My Newborn Kittens Have Fleas, What Can I Do?

If they are newborn kittens, any kind of flea shampoo can harm them, and maybe even kill them. The only safe way to rid the kittens of fleas is to wash them in warm water and or pick off fleas one by one with tweezers. Be careful not to pinch the kitten's skin with the tweezers as this can obviously hurt them. Look on the belly and under leg indents for fleas as they tend to hide in these areas. This is not a permanent resolution but it will help. Unless a vet tells you otherwise do not use any flea products on them as it can be a risk to the health of the kittens. The same can be said for the mother as the kittens nurse off of her. So whatever you put on the mother or give her will be passed onto the baby kittens.

Flea is the common name for insects from the order Siphonaptera which are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas are external parasites, living by hematophagy off the blood of mammals including bats and humans as well as birds.

One of the most abundant and widespread species of flea on Earth is the cat flea. The cat flea's primary host is the domestic cat, but this is also the primary flea infesting dogs in most of the world. The cat flea can also maintain its life cycle on other carnivores. Humans can be bitten but cannot be infested, so a population of cat fleas cannot be sustained by this aberrant host.

A few fleas on adult dogs or cats cause little harm unless the host becomes allergic to substances in saliva. The disease that results is called flea allergy dermatitis. Small animals with large infestations can lose enough bodily fluid to fleas feeding, that dehydration may result. Fleas are also responsible for disease transmission through humans. If the fleas have been sucking blood, then they will have a reddish-brown colour when squashed.

I work at a vet and you can bathe them in dawn dish washing liquid and that will kill the fleas. But don't do it a lot because it will dry out the skin.

Have 2 day old kittens with fleas. Obviously came from the momma. Called vet and momma cat was put on capstar it is a pill which is Safe for nursing. DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING ELSE. PICKING OFF THE ONES ON THE BABIES. BUT WHEN NURSING THEY GO BACK ON THE MOMMA CAT AND DIE

Use dawn dish soap and only dawn dish soap

Try some white vinager and warm water mix warm water and vinager and put it on a wash cloth wrap it around the kitten and leave it there for 5 to ten mins depending on how many fleas they have.. My mom told me about it and it worked great the vinager kills them fast and they stay gone...

No, they are not they get them from there mother.

Well, talk to a vet would be the best idea. Since they are kittens using medication probably wouldnt be the best idea.

My kittens were just born last night am I able to take them out of the house and flea bomb the house

No, they cannot be born with fleas. However, if the mother, the bedding, the house, etc. Are infested with fleas and the newborns get them, they can quickly die. Fleas are a parasite that can quickly rob a kitten of hemoglobin and other antibodies that they need to survive. Fleas can be difficult to exterminate so talk to your local professional. Fleas can also live for 2 years without eating. What do they eat? Blood, after all they are parasites. Kittens can, however be born with worms. If the mother cat is a mouser, it is quite likely that she has worms. It is also advisable for any expectant women in the household, not to change the litter box.    Toxoplasmosis, which can be found in feline freckle matter is very dangerous to an unborn baby. If the pregnant mother becomes infected with this, the child, without a doubt will be born blind and severely mental and physically handicapped. Caution, too, when expectant mothers travel to foreign countries where health regulations for food are not strict like those in the U.S. Especially where meat is not refrigerated properly, toxoplasmosis can be transmitted.

If they are NEWBORN kittens, any kind of Advantix or flea shampoo CAN harm the kittens, maybe even kill them. The only safe way to rid the kittens of fleas is to wash them in lukewarm water and/or pick of fleas one by one with tweazers. Be careful not to pinch the kittens skin with the tweazers. Look on the belly and under leg indents for fleas hideout spots. This is not a permanent resolution but it will help. Unless a vet tells you otherwise DO NOT use any flea products on them as it is a risk to their life! Same with the mother because the kittens nurse off of the mother, whatever you put on her, you are also putting on the babies, understand?
AND REMEMBER - Do not listen to everything these people tell you on here, remember you can be any age to leave a comment, so an 9 yr. Old could tell you to put the Advantix on your kittens or her mother and it could kill them. I am not a vet, but I promise you that if you do what I say it will NOT harm your kittens and it will help but is not a permanent solution.

I have seen a few fleas on my 3 day old kittens and I do not want to hurt them. Its lucky I didnt remember the flea treatment from my friends house. I could of killed them. EVERYONE JUST TELL YOUR VET! DON'T RISK YOUR KITTENS' LIVES! TELL YOUR VET!

Well you should call your vet and let him tell you,as soon as you remove the ones from the kitten remove the ones off the mother thats how they get it in the first place.

Hiya,
Yes they actually can be born with flea's I was shocked but I found this out today. My cat had 2 gorgeous kittens and I found tiny flea's on them, I took the kittens and mom to the vets and they told me about 9 out of 10 kittens are born with flea's and pass it to the mother if they aren't protected, they couldn't give me nothing to treat the kittens but gave me stuff for the mum and its helped both mum and kittens already which is good.
They are also all born with worms which I did know lol, but was shocked to find out about the fleas when the vet told me!x

I have the same problem, I just picked up our newborn kittens, the eyes are still closed.
Should I treat the mom with Advantage?

You can either wait until they're old enough, or dilute the solution and give them a very mild bath with it. Wait a week, and then you can give them a second one.Make sure you clean their bedding, because there are a lot of eggs in the bedding too. You want to also give mom and dad a bath too, but at full strength.

My cat had 4 kittens this morning and we got told my a family friend that kittens can b born with fleas so we rang the vet 2 ask them what 2 do and they said unless the mother as fleas then the kittens will not have them so no kittens ant born with fleas

Does baking soda and salt mixture hurt them?

I had the same problem I went down to the vets at pets at home and they gave me a bottle of flea spray that can be used on kittens from 2 days old for 21 quid

I have 6 new born kittens and they are SMOTHERD in fleas.. Its gross I swear they are breding Ew..

You can treat the mother with Advantix and it will kill the fleas on the kittens as well. Go easy as it is powerful stuff, killing the fleas on the kittens will not stop almost immediate reinfestation from the mother and their bedding. Fleas breed at an alarming rate and Advantix breaks the breeding cycle, but only apply it to the mother and only if the kittens are 4 or 5 weeks old, but then you will need to wash anything they come in contact with, but it will work well.