Flea dirt on my kitten

[Leaningtoweroflisa]

Hi,
I got 2 gorgeous 13 week old kittens on Sunday. The cream one is about a third smaller than the lilac spotted one, which I just put down to individual differences. I did a spot on treatment for fleas today and Starchild (the cream one) has been quite lethargic since. When he came for a cuddle I noticed quite a bit of flea dirt over his back and down towards his tail.

Would this be down to being treated earlier?

Would he be smaller if he been bothered by fleas? All I can see is about anaemia, not about them being smaller.

They're booked with the vet tomorrow anyway, so I will ask there but just wanted to ask some wise mumsnetters!

Thanks

The important pictures...

I'd wash the flea stuff off, it could be that making him ill.

Was it prescription flea treatment or over the counter flea treatment?

He has perked up a bit, but yes I think both of the, were sleeping more after the flea treatment. Was over the counter bob Martin stuff marked as safe for kittens and they're nearly 14 weeks.

They are up playing, but if starchild still lethargic I will clean the treatment off as much as I can.

Thiis the first I've noticed much flea dirt on him - would the treatment cause it to show up as the nasties all die (hopeful)? He is not the snuggly one but I gave him a long brushing after spotting the dirt, which he loves and I cleaned some of it off and got a bonus long lap snuggle. They're eating okay as well.

Thanks

Bob Martin stuff can be toxic, I'd wash him off to be on the safe side.

There's been lots of adults poisoned in the past & quite a few of us on here wonder how it's still on the market but there you go.

You can buy safe flea treatments off the vet or buy a private prescription off them and buy it online from pet pharmacies.

Thanks fluffy. They are having a kitten battle just now but I'll corner and wash him. Yes the vet will be earning his money tomorrow!

His brother seems completely unaffected, not noticed any dirt on him and he's miffed that DH would not share his duck pancakes...

They are going round in a circle chasing each other's tails. So cute.

Any fleas on him will migrate to his ears and you can pick them off and squish them with your nails.

It's very satisfying.

Ooh, goodie! I did enjoy brushing and picking flea dirt off him...

Aargh fleas are fast! Neither kitten too impressed with bathing but it was not as bad as I worried it would be!

Don't use Bob Martin. It can be either useless or toxic. Please seek vet advice.

You need some Advocate from the vet,BM stuff is really toxic stuff. Lovely kitties!

Vet at 2pm, so will be stocking up on good stuff for fleas and worms then! Ahhh, I thought I was being a responsible pet owner by buying one marked safe for kittens. So much to learn...

They are both grand today, both wolfed down their breakfast and anted more and been awake and playing as normal, so I think they are ok and I will raise it with the vet this afternoon.

Thanks dame they are so gorgeous. I am so upset at a) them having fleas and me not noticing straight away and b) that I might have hurt them by treating them with a potentially todpxic product. They are British shorthairs so they have very fluffy coats for the fleas to hide in.

They both seem more comfortable after their bath - it did seem to lift most of the flea dirt off! Plus they are even fluffier now.

Sigmund and Starchild.