Home Remedies for Fleas on Cats and Kittens

Cat fleas are tiny insects that plague cats, kittens and their human owners with painful, itchy bites. Though mild flea infestations may simply be a nuisance, they can also transmit more serious diseases and parasites such as tapeworm. Remove fleas from cats and kittens using a number of different home remedies.

  1. Bathing

    • Full-grown cats can be given an over-the-counter flea bath, but young kittens are too sensitive for the strong chemicals in these products. To bathe a kitten younger than 6 weeks, place it in a warm (not hot) sink or tub and gently immerse the kitten, keeping its head above water. Carefully wet the kitten's face and head before taking the cat out of the bath. Gently massage a dish detergent such as Dawn into the cat's fur, taking extreme care not to get soap in the kitten's eyes. Rinse the kitten thoroughly, and wrap in a towel to keep the kitten from catching a chill. Always do this in a warm environment.

    Grooming

    • A flea bath is made more effective by following up with a flea comb. Flea combs have very fine bristles that catch fleas in the cat or kitten's fur. Many cats enjoy being groomed for fleas. Simply brush the cat gently, remove the fleas and drop them into a glass of hot water. You can add a dab of petroleum jelly to the comb if you find that the fleas are jumping off the comb. For very young kittens with soft fur that doesn't brush well, you may just want to pick away fleas with your hands and crush them between your fingers.

    Flea Preventives

    • Also called top spot flea treatments, flea preventives are monthly topical solutions that you apply directly to the cat in order to treat current flea infestations and to prevent future infestations. Several different brands contain insect growth regulators or insect development inhibitors that keep the fleas from developing and reproducing. Flea preventives are safe to use on kittens older than 8 weeks of age; groom and bathe younger kittens only or seek advice from a veterinarian. Always read the directions carefully, and don't use more than the required amount. Never use a flea preventive designed for a dog, as it may be harmful to a cat. Oral flea preventives are also available in many pet stores.

    Cleaning

    • Thoroughly cleaning your house is a simple way to reduce flea populations, as the pests can reproduce quickly. After vacuuming, immediately empty the vacuum bag outside of the house so that flea eggs don't have time to hatch inside the bag while it's still in the house. Put cat bedding through the washing machine, or dispose of it if it's heavily infested. You can grind rosemary into a fine dust and sprinkle it over your cat's bed (as well as the cat) as a natural flea preventive.