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Is flea shampoo safe for my 4-week-old kitten? She's breathing funny.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed

I gave my 4 week old kitten a bath for the first time (flea and tick shampoo from Walmart, she recently got fleas from a dog) and she is not sneezing and breathing funny, I'm very worried she's never done this before

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Leigh, DVM

Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 10th, 2017

That shampoo is labeled for kittens that are over 12 weeks of age. She is really too young to shampoo her with a flea product. I am a little bit confused when you say "she is NOT sneezing and breathing funny" and I am assuming you meant to say she is NOW. If she is sneezing and breathing funny, you could re-wash to try and get any remaining flea shampoo off of her. You could use a small amount of regular dawn dish soap or a mild cat shampoo that is safe to use on kittens. She should also be examined by a vet as soon as possible as those products can be toxic to cats, especially if not used correctly. Please call your vet and have her seen, especially if she is having difficulty breathing!!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Emily, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 12th, 2017

    You should watch Hazel for any kind of tremors/muscle weakness/abnormal mentation and even seizures. You can try bathing her again in the Dawn dish soap to take off any residual flea shampoo. I would recommend monitoring her for the next 24 hours and if she is doing OK the risk of her having an adverse side effects goes down.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Amy S. Eutsey, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 10th, 2017

    I would recommend washing her again with Dawn dish washing liquid to remove any residue of the shampoo and to try to strip it from the skin surface. Continue to monitor her for 24 hours. Look for excessive salivation, tremors or shaking all over, difficulty standing or seizures. If you see these, she should be taken to a veterinarian.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

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My 10-week-old kitten got flea medicine for a 12-week-old. Is it safe?
Oh that's not good! If it's a topical medication, wash it off now and monitor your kitten for signs of toxicity. Signs include tremors, excessive drooling, ear twitching, vomiting, or diarrhea, take her into a vet immediately. Best of luck.
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Vet Q & A
My kitten got dish soap in mouth, now sneezing. Is she okay?
There is no reason to worry, a small amount of soap water will do her no harm. Soap water and combing is not enough to get rid of the fleas, I recommend using frontline spray which is the only safe product for such a young kitten.
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April is soooo cute! I can't stand how cute she is! Her eyes are open, so she is at least 3 weeks of age. Yes you can give her a bath but do not use flea shampoo, she is too young for it. Use a gentle dish soap, and comb the fleas out.
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My kitten has fast, dark bugs. Can I bathe a young cat for fleas?
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Is flea and tick home spray safe for my 8-week-old kitten to use?
No, per the label instructions cats have to be at least 12 weeks of age. If you are having a flea issue I suggest you use a topical flea medication like Advantage II. This can be used on kittens 8 weeks and older. Do not use the lesser brands like Hartz or Sentry - there have been many reactions to those brands. Hope this helps.
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My 4-week-old kitten has severe fleas and is anemic. What to do?
I would recommend a Dawn dish soap bath with warm water and make sure you dry Sally well. I would look for a product called Frontline Spray, which should be labeled for young cats. Once she is 6-8 weeks, talk to a vet in your area about topical products, like Revolution or Frontline Gold. I also recommend treating the house for fleas with a carpet spray. Remember to throw out the vacuum bag and treat the other pets in the house for fleas. Make sure Sally is eating a quality diet with the proper vitamins and minerals the help the anemia. If the anemia is severe, she may require a blood transfusion. Kisses to Sally!
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My 6-week old kitten has fleas. What's the best safe treatment?
Hi. There are some prescription glea medications you can get from your veterinarian at that age. In the meantime, bath with dawn soap, and you need to have your home and environment professionally treated or the flea cycle will continue
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