not pregnant already :-( I keep telling her not to let them out until they are done. One is still feeding and my boy's mum isnt and all her babies are gone. am a bit annoyed with friend re this to be honest. she says if they're already pregnant it won't matter as spaying will sort it out :-(
I cracked and squashed the fleas in the tweezers then threw them into the plug hole

Spaying should sort it out (unless the situation is very advanced) but female cats in heat can be very stupid and do things like run across roads into the path of cars if they see a handsome bit of stuff on the opposite side - or go missing if they start to feel an early urge to nest. I understand why you feel annoyed with her because she sounds more than a bit irrseponsible. Maybe see if you can persuade her?

Did your vet acquaintance get back in touch?

no she didnt but she's probably working all weekend
I'm annoyed with friend re jabs (for her own cats) as she doesnt do them and won't be..she treats them homoeopathically instead. Each to their own but the cats don't get a choice. Personally I'm a bit dubious.
I told her about the fleas and she's going to take the kittens (one she's keeping and the that one my parents are having) to the vets for prescription Frontline. Looks like i'll do the same. so at least on that score she's being sensible

on the plus side, my little one is hardly scratching at all. quite a lot of flea dirt has come off him since the bath though

Jabs are hugely important. Homeopathy isn't going to prevent cat flu! Also can't believe the pets at home advice - total idiots. IME the only way to prevent fleas is regular treatment with advantage (frontline is rubbish.) They'll keep coming back otherwise.

Saw friend last night. her kittens (includes the one my parents are having) were scratching like mad. This morning she rang to say that her son has bites all over his legs. So, she's booked in all three kittens to be treated at Vets4 Pets today and she's paying. That's a very very good thing, as I have no money till DP is back and can lend me. But she doesnt want paying back. She says she shouldn't have let the kittens go to new owners like that

Just wanted to say don't forget to treat the house as well as your gorgeous new kitten! Pets at home should have house flea spray. All fabric he's come in contact with needs spraying.

Also shocked at pets at home advice - how ridiculous!

Back, took five cats to vets with friend! (the two mums and three kittens). All got treated with Advocat. Which would treat worms too, if there are any. Also, friend paid for my kitty to be chipped, which was only £10. He didn't meow at all :-) Come home and he's caught and partially ate his first daddy long legs, which he's been trying to do for days!
The two mother cats are being spayed this week. Vet thinks they are probably both newly pregnant :-(

went back to her house and treated all five with the Advocat. The fleas were dropping off her cats within half an hour... I think there was only a few fleas left on mine. and at least they fall off in her house :-) He had a little play with his cousins before coming home
Have got flea spray for both houses

Well done.

I don't have many Daddy Longlegs round here but Oneago was hot as mustard on them in our last house. He used to be a messy eater of them though - I still have this vision of him sitting there and looking at me in a saintly fashion with a couple of long legs hanging down through his teeth. (Sorry if TMI.)

i know...DDL are so gross!!! I've just been hoovering up , there's legs everywhere, all over the carpets. Puss seems more traumatised by hoover than vet visit!

Vacuums are indeed evil.

At least he's done now & the mums will be spayed.

Abortions never ideal but there's so many kittens needing homes in rescues & they have to have a chance to be adopted.