We just got a new kitty from a rescue and she has FLEAS

[Jo March]

The rescue guy did not tell us she had fleas and we just assumed that she would be flea-free. I am so aggravated. Her ears are dirty too so we're having to clean out the ears of the 8 month old kitten. Well, she's scared right now so that's just working out so wonderfully. :sarcasm:

Jasper, our big boy, is handling the new kitty quite well. He just looks at her and walks off. He is being great.

I'm just mad about the fleas!! The kitten is great but we have to get rid of the fleas quick, fast and in a hurry. x(

[prozacnation]

1. Do you have any advantage?

My rescue group always Advantages our animals before adopting them out. Did you call the person you got the kitten from to complain? In any event I recommend Advantage because it works in like 24 hours. You might want to keep the kitten in a bathroom or non carpeted room until you can kill off all of the fleas. Good luck and congrats!

[demnan]

2. Just get the Advantage

and keep them separated from the others for a few days. You'll be alright. I don't think any animal I ever had came to me without fleas!

[IndyOp]

3. My animals are from the shelter or rescue and they have *all* come

with fleas. I just expect to have to give them a flea bath and put on flea juice when they arrive. Ick!

But soon enough --> :-)

Glad to hear Jasper is doing well with the new kitty! :hi:

[Jo March]

4. Thanks, guys. We'll get some Advantage

We got some flea bath stuff.

Jill, the new kitty, is a sweetie pie. She is still scared but she took a liking to a little sleep sack type thing that we got for Jasper. Well, Jasper is too big for it but it fits her perfectly. She is a little darling.

Jasper just sniffs her while she hisses and growls. Then he gets bored and walks off. It's too funny

[kestrel91316]

11. Any "rescue" that has no program in place for ELIMINATING

fleas from its charges needs to be SHUT DOWN, IMHO.

Flea control is a basic responsibility, like adequate food, water, and shelter. And it's EASY, though not necessarily cheap. If they can't afford to do it, they need to quit the "rescue" business.

Be sure your kitty is big enough and old enough to have Advantage - I think 8 weeks and 2 lb is the rule. The stuff works GREAT and is extremely safe. I myself prefer Revolution in kittens because it also gets ear mites and roundworms/hookworms which are almost guaranteed in young cats. But it is a prescription drug, as opposed to Advantage which is an OTC insecticide.

[radfringe]

5. if kitten is too young for flea stuff

most flea treatment can't be used on young kittens/puppies

so if your new addition falls into that CATagory :wink:

get LEMON JOY DISH DETERGENT - pour some onto a wet wash cloth

wipe the kitten down with it - you want to wipe on "against" the grain so to speak (back to front). let it sit for about 5 minutes and then rinse it off

you'll probably have to do this a few times depending on how bad the fleas are

also - treat your dog with advantage or similar product -- fleas hop on and off critters they don't "live" on the animal - so by association any fleas on the kitten will find their way to the dog and die

[Jo March]

6. You know, we used to use dishwashing liquid when I was younger

My mother would use dishwashing liquid to get rid of fleas. I had forgotten all about that - which is funny because it always worked.

I got some flea stuff for her but it smells like horrible chemicals so I don't think that I'll get that anywhere near her!

thanks for the tip, rad. We'll certainly try it out on her. She is a doll.

[radfringe]

7. fresh squeezed lemon or grapefruit juice works too

something about the citric acid does the trick

downside:

1. takes alot of lemons/grapefruit juice to wet down the critter
2. needs to stay on the critter for about an hour to be effective - meanwhile fur gets sticky until rinsed off

upside: smells nice

[Jo March]

8. What about the liquid that you get from the store? the concentrate stuff?

does that work?

She's a little critter but I can see that it might take a while to get enough liquid to coat her down.

[radfringe]

9. concentrate may work

but what you want from the lemons/grapefruit is the citric acid - that's what does it in for the fleas

[Eurobabe]

10. Lavender shampoo works as does Ivory

dishwashing liquid. When we got the Daemon from the SPCA he was a 7 wk. old flea-bag. We put him in the sink and pulled every last flea off of him. To this day he doesn't mind taking a bath.

[Jo March]

12. He is a beautiful baby, that's for sure!

I am going to clean up her little fuzzy butt and she'll be fine.

She is doing well and Jasper is very excited to have a little pal.