Found very young kitten

catk102

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I just a few minutes ago found a very very young kitten,I guess its around 8 weeks old(judging by teeth if judging by size maybe 6 weekish).It seems so be riddled with fleas and its belly seems possibly have to worms(belly seems a little hard and extended)In addition I have 4 indoor cats but I don't really want to expose them if I can help it to the kitten,specially since 1 of them is deadly allergic to flea bites(her skin will turn bright red she will be a bloody mess where she will try to rip her fur out and eventually will go into shock).
I don't have a spare room or garage where I can seperate the kitten.
I don't know if she (I think) is old/big enought to put Frontline on her or Advantage,also neither one will work tight away.This time of night I do not have access to a vet except Emergency room for animals.
Aside from this the kitten seems alert feisty and is interested in wet food.
I also gave it some nutra cal(a high calorie gel designed for cats that for various reason need supplement).
I have heard about washing cats and kittens in dawn dishsoap to kill fleas,but I am leary of doing this due to potential heat loss etc. for such a young kitten.
So what other ideas are out there?
Thanks
kat
 

dusty's mom

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I'm no expert, but I would wash her, and then wrap her in a warm towel (from the dryer), and try to get her dry asap. Dawn is good for this.
 

stephanietx

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Or, you can mix up a bowl of diluted Dawn water and stick a comb in it and just comb her.
 

strange_wings

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My vet used 2 drops from a tube of Revolution to treat my kittens when they were ~7 weeks old. You could ask about dosing for the other two flea treatments - though they won't take care of some worms or earmites.

Treat your allergic kitty, and the other cats, with a flea treatment ASAP if they haven't had a dose in the last month. Nothing is perfect so you need to make sure they're protected.
 

StefanZ

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I agree with the others...

If the kitten is friendly like it seems, you can also take much by hand. Or use this comb + some diluted soap water, as mentioned.

Good you try to have the kitten separated for time being. Most rescuers use their bathroom, if they dont have an extra room for this.
The bathroom is also easier to clean afterwards.


A dog cage is also useful in many cases.

Tx for helping this small sibling of our!


Good luck!
 

taryn

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Be sure to get it tested for FIV/FeLV and other things before you let them meet. Attitude was positive to FeLV at 7-8 weeks old and would have been earlier(she and Nuts, and everyone else were infected neonatally.)

My vet did use a full tube of Revolution on Attitude at 8 weeks old, but she was old enough and 2 1/2- 3 lbs at the time.

Treat your current ones and try to keep her separate until she can get treated. Right now a bath with Dawn and a flea comb(she will need to be flea combed Dawn might not kill all of them so if she still have live ones that is where the comb comes in, but it might kill them all you never know) should work well enough. Make sure yours are treated for fleas before letting her in.

I have bathed 4 week old kittens for fleas and they had no problem with heat loss as long as you get them mostly dry(and wrapped in a towel.) If need be either bathe outside or take the kitten out if it's warm or hot and let him/her air dry(it's in the 90's- 100's here so more than enough to help them stay warm, of course I bathe my little hellions inside since they don't lose body heat anymore.) Don't know if you walk upside down(Aussies love to make reference to this to Americans asking them what it's like to be walking upside down) or right-side up(located in Southern or Northern hemisphere) and where on the globe you are and what your weather is like.

Taryn
 

phillygal

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I used the Dawn wash on Casey when he was younger than 8 weeks and he was fine - it was the only time he ever needed a bath!
Just as long as you keep him warm, he should be okay. Diluting the detergent first would be a good idea.
 
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