Home remedies for kittens with fleas?

4 week kittens have fleas, as well as the mother. Any home remedies I can use? I read that olive oil, baby powder or baby bath soap helps?

  • Vetinfo

    By: Erika Raines El Segundo, CA

    Replied on 04/19/2011

    It is unlikely that olive oil, baby powder or baby soap will help with fleas. You need a flea medication from your veterinarian. Most flea medications available over the counter are suitable for cats and kittens 8 weeks and older. Your veterinarian may be able to provide you with a product that is suitable for these young kittens and their lactating mother. Most home remedies are not very effective when they work at all and some can be very dangerous to cats, especially young cats. Washing the kittens in a gentle soap designed for cats followed by combing with a flea comb can remove most of the fleas. However, they will just come bac k without further treatment as the eggs in the environment will continue to hatch. You should take care of this problem as soon as possible as a heavy flea infestation can lead to excessive blood loss in very young kittens. A big enough flea problem can take so much blood from a small kitten that it leads to serious health problems or even death.

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