Looks like you’ve spotted some spider-like, egg-shaped, blood-sucking creepy crawlies on your cat. Don’t worry yet. We have all the information you need to know how much to worry about, how to cure it and finally, how to save up to 90% of the costs you spend on your cat.
Ticks are tiny parasites that latch onto cats and feed on their blood. They can have 6 to 8 legs depending on their life stage and can be as small as 1mm to as big as 1 cm long. They look like spiders, more or less. They don’t fly or jump like other insects but crawl or drop on cats and set up shop there. A temporary one, though. Once they are done, they move on (unlike you).
The main question here, which we assume even you are waiting for the most, is whether are they even dangerous for cats. In the end, it’s just a few small drops of blood they are sucking, right? Not really. It is not about the blood they are sucking, but what they give in return – bacteria.
Ticks carry some really harmful bacteria that can cause a number of health problems for cats. These include – (3)
Lyme disease
Rocky Mountain Spotted fever
Haemobartonellosis
Tularemia
Cytauxzoonosis
Babesiosis
If your cat gets affected by any of these, you may see the following signs – (2)
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Lameness
Reluctance to run or jump because of swollen joints
Swollen lymph nodes
While ticks are more common in dogs than cats, there is still a chance of your cat getting affected by them. Hence, it is important to identify and treat ticks in cats at the earliest possible.
How to know if your cat has ticks?
Ticks are good people in that sense. After feeding, they make it easy for you to spot them on your pet. If you run your hand on your cat’s coat, you’ll feel like a small bump or lump if they are present. You’ll mostly spot them on your cat’s head, neck, ears and feet.
How to Treat Ticks on Cats
The only way is to remove the ticks from your cat’s body. But while doing that, you need to be careful enough not to squeeze them or else the blood splash on the cat’s body will increase the risk of infection. Don’t worry. Here’s a step-by-step way to safely remove ticks from your cat’s body – (1)
Wear gloves.
Look for ticks with your naked eye. Most probably, you’ll be able to spot them. Otherwise, just run your hand gently on your cat’s coat.
Once you spot any, gently part the fur around it.
Get a tick remover (there are several options easily available at any pet store). Push it under the tick.
Now’s the important part. With a firm grip, twist the remover in a clockwise direction a couple of times till the tick’s grip gets loose. And pluck it.
Make sure that the tick is completely out of the cat’s body.
Wash the affected area with some pet-friendly soap and water.
Throw the tick in alcohol or pop it in tissue paper.
Repeat the process till you’re sure that you’ve checked each and every part of your cat’s coat.
Reward your cat with some treats for being patient throughout and then go and spend some quality time with them.
You can give yourself a tap on your back as well for the good job done there!
Do Cats Get Ticks?
It’s funny that this question is at the bottom after making you read the entire story. But nonetheless, cats do have ticks. They are just not as common as dogs. They can be found in many places like fields, meadows, woods, parks, and gardens. Your cat can get them by walking or hunting in these areas, or by brushing past ticks that are perched on plants or grasses.
Ticks on Cat Treatment
We’ve discussed about tick removal methods above. But as they say – prevention is always better than cure. To prevent ticks on your cat, multiple treatments like spot-on and medications are available. Do note that the ones used for dogs are completely different and should not be used on cats and vice versa.
By the way, you can get ticks too! They can infect you with the same bacteria and cause the same medical problems to you as well. So make sure you cover yourself properly when walking your dog or cat in tick-prone areas. You can also use insect repellents here.
More About Spot Pet Insurance
Although not very common, tick-borne diseases can be severely harmful to cats. If infected, the treatment can be quite long and expensive. But like we promised at the start of the article, we have a way to save up to 90% of the costs here – pet health insurance.
With a Spot accident and illness plan, you can take your cat for treatment at any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Spot plans don’t have networks, so whether you’re home or traveling within the U.S, veterinary services your cat receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of eligible services can be covered. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions, ranging from broken bones and bite wounds to behavioral conditions, and cancer. While base plans do not offer coverage for preventive care services, Spot’s Wellness Riders can be added to any base plan for an additional fee and can help cover the eligible costs of wellness exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more!
Learn more about cat insurance or get a free quote!
With 10 years of experience as a pet parent, I aim to empower pet owners with insights into pet insurance and maintaining their pet's well-being. I aspire to be a trusted source, combining knowledge with a commitment to the welfare of our beloved pets.
Cross, B. (n.d.). Cats and ticks. Blue Cross. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/health-and-injuries/cats-and-ticks
How do ticks affect cats? | Charlotte Animal Hospital. (n.d.). Charlotte Animal Hospital. https://www.charlotteanimalhospital.net/blog/how-do-ticks-affect-cats
