Your cat loves to explore. But outdoor time means ticks. These tiny pests cling on, causing trouble. You’ll often find them on their head, neck, ears, or feet.
Spotting a tick means getting it off. Fast. It helps keep your cat well.
Symptoms your Cat has Attracted a Tick
Ticks are small, eight-legged bugs. They grab onto your cat and drink their blood. Not good. Cats can catch diseases from ticks, like ‘Q fever’ or Ehrlichiosis. These can make your pet really sick.
So, how do you tell if your cat has one. Look for things like a sad mood, not eating much, or swelling in their glands or joints. They might throw up, have gunk in their eyes, or a high fever. In some cases, even miscarriages can happen.
Good news is, ticks are often easy to find. Just run your hands over your cat. Feel for any small bumps or lumps. That’s usually a tick.
Removing a Tick from your Cat
Found a tick. Get it off right away. Be careful though. You need to get the whole thing. Leaving any bits, especially its mouth, can cause infection.
Tools needed to Remove a Tick
Before you start, grab a few things. You’ll need a special tick remover tool. Or maybe just some tweezers. We even have a guide on the best tick removal tools in the UK. Check it out.
Also have some cat-safe antiseptic wipes ready. A pair of gloves is a good idea too. And a small container to put the tick in after. Sometimes, it helps to have another person. Someone to help keep your cat calm. This makes the job easier.
Removal Process
First, help your cat stay calm. Get them settled. Gently part their fur so you can see the tick clearly. Use your tick remover tool or tweezers. Grab the tick as close to the skin as you can. Pull it straight out. Dont twist or yank. Make sure the whole thing comes out, even its tiny mouth parts. Get rid of the tick right away. If you find more, do it again.
Once the tick is gone, clean the spot with those antiseptic wipes. Throw away your gloves. Clean your tick tool well. It’s ready for next time. If you cant get the tick off, or part of it breaks off, just take your cat to the vet. They can help.
Some old tips about ticks aren’t good. Like putting petroleum jelly on them. Ticks can still breathe that way, so it doesn’t work. And never try to burn a tick off your cat. That’s very dangerous for your pet. Seriously.
Keeping the Ticks Away
Getting rid of ticks is one thing. Stopping them from coming back is another. Ticks love bushy spots and tall grass. If your cat goes into these areas, they might pick up a few. So, always check them. And groom your cat often.
One easy way to help keep ticks off is a flea collar. Also, using a regular cat flea treatment can protect your cat. These treatments dont just work for fleas. They help with ticks too.
The treatment gets into your cat’s blood. When a tick or flea bites your cat and drinks that blood, the treatment works right away. It kills them. Always ask your vet how to use these treatments. Keep those pesky ticks and other critters away from your beloved cat.