Is Diatomaceous Earth Safe For Newborn Kittens: An Insight Look

Throughout their lifetime, cats would run into a wide variety of parasites such as fleas, ticks, worms and so on. With recent advances in medicine, pet owners have multiple options on the table when it comes to parasite treatment/prevention. However, many people still lean toward natural methods to tackle parasites in cats and diatomaceous earth is a popular one.  So cats could consume every grade of diatomaceous earth on the market? Is diatomaceous earth safe for newborn kittens? What is the best way to treat parasites using diatomaceous earth?

Want to give your cat some diatomaceous earth powders but worry about the after-effects? In that case, you have come to the right place. Down below, you would be provided with every information related to diatomaceous earth as well as its use on cats. Generally speaking, diatomaceous earth works wonders if your pet is experiencing a significant parasite infestation. That being said, there are a couple of things you must consider before you use the powders on your pet. Check out the following details in order to understand what needs to be done here.

Diatomaceous Earth: What Is It

Needless to say, if you intend to give your cat something, it's of utmost importance that you firmly grasp the characteristics of that material. So it's a good idea to quickly glance through the nature of diatomaceous earth to determine whether it's good for cats or not.

To put it plainly, diatomaceous earth (D.E for short) consists of fossilized remains of diatoms that have existed on earth for millions of years.  As time passes by, diatoms break down, fossilize and accumulate in the sediment of streams, lakes, rivers, and other locations. Manufacturers collect the white chalk powders, process them and then introduce them to the market under the name diatomaceous earth. People rely on diatomaceous earth in many tasks: pest control (as an insecticide), agriculture (as an anticaking agent) and of course, treating parasites in pets.

While you could get your hand on various grades of diatomaceous earth, you have to stick to food-grade powders.  Stay away from other grades of D.E powders as they could kill your pet. For external parasites, cover areas of the furs that you previous detect some bite marks. Be careful not to get the abrasive diatomaceous earth to reach the eyes of your cat which causes serious irritation. In the case you are dealing with internal parasites, mix ½ - 1 ½ teaspoon of D.E powders into the foods every day.

The way that diatomaceous earth eliminates parasite is straightforward: once the parasite comes into contact with the powders, the sharp corners of D.E particles would cut through their bodies. After that, the sorptive diatomaceous earth shall continuously absorb lipids of the parasite causing severe dehydration which eventually proves fatal. Despite the fact that D.E powders would eliminate parasites with relative ease, they have inconsistent effects on parasite eggs. Because of that, as a precaution, you must treat your pet for at least 2 weeks.   

Final Verdict: Diatomaceous Earth Is Safe For Adult Cats As Well As Kittens In General

As long as you remember to select food-grade product then you could safely give your cat D.E powders. But is diatomaceous earth safe for newborn kittens? Well, you should play it safe and wait until the kittens switch from milk to solid foods before giving them the powders. In addition to that, consult with the vets regarding the use of diatomaceous earth as different cats have different conditions. Once you secure a go-ahead from the vets, feel free to make D.E a component of your cat diet in the foreseeable future.

Check us out for various astonishing cat tips & facts!

Purging Parasite With Diatomaceous Earth

Now you know exactly how to answer questions like "is diatomaceous earth safe for newborn kittens" so let's talk about the best way to use the D.E powders.

• For External Parasites (Fleas, Ticks,...)

Thoroughly rub D.E powders into the furs of your fluffy friend and sprinkle some on its bed as well. Of course, remember to put on a face mask while handling diatomaceous earth so you don't inhale the powders by mistake in the process. After a couple of days, give your cat a bath and vacuum areas that you cover in D.E powders. In most of the case, it would help you get rid of dead (and half-dead) parasites in the house. As diatomaceous earth absorbs liquids, it's widely advised that you utilize moisturizing shampoo here.  

Once you finish showering your pet, grab a comb and work through the furs of your cat to remove all eggs that escape the net. Pay attention to your pet for the next few weeks in order to see if another powder treatment is necessary.               

• For Internal Parasites (Intestinal Worms)

Is diatomaceous earth safe for newborn kittens? At the right age (4-week-old), the kittens could safely consume the powders. That being said, what if your pet outright refuses to take its meals which are covered in D.E powders? Well, here is a tip for you: put the food and the powders into a bag, shave everything up to mask the scent and casually give it to your cat. Most of the time, your cat would have a hard time telling the differences so it would go through its feeding bowl as usual. As always, remember to keep the amounts of powders appreciate.

"My cat stubbornly rejects D.E-contained foods that I prepare, what should I do?". In the case your pet is a picky eater with a keen sense, there is a chance that it detects the presence of diatomaceous earth. So to introduce D.E powders to cats in such scenarios, you have to use something besides the foods: water. Throw some powders into the drinking bowl of your cat every day to get diatomaceous earth into its digestive tract. If possible, you should consider buying a drinking fountain from pet stores as most cats like to drink running waters.