What is the best way to get rid of a scared 4-8 week old kitten's fleas?

Question

I found a really scared kitten in a small construction site next to my house. He has been through a lot; loud scary noises (for him), rain, abandonment and fear. He has fleas and needs to be washed.

What is the best way to wash this kitten and not traumatize him even more?

Someone told me to try original scent Dawn dish washing soap. I wanted to try those kitty wipes but I couldn't find any at the pet store for his age.

What do you all suggest?

Answer 1

Well, I'd just do my best to wash him in a mild pet shampoo that helps kill fleas. Be sure to read the label for age requirements.

Sorry, your gonna have to traumatize if you want to wash him, but there's really no other way to get the fleas off a kitten so young. Just give him a warm towel and lots of cuddles. He'll be better once the fleas are gone. Also, be sure to take measures to deal with the flea infestation in your home too. This is to prevent re-infestation.

Answer 2

Don't use Dawn. Dawn naturally repels oils, and can make your kitten's fur and skin dull and flaky, even irritated if he has fleas. Go to the pet store and find a flea shampoo that is safe for kittens. Bathe your kitten in the bathroom or kitchen sink with warm, comfortable water. I find it easier to wash cats in the sink than in the tub. You have more control over them that way. Speak gently and soothing to your kitty, and make sure he knows you're not mad at him. He is probably going to thrash around and yowl a bit, but eventually he will accept that he is going to be washed and that's that. When you're done wrap him up in a towel, dry him off, baby him, speak soothingly, give pets, etc. It is actually good that you bathe him while he is so small. Cats who are bathed as kittens will usually be less ornery and more accepting of baths in the future as they get older. And whoever says cats never need to be bathed cuz they wash themselves, have obviously never bathed a cat. They can get VERY DIRTY, especially if you let them outside. They love to roll around on the ground and in the dirt. Then they love to come in and lay on your bed and get it dirty too. d**n cats. Yes, it's perfectly OK to bathe your cat. He can't l**k off all the dirt and stuff that is in the underneath layers of his fur.  

Answer 3

Kittens at this age is still too young to have flea collars and stuff such as front line .

Give the kitten a bath in dawn. This will kill the fleas but won't harm the kitten.

I've given bathes to kittens as young as 13 days old. It kills the fleas but won't harm the kitten.

Give the kitten a bath about two times in soap, then wash it down real well with water. While still wet, take a flea comb and brush the remaining fleas off.

Good luck!

Answer 4

His age is really an important thing here - if he's 8 weeks old he can have a proper flea treatment (from a vet - do NOT use any of the over the counter flea meds on any kitten, they can be lethal to a full-grown cat and are really an issue for kittens).  If he's younger than 6 weeks, that's another thing entirely.  

If you can take him to a vet, so much the better - the vet will be able to give you a very good idea of his age.  If you can't do that, the best thing to do is get yourself a flea comb, and a glass of warm water that you've put a few drops of Dawn in.  Comb the kitten, and dip in the glass of water.  Repeat until all the kitten's been completely combed.  You'll need to repeat it daily, or every other day, but it's safe and not terribly traumatic.  

Fleas can really suck the life out of a kitten.  If he's got a bad case of fleas then he really does need to get to a vet, as he's probably got flea bite anemia, which is exactly what it sounds like.  

Poor little baby - good thing you found him!

Answer 5

He's too young for the chemicals in a flea collar, so I recommend a warm bath with either a flea dip or dawn dish soap. Talk to the kitten softly, let him get used to the water, and keep a firm hand on him so he knows you aren't going to drop him or leave him in the water. You need to do this until you are certain all the fleas are dead, then take a flea comb (close teeth for thorough combing) and get the pests off of him. If he's sat on any furniture, clothing, towels, or carpeting, wash them and clean them IMMEDIATELY to prevent any other fleas becoming a problem.

Washing a kitten is actually not as traumatizing as we think. Cats don't like water, that is true, but they DO understand that the smelly bath equals no more itchy skin and I bet at this point the kitten will take the smelly bath over the itchy skin. Just make sure you talk to him calmly and cheerfully all through the process so he understands that all is well and he's not in any danger.

Answer 6

you can buy a flea dip.you put it in it's bath water and you just dip the kitten in the water.you may have to do it like 2 a week and make sure you wash eveything in hot water if the cat layed or sat on anything.