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Young kittens often come with a few unwelcome guests, but kittens are unable to be treated with many flea treatments until after they're eight weeks old. Fleas can quickly overwhelm a kitten under eight weeks of age and make them very ill. Knowing how to treat a young kitten for fleas will help prevent your kitten from getting flea-carried illnesses or anemia.

Comb For Fleas

A young kitten under eight weeks of age can't be treated for fleas using the normal methods as they can be fatal to young cats. This makes manual control of fleas very important during the first several weeks of life. To comb for fleas, you will need a very fine-toothed flea comb. Check the edges of the comb you're using to make sure that they're rounded instead of flat. Flat-edged spines on a comb can feel sharp or abrasive to your young kitten.

It helps to keep a small bowl of soapy water nearby to place the fleas in as you catch them. Comb your kitten gently, and pinch any fleas you find between your thumb and index finger. Then place your fingers beneath the water's surface and release the flea. Placing the fleas in the soapy water will prevent them from being able to jump back out and onto your kitten again.

Give Them A Flea Bath

There is only one type of flea bath that's safe for a kitten under eight weeks of age – and that's one using unscented dish soap. It's important to use a dish soap free from essential oils or fragrances, as these can be harmful to your kitten. The degreasing properties of the soap strip fleas of their protective coating and allow water to break down their exoskeleton – essentially suffocating them.

You'll want to bathe your kitten in lukewarm water. Kittens can't regulate their body temperature early in life, so it's important to use warm water. Next, you'll want to form a ring of soap around their neck. This prevents the fleas from climbing on your kitten's head and hiding in their ears. From there, soap up your kitten and wait a few minutes before rinsing them clean. Dry them immediately and either place them on a heating pad or hold them to your body to keep them warm.

You will want to limit these flea baths. The dish soap can be very drying to the kitten's skin. These baths can also traumatize your kitten, so it's important to do these no more than once a week.

Bring Them To Their First Checkup When Appropriate

Eight weeks of age is when most kittens are able to receive flea preventatives. Many kittens receive their first vet visits around eight weeks old. Meeting with a veterinarian at your local animal hospital will allow them to assess your kitten's flea situation and prescribe the appropriate flea preventative for their needs.