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Why is my kitten still itching with black specks after flea treatment?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered

Kitten had flea treatment 2 days ago and still itching, black specks in fur, help

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on January 20th, 2016

some flea treatment just don't work on every cat/flea! I advice waiting at least 10 days and the use a completely different product. Spot ons are usually the best option (revolution/advantage/advocate) make sure it's an appropriate one for kittens and a different main ingredient in it to avoid toxicity. Going to the vet for this will be the best idea. Treatment should be given every month, especially after he start going out if he does.

A spray for the house to kill the fleas is very important as well as fleas can survive in carpets for ages.

15Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Katie S
Certified Dog Trainer
The flea treatment takes some time to work. You can not retreat right away as you can overdose him on it. Follow the instructions on the package but most have 30 days between treatments. I recommend 3 months of treatments or regular use of fleas are prominent in your area.

You'll also have to wash all the bedding, fabric, in hot water and dry it. Vacuum every day really well. You should also purchase flea spray for house/fabric/furniture/carpets and treats those as well too

You'll have to keep on top of it to get rid of them.
12Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Christie Long, DVM
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
If you're seeing black specks that don't move or jump, it's likely just the "dirt" or feces from the fleas. If you want to be sure comb some out of the fur and put it on a wet paper towel. It's dried blood, so you should see a rusty red color on the paper towel,
13Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 15th, 2018
These small black specs look like flea poo. So it is likely that your kitten has fleas, even if you do not see any.
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 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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