Need a flea killer for a 6-week-old kitten

[jmowreader]

that won't kill the cat, only the fleas.

Here's the situation: One of our hardware associates had a cat show up on her doorstep and leave kittens. We took one home (longhaired gray tabby female). I weighed it; it weighs about two pounds, which means two months of age. So for safety's sake let's say six weeks.

My house has fleas. The cats get the drops on the back of their necks so they're not affected by them, but this cat is too young to get those--they're for 12 week olds and older.

What can I use on this cat to get rid of the fleas that won't result in us burying the cat?

[pocket]

1. fine toothed comb and a bath

repeat as needed

[jmowreader]

2. I got the comb. Got some alcohol.

Run comb through cat's fur. Dip in alcohol. Swish around to knock off the dead fleas. Wipe alcohol off comb.

It seemed to work--the kitty was screaming and struggling before I did it, and is now sleeping peacefully on the floor in the one room that has no fleas. I just kinda wanted something a bit more persistent.

[Jo March]

3. Lots of baths

That's all that you can do at this point. The kitty is too young for anything else.

[wolfgirl]

4. Try a bath

using Dawn (original) dishwashing liquid...It's very mild & fleas hate it..I works with my teacup Pom (Daisy...the might warrior dog!)

[sleepyhead]

5. Take it to your vet

and get a couple of tablets of Capstar. It's safe for kitties as young as 2 weeks and will kill any fleas on the cat within 10 minutes. It can be repeated daily, I think, but if you treat the other cats and the environment (remember that fleas lay eggs in your carpets and furniture), you should be OK with 1 or 2 doses. You can also do the dilute dish soap/flea comb thing, but the Capstar is faster and more effective (you will see the fleas seizure, drop off, and die within 10 minutes!)

[TrogL]

6. Get it its own shotgun

I maintain computers for a living. My motto - "get a bigger hammer!"

[VOX]

7. Once you treat the kitten, vacuum the heck out of your floors...

to pick up all the flea eggs. Your efforts in treating the kitten are all for naught if you don't "treat the environment," as the vets say.

And change/throw away the filter bag when you're done, as the flea eggs will hatch in the bag.

Thanks for taking such good care of your critters -- :toast: