Ticks in Cats

Ticks are abundant in wooded and grassy areas where cats like to roam. When a cat passes vegetation where ticks congregate the parasites climb onto the cats fur and burrow down to attach to the cats skin. Blood loss from ticks can be problematic in severe infestations but the diseases carried by ticks are even more dangerous. Ticks transmit several bloodborne diseases that can cause lifethreatening illnesses in both cats and humans. It is essential to remove any ticks you spot on your cats skin quickly and efficiently to minimize harm to your cat.

If you remove the tick within 48 hours of its attachment the risk of disease transmission from the tick is greatly reduced.
What Are Ticks?
Ticks are small eightlegged ovalshaped arachnids that vary in size from less than a millimeter to about a centimeter long depending on life stage. Ticks feed on animals blood by embedding their mouthparts in the hosts skin. They remain attached until full of blood then they drop off. The longer ticks stay embedded the greater the chance they will transmit diseases such as Lyme disease. Ticks are most commonly encountered during the warmer months from spring to fall.
Symptoms of Ticks on Cats 
Ticks can cause itching but very often there are no other overt symptoms until and unless your cat develops a tickborne illness. Thus the only symptom you may see is a tick on your cat.
Ticks are often too small to spot easily and a cats dense fur makes finding a tick even more difficult. Nymphs a ticks youngest life stage are extremely small and hard to see. Run your hands over your cats body each evening to check for any small bumps. A tick will feel like a small movable nodule on your cats skin. They commonly attach themselves to the skin

on a cats head neck ears and feet.
TickBorne Illnesses in Cats
Compared to dogs and humans tickborne disease in cats is relatively rare. Cats can get Lyme disease just like dogs and humans and if treated early should fully recover. There is no Lyme disease vaccine for cats.
Tularemia is another disease that can be transmitted to cats via ticks. Again theres no vaccine for this disease in felines. High fever and loss of appetite are the most common symptoms in cats. Tularemia is treated with antibiotics.
Cytauxzoonosis also called bobcat fever is another tickborne illness that affects cats. Symptoms include anemia fever jaundice and difficulty breathing. This is a very serious potentially fatal infection and even if a course of antibiotics and intravenous fluids are administered promptly the cat may still die from cytauxzoonosis. This is another tickborne illness for which there is no preventive vaccine available to cats.
What Causes Ticks in Cats
Ticks gain access to cats as they move through the outdoor environment and the parasites quickly migrate through the fur to the skin. There they pierce the cats skin and begin feeding on blood. Ticks may remain attached to a cat for several days before they drop off while attached to the cat they can transmit microbes that can cause the diseases described above.
How to Diagnose Ticks in Cats
Ticks are easily diagnosed on sight. The diseases they carry are more difficult to diagnose and may require blood tests for identification. Often tickborne diseases are diagnosed based on the known presence of a tick and subsequent symptoms of fever lethargy and generalized pain.
How to Treat Your Cat for Ticks
In some areas ticks are very common. If your cat goes outside its helpful to keep essential tickremoval supplies on hand including sharpnosed tweezers a small jar of rubbing alcohol and a disinfectant.