I have a female cat and she had her kittens three days ago. I've noticed fleas and ticks on them and don't know the best way to get rid of them. I regularly treat my cat and I only knew she was pregnant about a week or two ago. I had a feeling she wasn't a male like I was told by the people I got her from.
I've got a flea comb and have been combing her and the kittens through (as she lets me) and then putting the comb in boiling water to kill them after each comb. I've treated the mum again and treated my house completely, but they seem to just keep coming, everytime I comb through. It makes me feel dirty, as I'm a very clean person and like to keep my house and cat clean. I am feeling very guilty towards the cats. If anyone has any suggestions on what to use and how I can help the kittens, as I know they're still very young, I'd really appreciate it! And yes as soon as my cat has finished nursing she will be getting spayed.
By Natasha
Dry 20 mule team Borax will solve most of the problem. It's a natural product but because of newborns, use caution. Most grocery stores carry this in the laundry soap aisle. Carpets carry the flea population. Sift 2 cups for an average sized carpeted room into the carpet and fabric furniture. Leave for 2 weeks before you vacuum to rid of flea eggs, larvae and adults. Use no poisons on cat or kittens, wash their bed in hot water and use a flea comb.
The mom cat needs good diet with no Purina type commercial foods. No corn, wheat or soy. Get EVO, California Natural, or Diamond Pet Foods from a feed store, a specialty store, and even some groomers sell decent food for pets. Call around for the best price.
Offer fluids often. No vaccines to ruin her immune system, spay as soon as kittens are finished nursing. I hope the kittens can be placed with those that will spay and neuter.
You are doing the very best you can under the circumstances. Talk to your Veterinarian about tick and flea treatment but it's hard to believe that anyone can not tell the difference between male and female animals.
I don't have cats but my sister does. When her cats had kittens, she didn't catch them in time and fleas killed the kittens. You better get to a vet quick. Fleas suck all blood out of the kittens. Hope you get help!
What do you mean "no Purina type commercial foods" ?
Do you know Purina has done more research on animal diets than most other companies combined? Your Hollywood or designer type foods develop their pet food formulations based off of data from Purina's research! Other companies who have done the most research include Hills Science Diet, and Royal Canin.
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My cat just had her first litter of kittens on June 6, 2010. I knew she had fleas before she delivered, but was told that I couldn't treat her with anything topical while she was pregnant and nothing while she is nursing as well.
I have bathed the mother in Dawn detergent as well as the kittens. It has seemed to work on her, but not the babies. I have been washing them all in Dawn every two days as told to do by a vet, but it is just not keeping the fleas off them for long at all.
I don't know what else to do for the kittens. I am so worried about them and their health. Does anyone know anything I can put on them that isn't harmful to them or their mother? Please let me know.
Thank you.
By Jana from Charlotte, NC
Bath the kittens in some mild dishwashing liquid. Stay away from antibacterial or orange dish soaps. Dawn or the original Palmolive will both work.
Try using a flea comb between shampoo days. Buy one that has a double row of teeth and just "squeeze" down what you have collected from your cat down into a bowl of warm water and dawn. My cats love to be flea combed and I feel better about not putting any chemicals on them.
Sisser617 has it right. I isolated the kittens, it's best with the Mom if you flea-comb her too. I put them in the bathroom for a week and flea-combed once or twice a day (helps to have a radio to listen to) until there were no fleas for 3 times. You develop a rhythm after a bit, comb, dip in hot water (with soap), wipe on towel, comb, dip etc. I had no problems after that. It may seem a pain to do, but if you get them all at first then you'll save time and energy and attention in the future. Good luck. They'll be worth it.
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My cat had got out while I was moving. I finally found her. She had kittens a weeks ago and I also discovered she had fleas. I've tried Dawn dish soap it seems to work on the babies, but not mom.
My cat is a little over a year and she just had her first litter yesterday June 6, 2010. I knew that she had fleas before she delivered, but was told that I couldn't give her anything topical until she had delivered the kittens and stopped breast feeding.
