How do cats become infected by ticks? - briefly
Cats pick up ticks by walking through grassy or wooded areas where questing ticks wait on vegetation, or by contact with other infested animals. The attached tick pierces the skin, feeds on blood, and may transmit pathogens during this process.
How do cats become infected by ticks? - in detail
Cats encounter ticks primarily while moving through vegetation where adult, nymphal, or larval stages quest for a host. Contact occurs when a tick climbs onto the animal’s fur, often near the head, neck, or between the toes, and inserts its mouthparts into the skin to obtain a blood meal. The attachment process involves:
- Detection of carbon dioxide, heat, and movement, which trigger questing behavior.
- Climbing onto the cat’s body using its forelegs and sensory organs.
- Securing a grip with the hypostome, a barbed structure that pierces the epidermis.
- Secreting saliva containing anticoagulants and immunomodulatory compounds to maintain blood flow.
During the feeding period, which can last from several hours to days, the tick may transmit pathogens present in its salivary glands. Transmission mechanisms include:
- Salivary inoculation – pathogens are released directly into the cat’s bloodstream as the tick feeds.
- Regurgitation – infected tick gut contents are expelled back into the bite site.
- Coxal fluid leakage – some parasites exit the tick’s excretory organs and enter the host through the wound.
Risk factors that increase the likelihood of infection are:
- Outdoor access to tall grass, shrubs, or leaf litter where ticks reside.
- Seasonal peaks, especially in spring and early summer, when tick activity surges.
- Absence of regular ectoparasite control products, allowing ticks to attach and feed unchecked.
- Co‑habitation with wildlife or other domestic animals that serve as reservoir hosts for tick‑borne agents.
After attachment, the cat’s immune response may produce localized inflammation, but many infections remain subclinical initially. Common tick‑borne diseases in felines include:
- Bartonella henselae – transmitted by the brown dog tick, causing fever and lymphadenopathy.
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum – leading to lethargy, anorexia, and thrombocytopenia.
- Rickettsia spp. – resulting in fever, skin lesions, and vascular inflammation.
- Babesia felis – a protozoan parasite causing hemolytic anemia.
Prevention relies on minimizing exposure by keeping cats indoors during peak tick activity, maintaining a trimmed lawn, and applying veterinarian‑approved acaricides or tick collars. Regular inspection of the coat after outdoor excursions enables early removal of attached ticks, reducing the window for pathogen transmission.