I have the exact same problems with all five of my cats, and I even have one who doesn't trust me and hates me after the application. She now runs from me when I try to pick her up. I wish I had a solution, but I don't. Sorry.
Many thanks to all with your expressions of sorrow and understanding about this little unknown baby kitten's passing. I can see her little grave from where I'm sitting. I've been back to the place where she was on the highway and drove around in that area to see if it had any siblings I could...
All of you would have done the same. I just can't stand the thought of such a precious little life being run over and over until it is no longer recognizable.
I passed a teeny kitten in the turn lane of a major highway. It had just been hit and killed by a car. I had to stop, put it in my car, and took it home and buried it as Unknown baby kitten on its headstone. It couldn't have been more than four weeks old. I can't quit thinking about it...