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Frontline for kittens: How long until fleas are gone and my home is safe?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

After applying Frontline to a kitten, how long will it take to work? Attempting to rescue a stray that was dumped and now living under a abandoned home. Need to keep it in my bathroom a few days and wait till spay n neuter clinic opens again next week and i have 3 indoor cats. Dont want to risk my apartment or my cats to fleas. Should i keep kitty out of home till it takes effect? Thankyou.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on October 3rd, 2018

Frontline will kill fleas within 24 hours and ticks within 48 hours. To be safe, you should also treat all your cats as well. A majority of a flea population lives off the pet, only hopping on to feed. A flea treatment and prevention program will include treatment of the pet and the environment. Use a preventative for at least 3 consecutive months, preferably year round.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 29th, 2018
You should be able to give the advantage (for cats) about 10 days after having reapplied the Frontline.
However there is more you need to do to get rid of fleas:
Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae).
Flea treatment:
1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly (as you have done) 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding,
If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas.
Flea products:
Spot-ons and/or chews
Advantage, Advantix
Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK)
Frontline (ticks as well)
Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats, in tablet form for dogs
Simparica, Nexgard
Revolution (stronghold in the UK)
Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once)

Collar: Seresto (ticks as well)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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How to safely treat fleas on a nursing cat and her kittens?

Frontline spray is safe to use on kittens from two days of age. If the kittens are that age, you can safely use it on them. It can also safely be used on Baby. You will also have to disinfect the environment, as fleas live in the home and not on the animal. Wash their bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. If you do use a spray like Indorex, do not allow Baby and her kittens in that area until the spray is completely dry. I hope this helps.

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Is it safe to use Capstar or Frontline on my cat who just had kittens?

Both Capstar and Frontline Plus are safe for nursing queens. You may also need to treat the environment with something like Fleabusters. There is no flea preventative that is approved for the kittens - if they have fleas a flea comb would be best.

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Cat still has fleas after Frontline. How long to wait for Advantage?

Wait at least one more week. Be sure to apply the liquid directly to the skin, not on the fur. If Cricket has been bathed, or will be bathed, wait at least 2-3 days before or after a bath. These topicals use the oils in the the skin to spread. A bath removes the oils which can affect the treatment. Use the appropriate size for her weight. Don't forget to treat the environment, since most fleas live off of the pet. Vacuum everywhere and dispose of the bag or empty the canister outdoors immediately after. Wash all bedding in the hottest water allowable by fabric and dry in the dryer. Use a cat safe area treatment to prevent reinfestation.

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Safe flea treatment for my kitten and home with small children?

Treating a flea infestation involves treating the pet(s) as well as the environment. Frequently, these "natural" products do little to resolve an infestation.They don't last long enough and/or are simply ineffective. You can use CapStar, a small pill, to kill any fleas on Luna within 30 minutes of ingestion This can be obtained from your veterinarian and can be given daily if needed. A monthly topical , such as Frontline or Revolution, should be used for at least 3 consecutive months to break the flea life cycle.You can apply it at night and it will be dry and safe by morning when the kids are awake. Treat the environment by vacuuming everywhere Luna has been. Discard the bag or empty the canister outdoors immediately afterwards. Wash ALL bedding in the hottest water allowable and dry it in the dryer to kill any flea eggs. A safe area treatment would be Advantage Carpet and Upholstery Spray. See the link below for more information. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/advantage-carpet-and-upholstery-spot-spray

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My cat still has fleas after Frontline/Advantage. Are Capstar & lufenuron safe?

I'm sorry you are having such problems with fleas on Kitten! Please keep in mind that when you are treating for fleas, the environment itself has to be treated in order to successfully get rid of them. If you haven't treated your home, then that might by why you are still seeing fleas on Kitten. You can try the lufenuron along with the Capstar, but you will need to disinfect your home. I can give you the flea treatment program I always recommend to see if that helps you. First, I would give the Capstar, and then follow up with either Advantage, Revolution, or the lufenuron. To disinfect the home, wash her bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. Good luck!

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New cat has fleas. How long to get rid of them? Should I quarantine?

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Should I separate cats after flea treatment if they lick each other?

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