Kitten Care > Kitten Health > Kitten Fleas

11 Telling Signs Your Kitty Has Kitten Fleas

How can you protect and care for your kittens with fleas?

Fleas are parasites. Fleas and kittens are not a good combinations. A bad infestation of fleas can even cause a kitten to get anemia. Learn what the signs of a flea infestation are, and how to treat your kitten/s before it gets out of hand.

1. Kitty is Scratching A Lot

Kitten fleas cause skin irritation and itchiness. And what happens when a kitten experiences itchiness and irritation? Scratching!

Keep an eye on your kitten for an unusual amount of scratching. This is often one of the most obvious signs of a flea infestation.

Scratching alone does not mean kitten fleas, scratching can also be caused by other skin conditions. Identify fleas accurately by relying on a combination of signs.

2. Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Photo of Ginger Fuzzy Kitten Tango

This is when your little kitty has an allergic reaction to flea salivia. This is one of the most common feline skin diseases, and can make your kitten feel very uncomfortable.

3. Change in Behavior

A parasite infestavtion in your feline may manifest itself by a change in your kittens behavior.

Watch for warning signs of fleas in kittens in the form of increased aggitation, kitty is on edge and restlessness. These behaviors on there own do not automatically mean your kitty has fleas.

4. Eating Less Than Usual

Fleas can make your kitten feel sick. She may not feel much like eating so you may notice a loss in appetite. A kitten being disinterested in her food could be caused by a number of reasons, if it continues get your kitten checked out by your vet.

5. Avoiding Certain Areas

Is your kitten avoiding the carpeted areas of your home? It is possible that she has been bitten by fleas in this area, and is trying to avoid further discomfort by keeping away from the area altogether. If your kitten is favoring the wooden, tiled, sealed floors of the home over the carpeted areas - she may have fleas.

6. Diarrhea

Fleas are parasites, and parasites can cause diarrhea in kittens. If your kitten is not using his litter box, or can't seem to make it because of diarrhea he may have fleas. Note that kitten diarrhea can be a sign of a number of different kitten illnesses, not just kitten fleas.

7. Hair Loss and Scabbing

Look for hair loss particularly around the back of legs, neck and tail. There may also be small scabbing in these areas. If your kitty has suffered hairloss your kitten may have fleas. By this point you should take your feline to the vet.

8. Excessive Grooming

A kitten who is itchy and uncomfortable due to fleas, may try to lick the itchiness away. Particularly around back legs and base of tail. If you know your kitten, this change in behavior should be quite obvious to you.

9. Lethargic and Pale Gums

A really bad infestation of fleas puts your kitten at risk of anemia. Check for signs of muscle loss, lethargy and pale gums these could indicate your kitten is suffering from anemia (low red blood-cell count). Take your kitty to the vet for confirmation and treatment.

10. Tiny Dark Brown Flakes on Your Kittens Fur

These are flea feces. Check your kittens neck and rump areas with a kitten brush. Test by putting some on a paper towel and mist with water. If they turn red they are flea feces. (Flea feces are made up of digested blood)

11. The Fleas Themselves

A heavily infested kitten you will probably see the actually fleas. To check for kitten fleas, part fur in different places for signs. Common areas fleas like to hang out are the neck, back, hind legs and tail.

Remeber the flea has a 4 stage lifecycle - egg, larvae, pupa and adult. Just because you don't see any fleas doesn't mean there are not egg, larvae or pupa present.

Final Thoughts

Important: Kittens need to be treated for fleas differently than adult cats. If you are in doubt, consult with your veternatian. If your kitten has a severe infestation they should be taken to the veterinarian for a course of treatment suitable for a kitten.

Where to Next?

Shop at US Pets to get the very lowest prices on Frontline and Frontline Plus flea and tick medicine anywhere. Plus its free shipping!

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