Expert: Tomay - 7/29/2006

Question
My pregnant cat may have flees i am not sure, but if she does i dont want her to give them to her kittens when she has them. Today i notice a flee on my dog so that most likely means she has them too, right? Can i even treat her since she is pregnant/ She is due anytime now.

Answer
Hello Heather,
It would be a good idea to check your cat and see if you see fleas or evidence of fleas.  If so, you will see 'dirt' looking specks especially around her head and tail area.  If you determine that she does, indeed, have fleas, then you  can give her a bath in a mild shampoo, or baby shampoo.  Suds her up very well and let the suds set on her for about 10 minutes. This will suffice to drown and/or suffocate any fleas present on her.  Just be sure and rinse her very well. It is not recommended that you use any flea control products like Frontline or Advantage or any type of flea collar on a pregnant or nursing cat.  So a bath will have to do!
Also, it doesn't necessarily mean that she has fleas just because the dog has a flea.  That's why it is a good idea to actually check her and see if you see anything.
Hope this has been helpful and best of luck with your mama kitty and her babies.
Thank you for your inquiry and your intrest in this site.
Tomay