Different flea problem

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Coru - 06 Jul 2003 10:26 GMT

I just got a new kitten who is unfortunately covered in fleas. She
hasn't been in the house so unless they've managed to get on one of
the family members (which we've been doing our best to prevent) the
house should be clean enough. The main problem is trying to find a way
to get her flea free quickly and cheaply (my father still isn't
entirely aware that we've adopted this cat, so it'd be best to avoid a
fuss over it until she's clean). I'm afraid to leave her outside for
very long because she's tiny and mother-less, and if my outdoor cats
picked a fight she would almost definitely lose. Not to mention the
fact that the flea problem would just get worse and likely spread to
my other (black!) cats.

Now what I'm wondering is the best way to get rid of these pests as
quickly as possible. Once she's clean she should stay that way, but
I'm not sure how to get her there. We haven't had a flea problem in
over eight years. So...advice?

-Coru

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MaryL - 06 Jul 2003 11:06 GMT

> I just got a new kitten who is unfortunately covered in fleas. She
> hasn't been in the house so unless they've managed to get on one of
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> -Coru

I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults. Check
with a local veterinarian, and they can tell you if it is alright to use it
on a small kitten. You should not need an appointment for this. You would
need to buy it at a veterinarian's office, but my experience has been that
assistants at the front desk can answer these questions. Please do not use
over-the-counter preparations or flea collars -- and, above all, avoid
Hartz.

Incidentally, I said that you should not need a veterinarian's appointment
for a mild flea problem. On the other hand, you should get an appointment
as soon as possible for your kitten's exam and shots.

MaryL

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Dee - 07 Jul 2003 00:40 GMT

> I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults. Check
> with a local veterinarian, and they can tell you if it is alright to use it
> on a small kitten.

It's not. I've already trashed the package, but it either said over eight
or twelve weeks only.

Dee

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CPT \(former!\) Deborah - 07 Jul 2003 01:55 GMT

> > I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults. Check
> > with a local veterinarian, and they can tell you if it is alright to use it
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Dee

Advantage is labeled for use in kittens over 7 weeks of age. Frontline is 8
weeks. All over the counter flea products are 12 weeks. Capstar is 2 weeks
(I think) and 2 pounds in weight. If the kitten is over 2 lbs, the capstar
is the best bet for a quick kill.

Deborah, DVM

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Chris Street - 07 Jul 2003 02:02 GMT

>> I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults. Check
>> with a local veterinarian, and they can tell you if it is alright to use it
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>Dee

Frontline is also 12 weeks according to the label.

If the cat is teeming with fleas then a vet visit may be required -
kittens can suffer from flea anaemia. I'd take a trip there just as soon
as.

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Rachel - 08 Jul 2003 13:23 GMT

> >> I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults. Check
> >> with a local veterinarian, and they can tell you if it is alright to use it
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Frontline is also 12 weeks according to the label.

My bottle of Frontline spray says "Puppies and kittens from 2 days of age
may be safely treated with FRONTLINE Spray"

Granted my bottle expired in 1999 and I haven't chucked it out yet. Have the
recommendations changed since then?

I need to buy a new bottle for my new kitten, just in case he gets fleas.
Although I've never used a full bottle before it expires, so much of it goes
to waste.

Rachel

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Dee - 08 Jul 2003 18:09 GMT

On Tue, 8 Jul 2003, it was written:

> My bottle of Frontline spray says "Puppies and kittens from 2 days of age
> may be safely treated with FRONTLINE Spray"
>
> Granted my bottle expired in 1999 and I haven't chucked it out yet. Have the
> recommendations changed since then?

Hmm, I actually used Frontline Plus. which is a different formulation. It
comes in single month doses.

Dee

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Five Cats - 07 Jul 2003 18:57 GMT

>> I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults. Check
>> with a local veterinarian, and they can tell you if it is alright to use it
>> on a small kitten.
>
>It's not. I've already trashed the package, but it either said over eight
>or twelve weeks only.

This means it's not been tested on younger kittens, not that it's not
safe. The testing is expensive hence a limit on the age range. However
considering that kittens can die from fleas (they get slowly bled to
death) I have used flea preparations (Nuvan Top as that was the best
then available) on young kittens, and on a queen with new-born kittens
that I fostered and none of them showed the slightest side effect.

Now I would use Stronghold (I think that's the correct name in the UK)
as it deals with mites as well which are common in rescue cats. However
I stopped fostering some years back for a number of reasons.

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Five Cats

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*~*SooZy*~* - 07 Jul 2003 21:27 GMT

> >> I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults. Check
> >> with a local veterinarian, and they can tell you if it is alright to use it
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> as it deals with mites as well which are common in rescue cats. However
> I stopped fostering some years back for a number of reasons.

yes I agree Nuvan Top is brilliant, used it when I had dogs as well, the
P.D.S.A recommend it too

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Five Cats - 07 Jul 2003 22:33 GMT

>> >> I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults.
>Check
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>yes I agree Nuvan Top is brilliant, used it when I had dogs as well, the
>P.D.S.A recommend it too

Not any more they don't - it contains Organo Phosphorus compounds which
are highly toxic to mammals as well as fleas. Also fleas in many have
become resistant to it, and the cats would vanish as soon as they saw an
Orange can. In fact I'm not even sure if you can get Nuvan Top anymore.

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Five Cats

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*~*SooZy*~* - 08 Jul 2003 09:35 GMT

> >> >> I have used Advantage with great success -- but my cats were adults.
> >Check
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> become resistant to it, and the cats would vanish as soon as they saw an
> Orange can. In fact I'm not even sure if you can get Nuvan Top anymore.

oh really! well because mine are indoor cats we haven't had a problem with
fleas.
thanks for the information

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Five Cats - 06 Jul 2003 11:19 GMT

>I just got a new kitten who is unfortunately covered in fleas. She
>hasn't been in the house so unless they've managed to get on one of
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>I'm not sure how to get her there. We haven't had a flea problem in
>over eight years. So...advice?

Combing is useful if she will tolerate it - have a bowl of hot water to
hand to drown the wrigglers in - and be sure to treat her with Frontline
or Advantage. You could try bathing her if she will tolerate it - clip
the claws first if you do!

If she has this many fleas I think she will need worming as well (in
fact I would worm her anyway) so a vet trip is possibly in order.

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Five Cats

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Katrina - 09 Jul 2003 21:12 GMT

There are two kinds of Frontline - the drop (at the back of the neck) kind,
and the spray kind. I personally have only used Advantage. I once used it on
a couple of 2-week-old kittens who had a terrible flea infestation and were
anemic as a result. Vet said it was okay, but only to put a small drop on
not the whole tube. Took care of the problem in a jiffy, and no ill effects.

> I just got a new kitten who is unfortunately covered in fleas. She
> hasn't been in the house so unless they've managed to get on one of
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> -Coru

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