Often, owners notice disturbing symptoms in pets indicating a flea’s damage to the pet. This condition can be especially dangerous for young individuals.
Consider how to rid a kitten of fleas effectively and without causing harm to a fragile body.
Features of flea infection in kittens
Fleas are blood-sucking insects. Their narrow and smooth body has special bristles and spikes, thanks to which these creatures are able to stay in the thick coat of animals and the folds of people's clothes. Long hind legs help the parasites not only crawl, but also jump over long distances, this is due to their wide distribution.
Another reason is flea survivability. For a long time, they may not receive food, waiting for the right occasion. When hit by a kitten, fleas immediately begin to lay larvae (up to 400 pieces per day). Eggs can appear on any surface: a cat's house, bedding, carpet pile, furniture, soft toys, etc. The larvae mature in about 10 days, but can stay at this stage for longer until an animal appears that can be fed with blood. Then the flea is immediately released from the shell and seeks to gain a foothold on a warm-blooded creature, so that after about 30 days of active nutrition, begin to breed their own offspring.
Ways to infect a kitten with fleas:
1. From the environment: fleas can be brought into the house on shoes, clothes and various items.
2. From other animals: kittens can become infected not only from representatives of their own species, but also from rabbits, dogs, rats, etc.
Scientists know more than two thousand species of fleas. But, from the point of view of treatment, this does not play a big role, the decision on how to save a kitten from fleas is made on the basis of other factors.
How to determine if a kitten has fleas
Signs that fleas live on the animal’s body:
1. The kitten often and actively itches, licks, tries to pull something out of the wool with its teeth. If the focus of animal discomfort is localized in the groin or ears, then it is likely that it is tormented by ticks. With fleas, the pet often itches completely.
2. Damage is noticeable on the skin of the animal: red spots, traces of gore, sores.
3. Wool becomes more rare, looks ragged.
4. The cat fusses and behaves uneasily.
Why are fleas dangerous?
If you find these signs, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible, because infection with fleas is not at all harmless, this problem can have a lot of risks, both for the pet and for the owners.
Why fleas are dangerous for a kitten
In addition to the general discomfort of the animal, which is reflected in its habits, there is a risk of more serious consequences:
1. Inflammation of the skin due to bites and damage when combing. Wounds can easily be infected with fungi and bacteria.
2. Allergic reactions.
3. Infection with worms, the carriers of which are fleas. Helminths, in turn, provoke digestive problems and poisoning of the body, significantly worsening the health of the animal, especially young.
4. Anemia that can lead to the death of kittens.
5. Inflammation of the eyes, nose and ears of the animal.
Are fleas dangerous to humans?
It is believed that only animals are affected by fleas. But there are times when parasites bite a person. This is especially dangerous because of the risk of contracting various infections. Fleas can also cause allergic reactions and skin problems in humans.
How to get rid of a kitten fleas up to two months
Kittens of the first months of life should not be treated with products intended for older individuals. To help a newborn kitten, they resort to the following procedures:
1. Mechanical cleaning - the animal is combed out with a special comb with small teeth.
2. Getting rid of fleas of all other animals living with the baby.
3. Bathing with a special shampoo, the label of which indicates the possibility of use in kittens. Available in the second month of life, before you can not use any chemicals. At such an early age, it is worth using shampoo only if there are a lot of fleas and they are too painful and dangerous for the pet.
How to get rid of fleas of grown kittens
Since two months, the list of options for how to save a kitten from fleas is expanding. Even at this age, abuse of chemical products is still not worth it. But when the kitten has grown and matured, a wider range of products becomes available, the use of which in accordance with the instructions is quite acceptable.
Shampoos
Shampoos are recognized by experts as one of the safest means of ridding a kitten of fleas. They can be used for preventive purposes. Cons of this method:
- The bathing procedure is extremely unpleasant for most cats.
- act only on adult insects, larvae remain. To achieve the desired effect, it is worth re-processing the animal after a few days.
Dusting powder
There are special powders for kittens. But their use is not too effective due to the fact that this tool also does not affect larvae, but kills only adult parasites. In addition, there is a risk of allergic reactions when the powder is inhaled and gets on the mucous membranes.
Drops at the withers
The main advantage of this method is ease of use. You just need to push the animal’s hair on the spine in the area of the shoulder blades and apply special drops there. Drops are also the most effective remedy. It is only important to strictly observe all restrictions on age, weight and choose the right dosage.
Flea Collars
One of the priority ways for pets that are allowed to go out. The action of the collars lasts about 2-3 months, after which it should be changed.
Cons of this tool:
- persistent bad smell of a collar;
- discomfort in the animal from a foreign object on the body.
Aerosols
It is easy to find two types of aerosols on sale:
1. For processing the premises. It is impossible to use them for the treatment of kittens.
2. For processing the animal itself. If you follow all the rules set forth in the instructions, the aerosol will not harm the pet, but will produce an excellent effect. The spray is usually applied for about an hour, after which the kitten needs to be washed. It is important to ensure that the animal does not lick the aerosol layer off the coat.
Room processing
Even if the treatment of the animal was carried out correctly and had a positive effect, this is not enough to forget about the problem. In addition to getting rid of the fleasiest kitten, it is important to know how to handle the room to prevent re-infection. It is best to stick to the following algorithm:
1. Thoroughly clean the tray, bedding, houses and other objects intended for the animal.
2. Clean all upholstered furniture, textiles, rugs and other similar items that the kitten came into contact with and which could contain parasites or their larvae.
3. Wash all clothing with which the kitten was in contact.
4. Remove all food and utensils. Treat the premises with special flea agents, for example, aerosols.
5. Ventilate all rooms.
6. Thoroughly vacuum the apartment, not forgetting skirting boards, crevices and other inaccessible places.
7. If the dust bag is removable, immediately throw it away. Treat the vacuum cleaner with insect repellent.
8. Make wet cleaning of the entire room.
9. When living in a private house, it is also worth processing all the buildings and the very territory of the site along which the kitten was moving.
10. After some time, it is recommended to re-process with special means in case larvae remain after the first treatment.
Prevention
Significantly better if you do not have to think at all how to save a kitten from fleas. It will be most correct to take all measures to prevent the appearance of parasites on your animal. The following precautions will contribute to this:
- always maintain cleanliness in the room;
- do not walk in the apartment in street clothes and shoes;
- do not let the kitten out for a walk from the house or apartment;
- Avoid contact with infected animals.
Having examined the information provided in the article in detail, we can conclude that neglecting the treatment of a kitten for fleas or even putting it aside can be dangerous both for the animal itself and for people. Each owner, having appreciated all the pros and cons of the described means, will be able to individually choose the most suitable option for his animal. If you experience negative reactions to drugs or their inefficiency, you should contact your veterinarian.
