Cats / Getting Started
Whether you've brought home a new kitten or your own cat has just had a litter, treating them for both worms and fleas is an important part of protecting their health and your family's. Here's what yo
Whether you've brought home a new kitten or your own cat has just had a litter, treating them for both worms and fleas is an important part of protecting their health and your family's. Here's what you need to know.
It's genuinely common for kittens to be born with worms, typically passed on by an infected mother, often through her milk while nursing.
The most common culprits are two types of tapeworm, *Dipylidium caninum* and *Taenia taeniaeformis*. Fleas are actually part of the *Dipylidium* lifecycle — young fleas ingest the worm's eggs, and a kitten becomes infected by swallowing an infected flea, often while grooming themselves.
Yes. Even a kitten who'll live entirely indoors and never meet other animals should still be treated — it does no harm and keeps them protected regardless of lifestyle.
Kittens who spend time outdoors are especially likely to pick up fleas or worms. Excessive scratching is a strong indicator of fleas and calls for treatment before an infestation takes hold in your home. Vomiting up worms means a trip to the vet for deworming — this is routine and common for kittens up to six months old.
Newborns need fleas removed manually, picked out by hand, since medicated treatments aren't suitable yet. From four weeks old, shop-bought flea medication can take over. After treating an infestation, a thorough home clean is essential to stop surviving eggs hatching into a fresh outbreak. For worming, kittens need treatment every two weeks from six weeks old to three months, then monthly from three months to six months.
Flea baths work well for young kittens, particularly before they're old enough for medicated treatment. Soak, lather and rinse up to the neck two or three times to ensure thoroughness. Don't be alarmed if fleas suddenly congregate on the face and head during the process — that's simply because those areas stay dry longest.
You can have your kitten dewormed at the vet, or pick up worming treatment from a pet care store, where staff can advise on the right product for your kitten's breed and situation. Pricing varies by brand and retailer. Deworming isn't a one-off task — ongoing, regular treatment is what prevents reinfection.
Frontline is one of the most searched-for flea and tick treatments, widely available in pet care stores. It kills fleas within 24 hours and ticks within 48.
A useful tip: always wash your hands, and your children's, after handling a new kitten, since worms can transfer from animals to people. If you have pets at home, it's worth keeping human worm medication on hand too, just in case.
Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.
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