Dangers of Fleas Bites on Kittens
When fleas infest kittens, flea allergies occur on a number of pets. While some felines suffer from irritated skin, others develop a severe allergic reaction to the flea's saliva causing red, itchy skin that a kitten bites or licks until open sores develop. These sores develop bacterial infections that require medical treatment. Flea control is the best way to prevent infections caused by fleas.
Anemia is a greater danger. Tiny kittens have a limited blood supply. As their body develops, that blood count increases. If a kitten has hundreds of fleas feasting on his blood, anemia sets in. Sadly, anemia from fleas is the leading cause of death in kittens. You must end kittens' flea infestations immediately.
Bathing Kittens with Flea Problems
Bathing a kitten isn't easy, but it is a necessary step in ridding a kitten of fleas. Wear gloves for protection from scratches and fill your bathtub or sink with a few inches of warm water. Placing a space heater in a closed bathroom prevents chills. Rinse the kitten's body completely. Lather the kitten's body with a mild dish soap or baby shampoo. Let the suds sit for a few minutes while you pick off fleas.
Fleas instinctively head for the eyes, ears and nose, so pick them off with tweezers and crush them before dropping them into the tub water. Once you see no more movement from fleas, rinse the kitten with clean water and wrap him in a warm towel. Rub each section of the kitten dry and use a flea comb to remove any stragglers. Crush and dispose of your kitten's flea bodies into the dirty bathwater.
You may need to repeat this process every couple of days as flea eggs hatch. In between bath days, use a flea comb to remove any new pests that appear. Bathing and regular combings are the safest treatments for kittens with flea infestations.
Keep Your Carpets Vacuumed
Borax powder effectively kills kittens' flea infestations. Place the kitten in a quiet room and sprinkle Borax on the kitten's bedding and any carpeting where the kitten plays. Let the Borax sit for thirty minutes and then vacuum it up. Repeat this for a couple weeks. You will see fewer fleas and eventually your home is flea-free.
Change Your Kitten's Bedding
With any kittens' flea problem, the eggs fall onto bedding and hatch. This adds to your problem with fleas. Few people think to regularly wash bedding.
Try using insect repelling bedding for your kitten. Cedar repels fleas and makes fragrant bedding for all animals. Purchase a cedar pillow for your kitten to sleep on or make your own using cedar bedding purchased at a pet store.