Fleas make life miserable for pets, and people get itchy just thinking about the parasites. Veterinarians are often asked how to remove cat fleas from the house, what are the most effective tablets, drops, collars or shampoo for cats against fleas. As experts note, the answer to the question of how to get rid of cat fleas in an apartment and in a house lies in their biology.
There is no single method or insecticide that will completely eradicate (or at least control) these insects. The life cycle of a flea is quite complex. Only understanding the various stages of development will help get rid of them.
Let's look at what fleas are from a biological point of view.
Collectively, all flea species have a common scientific name - Siphonaptera. Cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felix, are the most commonly found flea in Russia. They parasitize cats, dogs, humans and other mammals and birds.
Fleas thrive in warm, moist environments and temperate climates. The main food is the blood of the host animal. Fleas are used as a host for mammals in 95% of cases. They can also infect birds (in 5% of cases).
Flea saliva, like other blood-sucking parasites, contains an ingredient that softens or "digests" the host's skin for easier penetration and feeding. Flea saliva is a strong irritant. All signs of an allergic reaction appear precisely against the background of its influence - it begins to itch, there is a desire to scratch, the skin burns, and the like.
How can you tell if a kitten has fleas?
On the one hand, it is more difficult to suspect fleas in a very small kitten than in an adult pet. After all, the baby has not yet developed the habit of regularly licking, scratching, and gnawing its fur, and we cannot notice changes in this ritual. On the other hand, the kitten is small, its character has not yet been formed, and we can easily examine it for fleas. Particular attention should be paid to the area:
- behind the ears;
- fur under the neck;
- at the base of the tail;
- between the hind legs (in the groin).
By examining these areas, you can detect adult parasites, their eggs (small light-colored grains) or flea excrement (small dark-colored grains).
You can detect fleas in older kittens who are already learning or know how to look after themselves by observing their behavior. If baby:
- itches too often and furiously;
- suddenly begins to chew out its fur;
- sleeps restlessly and wakes up to scratch;
then most likely your pet needs flea treatment for kittens. A simple home test will help you finally verify this:
- place the baby on a white surface (sheet of paper, fabric, etc.);
- carefully comb his fur;
- We remove the kitten from the white surface and examine it.
Having noticed dark, small crumbs on the surface, drip plain water onto them. If, after contact with the liquid, reddish-brown stains form around the crumbs, then we are dealing with flea excrement and the pet really has fleas.
The above methods will help to detect parasites in a timely manner and take adequate measures. In later stages of the disease, when the kitten already has a lot of fleas, characteristic symptoms and changes in behavior will help to recognize them.
- The presence of scratches and crusts on the baby’s body.
- Redness, wounds, signs of allergic rashes on the skin.
- Low quality wool - lack of shine, glued hairs, bald patches, etc.
- Poor appetite or its complete absence.
- Weight loss.
- Restless behavior and/or plaintive meowing for no apparent reason.
At the same time, very young kittens can noticeably weaken, and older pets can show aggression. As a rule, at this stage of the disease it is no longer possible to do without the help of a veterinarian. A specialist will examine the baby, study his condition, tell you how to treat a kitten for fleas, how to care for him and improve his health.
How to remove fleas from a kitten?
Veterinary pharmacies offer a huge selection of anti-flea products. But the problem is that in most cases their composition and method of application are suitable exclusively for adult cats. This problem is especially acute for owners of two categories:
- when a very tiny baby lives in the house, who is barely 1 month old, and standard flea treatment for kittens can harm his body;
- when a pet lives in the house and is also looked after by a cat, which means any anti-flea agent will be licked off its fur by a caring mother.
In the first case, improvised and folk remedies will come to the rescue, and in the second, for the treatment to be effective, the kitten will have to be separated from the mother cat for a certain time. But first things first.
How to remove fleas from kittens up to 1 month old
The fight against parasites at such a young age comes down to following the following recommendations.
- Daily change (washing) of the kitten's bedding.
- Daily, very careful combing of the baby with a fine comb dipped in water with freshly squeezed lemon juice: from the top of the head to the scruff of the neck to the back to the tail, and from the neck to the belly to the hind legs.
If these measures do not give a positive result, then you should seek help from a veterinarian, who will recommend a safe flea remedy for 1-month-old kittens. Self-medication at this age is strictly prohibited!
One way to protect a kitten under 6 weeks of age from fleas is to treat the cat's mother with drops with an "umbrella effect", such as Stronghold. It rids the adult cat and its habitat of parasites, thereby indirectly protecting nearby kittens from these parasites.
Lemon acid
Citric acid is a natural flea killer, and lemons are full of it. To create a spray that will work on even sensitive skin, boil a lemon solution in water and let it sit overnight. You can then apply the mixture to your cat's fur using a spray bottle, but avoid contact with eyes, open wounds and scratches. A glass of lemon juice can also be used in the washing machine when you wash your cat's bedding to kill all the fleas.
How to get rid of fleas on a 1 month old kitten
Daily brushing does not lose its relevance for slightly older children. Starting from 1 month, they can already be bathed using anti-flea shampoo:
- the product is diluted with water;
- Gently distribute over the fur until light foaming occurs;
- after a few minutes (the time must be clarified in the recommendations of the shampoo manufacturer), the foam is thoroughly rinsed off;
- The kitten's fur is dried and carefully combed out.
During bathing, you need to make sure that water and the product do not get into your baby’s ears, nose and mouth. To choose the right safe flea shampoo for kittens over 1 month old, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian. And if the pet is already 1.5 months old, does not show signs of weakness and can be painlessly separated from the mother cat for a couple of hours, then the specialist will recommend drops on the withers against parasites (for example, Stronghold).
How to enhance the effect of using folk remedies
If you make a garlic solution, then add 2 tsp to it to enhance the effect. brewer's yeast. Herbal solutions are not just watered, but soaked into the pet’s skin. If you use essential oils, it is recommended to mix several types at once.
When processing an animal, the entire room must be disinfected. Otherwise, fleas may temporarily find another habitat and then return to the pet’s fur. After treatment with products with strong odors, the room is ventilated at least after 8 hours.
How to remove fleas from a 3 month old kitten
To combat blood-sucking parasites at the age of three months (after weaning from the mother cat), you can use drops on the withers or a special flea spray.
- Drops on the withers are easy to use: they are applied by spreading the fur directly onto the pet’s skin. The insecticides they contain (substances harmful to parasites) will gradually be distributed throughout the baby’s entire body, ensuring the death of fleas and long-term protection from re-infection. And if you use systemic drops, such as Stronghold, then the kitten will be treated not only for external parasites, but also for round helminths.
- A special spray is a fast-acting flea remedy for kittens 3 months old. It is distributed throughout the pet’s body against the growth of fur. It is very important that the spray not only gets on the skin, but also slightly moisturizes the baby. After using the spray, the kitten’s behavior needs to be monitored: make sure that it does not lick its fur.
Before using drops on the withers and flea spray, it is also recommended to consult with the veterinarian who is monitoring the kitten.
Brewer's yeast
Brewer's yeast is a natural flea repellent. Thiamine, which is part of yeast, is effective. The taste and smell of thiamine repel fleas. Brewer's yeast can be bought in almost any store. It is sold in liquid, powder and flake form. The powder form is best for flea control. You can mix it with your cat's food and use it as a supplement, but in this case the effect will not be achieved for at least a month. You can also use the yeast topically by mixing it with water and sprinkling it on your fur.
Universal flea remedy for kittens
The modern pace of life dictates its own principles, which also apply to keeping pets. Submitting to them, not every person is ready to spend a lot of time and effort fighting parasites. And even the most caring owner wonders how to remove fleas from a kitten quickly, with a guarantee of a positive result and for a long time. Perhaps there is some universal remedy to achieve this goal?
Answering this question, Russian veterinarians confidently recommend the broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug Stronghold. These are drops on the withers that can be applied to kittens starting from 1.5 months (or 6 weeks). During use, the drug demonstrates a number of the following properties:
- Stronghold destroys not only fleas, but also other parasites - lice, lice, scabies mites, roundworms, etc.
- The drug is easy to apply and quickly distributed throughout the pet’s body, providing its therapeutic effect.
- Stronghold drops on the withers destroy blood-sucking parasites and provide reliable protection against re-infection for 1 month.
After applying drops to the withers, the kitten’s behavior does not need to be controlled for fear that it will lick the drug from its fur. And just 2 hours after using the drug, you can already behave with your beloved pet as usual - pick it up, stroke it, play and even bathe it.
When wondering how to rid a kitten of fleas without extra cost and effort, it is important to understand that any, even the most universal and effective remedy, may turn out to be useless without an integrated approach to solving the problem of parasites. To implement it, you will have to follow a number of simple recommendations.
- All animals in the house must undergo antiparasitic treatment at the same time.
- All areas of the apartment or house where pets live must be cleaned, or better yet, disinfested.
- All personal belongings of the pet must be treated with an insecticidal preparation, or better yet, disposed of.
If the question is how to remove fleas from a one-month-old kitten, for whom Stronghold is not yet recommended, then it is better to take care in advance to prevent infection with blood-sucking parasites.
Signs of infection
A flea may begin to bite a cat from the first day of infection, but it is difficult for a person to detect its presence. But when the offspring of the first flea grows up, a colony of parasites forms. They will lead to the appearance of symptoms, a person cannot help but pay attention to this. The main symptom is that the cat will itch intensely. Cats living outside, feeding their flea parasites for years, may not pay attention to the bites, but an indoor cat with delicate, well-groomed skin can itch until it bleeds. When bitten, some cats flinch or bite into the fur (or directly into the skin).
In places where severe scratching occurs, sores appear that become wet or bleed. They will not be able to heal quickly, as the cat will continue to itch. In addition, insect excrement (small black particles) will appear on the cat's fur. If fleas have appeared for a long time, the fur may become thinner, fistulas, abscesses or allergic dermatitis may appear.
Photo gallery: symptoms of flea infestation
When you try hard to scratch an itchy area, small sores appear first.
To see flea excrement on a cat's fur, you need to slightly part the fur with your fingers, creating a parting.
An abscess is a bulging purulent abscess (when it “bursts”, a fistula appears - a hole in the skin)
With allergic dermatitis, the entire body is covered with red spots (they are easiest to see on the stomach)
Why fleas are dangerous for animals and humans
In addition to skin problems caused by flea bites, your cat may also develop other parasites. A cat that licks fur or itchy skin swallows fleas whole. An insect may contain larvae of worms, etc. Thus, both a cat and its owner can become ill with helminthiasis. And if the worms then pass to a small kitten, then the helminthic infestation can lead to the death of the pet. In addition, advanced infestation with parasitic insects can lead to anemia (anemia) in the animal.
The cat owner faces more than just infection with worms. Of course, a flea cannot live permanently on the human body, but even one bite can lead to trouble. Fleas are carriers of diseases of the blood and lymph (for example, erythrema, a lesion of the lymphatic system that leads to severe inflammation of the skin). You can also become infected with pulicosis (a very itchy rash all over the body) through a flea bite. After this disease, scars remain on the skin that do not heal even with time.
If the cat begins to feel unwell, and later one of the household members joins it, then it may be dipilidiasis. Symptoms of this disease are weakness, nausea, and vomiting. This disease affects the organs of the digestive system, hence the symptoms, like intoxication. Another danger is brucellosis (symptoms: high fever, aches, joint pain, sweating). Of course, if it comes to such serious symptoms, then you need to urgently consult a doctor, and the cat needs to be taken to a veterinarian.
If the owner of a cat is bitten by a flea, and later unpleasant symptoms appear, an urgent need to consult a doctor
Preventing fleas in kittens
The best prevention against fleas for kittens 1, 2, 3 months and any age is regular antiparasitic treatment of its future mother. For this purpose, you can safely use the same Stronghold. After all, the drug demonstrates a prolonged (long-lasting) effect and will protect the cat from parasites for 1 month. After this period, the treatment should be repeated.
We should not forget that fleas can independently enter an apartment from the entrance, basement and from the grass growing near the house, where they wait for their potential owner. We can also bring adult parasites or their eggs into the house on our shoes. Considering the ways fleas enter your home, it is necessary to keep your hallway clean - the room is regularly wet cleaned, paying special attention to gaps, cracks, joints and other nooks and crannies. And when using a vacuum cleaner, immediately dispose of its contents, immediately after use.
Well, and, of course, one should take into account the fact that the main carriers of parasites are stray animals. Therefore, it is advisable to minimize contact with them. And if a noble decision has been made to take a pet from the street, then first of all you need to solve the problem of how to get rid of fleas from a kitten. Because the fur of the little happiness probably contains ubiquitous, blood-sucking parasites.
