As kittens are so small, if fleas are allowed to bite, they can cause loss of blood which could lead to life-threatening anaemia for your kitten. An infestation of fleas can overwhelm a kitten’s immune system, making them more vulnerable to catching other diseases. Fleas can also carry tapeworm eggs. If these eggs are ingested, a tapeworm will hatch and attach itself to the intestinal lining of a kitten causing greater risk than it would in an adult cat. Signs and symptoms of worms in kittens include diarrhoea and reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food. If the issue is severe, the number of worms could cause an intestinal obstruction.
It is best to treat your home environment for fleas prior to your cat giving birth. Regular topical flea treatment combined with good housekeeping will help remove evidence of flea eggs, larvae and pupae that may be lurking and protect the new litter prior to birth.