Found Kitten- How to care for it- Please read the question?

Well, as always I suggest a vet for both of the questions (age and fleas), but there are some things you can do for the fleas meanwhile.

Buy a lice nit comb. Wash the kitten in warm water and use a little bit of dish soap -- something mild like Palmolive or Dawn. When you're done with the bath, comb through the fur with the nit comb, making sure you do this outside. The collection of the fleas when you comb them out is crucial. Be sure you're putting them in something like a tablespoon of the dish soap so that they don't escape and get on either you or back onto the kitty.

I've done this before, and it helps until the kitty is old enough for actual flea medications such as Revolution -- the kind you squirt on the back of their necks. That type is the BEST when they are old enough.

As for the age, is the kitty lapping up water or is it only able to suck? How is it moving around -- wobbly or pretty sure-footed? It's hard for me to guess without seeing it, but if it's able to lap up water (drink it from a bowl), it's probably older than 4 weeks. If it's still pretty unsure on its feet, probably under 5 weeks. Six to eight weeks is the normal weening period for kittens.

Is your porch screened in and escape-proof?

Good for you for helping this little one! I hope that you're able to find a happy home.

A safe alternative to the commercial flea medicated shampoos out there is Dawn dish washing detergent (also Ivory or Joy). Use that, with some warm water, leave on for a few minutes, and supposedly it will kill the fleas. Not sure personally how well it works as I use Sentinel on my dog, but I've used it when out of Hartz shampoo, and have friends who swear by it.

To top it off, I've watched shows where animal rescuers sometimes use it when they need to clean oil off wildlife at 1% dilution so it's obviously safe on animals. (Main ingredient Ethyl Alcohol)

I've used it straight on my dog, lather, wait 5 minutes, then rinse.

Be aware though that the life cycle of fleas is something like 20 days I believe, so it may take repeat treatments to knock them down completely. The first treatment may only kill the adults and the eggs and larvae may still hatch out later in the cycle.

More proof of it's effectiveness by an animal owner with bad infestation on her cat (see #1): http://www.rateitall.com/i-26383-dawn-detergent-di...

My mom and I found two kittens last night, both younger than yours. When I did a search on what to do for them this website came up and it seems to have the right ideas so far. I talked to my vet and he said the same things as the article, although some of the numbers are different. Follow what the article says to do for the flees and then tomorrow contact your vet and make an appointment to get the kitten in so you can make sure its healthy and not dehydrated. Make sure the doctor tests for feline leukemia as well as worms and other outdoor diseases.

Good Luck!

I understand that you are allergic, but what if he runs away while on the porch? what if he gets hit by a car? I would take him if I were close to you. Talk to a vet about how to treat the fleas. I would take him to the vet to make sure he is oka. Please find a good home for the poor little kitty. Don't give him to strangers, please.

It is probably only a couple of weeks old but take it to the vet and they can help you figure out how old it is and can recommend a way to treat the fleas.

Under one week: Eyes shut, ears flat to head, skin looks pinkish. Part of umbilical cord may still be attached.

1 week-10 days: Eyes beginning to open, ears still flat. A kitten this age is smaller than your hand.

3 weeks: Eyes are fully open, ears are erect, teeth are visible. Kittens this age are just starting to walk and will be very wobbly.

4-5 weeks: Eyes have changed from blue to another color and/or kittens have begun to pounce and leap. Kittens this age will begin to eat regular cat food.

you will need to bathe the fleas off of her until they are all gone that is why she is so thin they (the fleas) are sucking her blood out of her...and she needs to be kept as warm as possible it may take 3-4 baths until all the fleas are gone you just need to keep bathing her and the fleas will drown but be careful cause they will run towards her face and ears so you have to get them too you have to get them ALL and make sure she is warm after the bath

CALL ANY LOCAL VET OR ANIMAL. They will ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS FOR FREE. Call two or three and get advice and check prices and then make a decision, but please Hurry! also, check out these sites - tells you how to minimize the allergy factor if you want. They have statically charged blankets that remove dander (dander is the main cause of allergies).

http://www.cat-world.com.au/CatHealthArticles.htm

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=libra...

http://www.cattraining.com/

http://www.perfectpaws.com/

http://members.lycos.co.uk/furbabies/healthcare.ht...

Take it to a local vet and have her tell you what to do with it and how to care for its fleas and possibly get it some shots.