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Cats/FRONTLINE USE on Lactating Queen
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Question
QUESTION: Hi
My cat had 3 kittens yesterday afternoon.
She is due to have her 'Frontline' applied today.
Can I do this now ?
ANSWER: Dale,
If it were mu kitty, I would wait until the litter is weaned before giving her the frontline. This would be a wait of approximately 4-6 weeks!
Seasonal regards... Norm.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: THank you, yes I will wait.
Do you have any suggestions on controlling the few fleas I have noticed on both the mother and her kittens. I have only noticed one or two fleas on each. Am I best to remove them by hand rather than apply any other medication ?
Dale,
At this point, by hand is the best approach, but you really have to keep at it. The flea life cycle is approximately 2 weeks, so watch for baby fleas to be hatching out in another week or so.
Once the kittens are about 3 weeks of age (and can now regulate their own body temperatures), you may be able to get away with dipping the mama and each kitten in warm water and drowning the fleas. You will have to dry the mama and the kittens very thoroughly and keep them somewhere warm and draft free until they are absolutely dry to the touch (should not be a problem in Australia this time of year [I think it said you were from Australia], if it is cold outside, I would NOT dip them).
Once the kittens are weaned, and everyone is Frontline'd, you will need to give mama and each of the kittens a round of tapeworm medicine.
Having fleas with baby kittens is such a royal pain!!!!!!!
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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