Ticks in Cats

To minimize any chance of hurting your pet or getting scratched yourself ask a partner to help with restraint.
Once you have your supplies and helper in place follow these steps
Use your fingers to part the hair and expose the tick as much as possible. Using the tweezers grasp the tick where it enters the skin. Do not grab the tick by the body if you do you can break the tick in half leaving its head embedded in the skin where it can still transmit disease.
Pull the tweezers steadily and firmly outward without twisting or jerking. A smooth upward motion will ensure the tick comes out whole without breaking apart.
Place the tick in the jar of alcohol to kill it.
Swab the cats skin around the bite wound with a disinfectant such as rubbing alcohol or iodine.
Wash your hands well with soap and water.
If Lyme disease or other ailments are prevalent in the area do not throw the tick away or flush it down a drain. Instead take the tick in a secured container to your veterinarian for testing and identification.
After removing the tick and treating the affected area monitor your cats behavior appetite and skin for a few weeks.
If your cat is lethargic loses its appetite or develops welts or rashes near the tick bite it may have contracted a disease from the tick and will require medical attention right away. Monitoring its condition and getting it to the vet as soon as possible can help minimize the impact of any illness.
Prognosis for Cats with Ticks
If a tick is removed within 48 hours of attachment the risk of disease transmission is small and the cat will suffer little more than an itchy bite which should heal within a couple of weeks. Cats that contract a tickborne disease may feel ill for

much longer even with proper treatment and some will die despite treatment particularly in cases of cytauxzoonosis.
How to Prevent Ticks
There are several good ways to prevent ticks on cats. The first is simply to keep your cat indoors while this is not foolproof it dramatically reduces the likelihood of ticks. There are also several preventive treatments available
Spoton treatments such as Advantage or Frontline
Tick collars
Tick and flea shampoos and powders
Tick dips
While all of these preventatives can be effective none is guaranteed and any chemical treatment carries risks of side effects. Its particularly important to be vigilant particularly if your cat spends a lot of time outdoors.
Are Ticks Contagious to Other Animals or People?
While ticks arent contagious they can migrate from a cat to other species. If a cat brings ticks indoors they may fall off after feeding remain in the house and attach to another pet or human when ready to feed again.