What Are Ticks And Do They Infest Cats?

A recent study found that 6.6% of cats in the UK are infested with ticks, but what are ticks and what is the best tick treatment for cats? This article will explain everything you need to know about ticks to keep your beloved pet safe and healthy.

Where are ticks found?

Ticks are most commonly found in areas of grassland and woodland shared by deer and livestock but can also be brought into urban environments by small mammals like hedgehogs. This means that cats can be exposed in a wide variety of environments.

Will ticks make my cat ill?

When ticks bite, redness, swelling and irritation can occur – and sometimes these areas can become infected. Cats appear to be relatively resistant to the effects of Lyme disease, but can suffer from other tick-borne diseases such as anaplasmosis, which may require treatment. Infected cats may develop a high fever and raised lymph nodes, so if your cat appears unwell, or if there is a visible reaction at the site of a tick bite, it is best to take your pet to the vet for further advice. The good news is that potentially fatal tick-borne infections such as Babesia felis and Cytauxzoon felis are not present in the UK.

Are ticks on cats a health risk to people?

Ticks found in the UK can transmit infections such as Lyme disease to humans. People are usually exposed to ticks by walking through pastures, fields and woodland. It is advisable to check yourself every 24 hours if spending time in these areas, and to also use tick repellent spray on skin or clothing. Because cats do visit areas inhabited by wildlife infected with Lyme disease, it is also the case that they may bring infected ticks into homes and gardens. Although owning a pet does not directly increase the risk of Lyme disease in humans, preventing the spread of infected ticks is another good reason to use preventative products on your pets.

How can I keep my cat safe from ticks and tick-borne diseases?

Ticks can be managed by physical removal or the use of preventative products.

Rather than sticking to a rigid daily regime of tick checking, do so while grooming or stroking your cat. Run your hands over their body, especially around their face, neck, legs and feet. A tick will feel like a small lump on the skin, and may vary in size from 1mm-1cm. They can be removed with a tick hook, using a simple ‘twist and pull’ action. Crushing the tick with your fingers or a pair of blunt tweezers will increase the risk of disease transmission. Traditional methods to loosen the tick such as the application of petroleum jelly or burning are also best avoided, as these are likely to stress the cat and tick alike.

If in doubt, visit your veterinary practice, and a vet or nurse will be happy to demonstrate the best techniques for tick removal.

Use of cat tick prevention products

The use of products that rapidly kill or repel ticks is useful in reducing tick-borne disease transmission, and also the number of ticks that have to be physically removed. These days, a number of different highly effective preparations are available from your local vets. If applied correctly, these products will kill the vast majority of ticks that make it onto your cat. However, it is still important to check your cats for ticks regularly. Always take care to use products designed specifically for cats, as some dog tick prevention products are toxic to cats.

What if my cat is travelling abroad?

There are different ticks and tick-borne diseases abroad that are not present in the UK. It is very important, therefore, to treat cats travelling abroad with an effective tick prevention product before, during and after travel. In addition, you should check your cat at least every 24 hours while abroad, and remove any ticks found with a tick removal device. Finally, it can be beneficial to get a vet to check your cat for ticks on return to the UK.

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