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As soon as temperatures consistently rise above seven degrees, pesky parasites begin to emerge. Especially troublesome are ticks in cats. Read our guide to learn why you should remove these critters as quickly as possible and how to best do it.
It’s best to thoroughly check your cat for ticks at least once daily, ideally as part of a cuddle session. This allows you to examine your cat’s entire body.
Pay extra attention to areas with sparse fur, which ticks prefer. In the head area, around the neck, ears, belly, and the insides of the legs, ticks are particularly eager to settle.
Depending on how much blood the tick has ingested, its size can vary from a few millimeters to about the size of a cherry stone.
Keep an eye on the bite site even after removal. Redness, fever, or loss of appetite can indicate a potential illness in your cat.
How Do I Properly Remove Ticks from My Cat?
If your cat comes home with a tick from one of its adventures, remove it as quickly as possible by following these steps:
Place the tool as close to the skin as possible without squeezing the tick’s body.
Grasp the tick’s head and then slowly, steadily and straight pull it out of the puncture site.
Check if you’ve successfully removed the entire tick from your cat’s skin.
Dispose of the tick carefully so it cannot infest a new host.
Disinfect the wound and regularly check it.
Keep the tick bite in mind for a while. If your cat seems unwell, lethargic or develops a fever, promptly consult with a vet.
Removing Ticks from Cats: The Sooner, the Better
The pathogens reside in the tick’s gut and migrate to the salivary glands as it feeds. It usually takes between twelve and twenty-four hours for them to reach this point.
The longer the tick feeds on your cat’s blood, the greater the chance of transmitting pathogens. By swiftly removing ticks from cats soon after the bite, you can easily minimise this risk.
With a tick hook, the tick can be completely removed.
Prevention: Protecting Your Cat Against Ticks
When it comes to ticks in cats, prevention is certainly better than cure. Protect your cat in advance from tick bites and the risk of disease transmission.
There are various preparations (antiparasitics) available that kill ticks or prevent them from latching on. Here are the options:
Spot-on treatments are applied between the shoulder blades and spread over the entire body. Depending on the duration of effectiveness (from four to twelve weeks), you may need to treat your cat multiple times a year.
Tick tablets for cats are available exclusively through the vet.
Collars release their active substance continuously, usually repelling ticks and other parasites for a longer period (approx. five to six months). However, there is a risk of injury, as cats can get caught by their collars.
Are Antiparasitics Harmful to My Cat?
There are many concerns about anti-tick products, with the primary question being whether they are harmful to humans and animals, given they are essentially nerve poisons.
Most antiparasitics are nerve poisons indeed, but humans and cats have a blood-brain barrier, meaning the active substance does not reach where it could cause harm.
There may still be intolerances to these anti-tick products. While every medication has side effects besides its intended effect, there are enough options available to find something your cat tolerates better.
However, some substances like permethrin, flumethrin, and deltamethrin are toxic to cats. Always ensure any product you use is approved for cats.
Are There Home Remedies for Ticks in Cats?
Various sources often tout home remedies like coconut oil, black cumin oil, garlic, or amber collars against ticks in cats. But do these really help?
Scientific studies have only shown marginal effectiveness of coconut oil and only when used topically. However, this would require treating your naturally clean cat over its entire body daily, which is unlikely to be pleasant for them.
Important: Home remedies such as garlic or black cumin are toxic to cats. Therefore, they should never be used to ward off ticks.
Even if home remedies may repel ticks in isolated cases, consider that if a cat doesn’t bring home ticks, there might be other reasons. Not all cats are equally attractive to parasites; some are real tick magnets, while others are rarely bitten.
Ticks in Cats: The Three Most Famous Myths
There are many myths surrounding ticks in cats. We’ve examined the three most important ones for you.
Ticks drop from trees onto their prey. Ticks are mostly found in tall grass or bushes, not falling from trees onto cats or humans.
You must always twist to remove the tick. It’s not necessary to twist the tool to remove a tick from your cat, as the parasites don’t have threads. If it’s easier for you with a slight twisting motion, that’s allowed.
It’s dangerous if the tick isn’t entirely removed. If you can’t remove the whole tick, it’s not the end of the world. Normally, the cat’s body will encase the tick’s head in scab tissue, and it will fall off eventually. However, keep checking the bite site. If you notice signs of inflammation, consult with your vet.
Still, since a remaining tick head could theoretically still transmit pathogens, you should always strive for complete removal.
Important Note: The content provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, please always consult a licensed veterinarian.
Franziska Pantelic, Veterinarian
I am supporting the zooplus magazine for several years with my extensive expertise. I became a licensed veterinarian as early as 2009 and currently operate a mobile small animal practice in the metropolitan area of Munich.
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