Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My kitten has fleas, worms, vomiting, and diarrhea. What's wrong?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Female | unspayed | 3.15 lbs

My almost 5 month old cat is having diharrea and is vomitting what looks like foam or spit? And she has a lot of fleas and tape worms and round worms. She's not eating her food and she hasn't been herself lately! She got a shot for nausea and it seems to be working and they put something on her for the worms and they didn't have the flea medicine yet. She has a lot of fleas I'm really scared, do you think this is because of fleas or the worms or what? Please help me!!

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on October 22nd, 2017

The fleas and constant itching can be contributing to the vomiting. I would use a flea comb dipped in soapy water to comb the fleas off her several times a day. This will catch the fleas on her and kill them in the soapy water. You will also remove the lose fur which may be causing her to have hairballs which she is trying to vomit up. Please do get a flea prevention product as soon as you can. When she's treated for the intestinal parasites and fleas she should feel better. In the meantime give her warm we food to encourage her to eat and drink. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Junebug.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on March 10th, 2017
Poor Lucky! This hair loss on her stomach could be due to overgrooming, which cats do when they are itchy. This itchiness could be fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If she isn't up to date on her flea treatment, she will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If she is up to date on her flea treatment, I recommend taking her into the vet for an exam tomorrow or Monday. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment.

As for the vomiting, Lucky could have a GI illness, may have eaten something rotten, could have a foreign body, or may be suffering from pancreatitis. I can give you a home remedy to try to see if that helps her. I recommend withholding food for 12-24 hours, then feeding a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, she vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My 2-month-old kitten is sick: vomiting, not eating. Are fleas to blame?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Sibby! She is very cute! Fleas usually do not make kittens not eat and vomit. I wouldn't put any flea medication on her until she sees your Vet. Since she is so young and is a cat we do not like them to not eat for more than 2-3 days. It is time to have her seen. Causes of not eating and vomiting in kittens are: intestinal parasites, viral or bacterial infections, feline leukemia or FIV, feline infectious peritonitis, ate something gross, ate something causing a blockage, food allergy or intolerance. I would bring a stool sample with you to the appointment. I wish Sibby a speedy recovery!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why is my 3-month-old kitten lethargic, weak, vomiting, and has fleas?

Hello. You should take the kitten in to be evaluated as soon as possible. Fleas do carry diseases that can infect cats & kittens, & if there are enough fleas, can actually cause anemia. If the kitten has not been wormed, then the presence of intestinal parasites such as roundworms can weaken a kitten further. Other infections/conditions are possible, so I do hope you can have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

What to do if my new stray kitten is throwing up and has diarrhea?

Hello. Thank you for rescuing this kitten. I would be most concerned about this kitten having an infection & most certainly having a large number of parasites it its gut. Roundworms are especially common in kittens & can cause significant discomfort & diarrhea. It would be best to have the kitten seen as soon as possible as she may need some medical treatment to get her going on the right track. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My kitten is itching, vomiting hair, and has diarrhea. Is it fleas?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Ramsey! I think he is vomiting and defecating hair because he is so itchy and grooming so much he is ingesting a ton of hair. Ingesting too much hair can lead to a hair ball obstruction or blockage. Since he is so itchy I think we need to figure out why. The most common thing is fleas. Take a fine tooth comb and brush him on his back near the tail. This is a favorite spot for fleas. If you see adults then you have an answer. If you don't, take a wet white tissue or paper towel and wipe the hair and debris on it. If you see black squiggly flecks that when wet become bloody streaks that is flea poop. If you find this you need to treat the fleas. Be sure that Ramsey h as been dewormed and has started vaccines. Revolution and Frontline are safe for 8 weeks and older kittens. If you don't find evidence of fleas I would have a Vet look at him. I wish Ramsey the best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My 3-month-old kitten is vomiting and has diarrhea. What's wrong?

Have you changed any of her food ? If so, it could just be the diet change as her tummy is still quite delicate and immature and it can take time and a few tummy upsets to get used to all the food ingredients. If no food has been changed, then I wonder if Pompom has been treated for worms. All kittens need to be treated for worms regularly, using a safe product dosed for her weight. You will have to take her to see a vet to get the right product for her. With regards to her food, just remember to change her diet gradually.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Why is my 7-week-old puppy throwing up, not eating, and has fleas?

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Your puppy has very vague symptoms of vomiting which can mean she has an upset stomach. I believe I see milk in the bowl you have in the picture there. If that is the case I would stop giving that right away. Domino is more than old enough not to still be getting puppy milk. If she continues to vomit after stopping the milk, then it's best to take her to your vet for a full examination and possible testing to determine why she is vomiting so that we know how to best help her. Also I would recommend bathing her in Dawn dish detergent to strip all the fleas off her for now. Make sure not to get any in her eyes and follow up with an oatmeal based or aloe based shampoo and conditioner to prevent her skin from getting too dry. She is old enough for Revolution topical flea and heartworm preventative from your local vet, so I would recommend getting her hat to protect her from the fleas here moving forward. I hope your puppy gets better soon. Best wishes and take care.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My kitten has diarrhea & swollen rectum on antibiotics. What to do?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor thing! I would add in a probiotic like Purina Fortiflora and I would get a prescription intestinal diet form you Vet like Hill's i/d. It isn't wrong to deworm her again despite the negative stool sample since she was so infested with worms. Hopefully those 3 things in combination will nip the diarrhea. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share