Fleas can be lethal to newborn kittens because they can cause anemia. While removing the fleas is essential, it is also a delicate process because commercial flea treatment also can be fatal to newborns and kittens younger than 6 weeks old. The most simple and effective home remedy for removing fleas from newborn kittens is to use your fingers, a pair of tweezers or a flea comb. It's also important to remove eggs and larvae from the kittens' environment and to treat the kittens' mother.
Manually Removing Fleas
A flea comb is the safest and most effective way to remove fleas from newborn kittens. Place a cup of very hot water nearby, and dip the comb in the water to kill the fleas. Put some Vaseline on the base of the comb's teeth to stop the fleas from escaping. Alternatively, catch the fleas with your finger and thumb nails, or a pair of tweezers, and drop them into the hot water.
Removing Fleas From the Environment
It's also important to remove fleas from the kitten's environment. Thorough and frequent vacuuming or carpets helps remove eggs and larvae. Wash the kitten's bedding, and spray carpets and soft furnishings with an insecticide designed for fleas. Ensure, however, that such products are kept away from the kitten and its immediate environment, because chemicals can kill newborn kittens and those younger than 6 weeks old.
Treating the Nursing Mother
Because fleas are transmitted to newborn kittens from their mother, it's important to treat the mother with an anti-flea remedy prescribed by your veterinarian. Home remedies may not be 100-percent effective. The kittens will quickly become re-infested if their mother is not completely free of fleas. Most spot-on flea treatments work within 24 hours, although you should ask your vet which products are safe for nursing cats.
Bathing
You can remove fleas by bathing kittens when they are a little older. Fill a sink or tub with lukewarm water. Immerse the kitten in the water up to its neck. Wet its head and neck with a washcloth. Lift the kitten out of the water, place it on a towel and gently massage in some mild dish soap. Massage all over the kitten's body, including its neck and under its chin. Wash carefully around the kitten's face to avoid getting soap in its eyes or water in its ears. Place the kitten back in the water to rinse off the soap. Bathe the kitten in a warm room and towel it dry immediately, because young kittens quickly lose body heat.
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