How does a tick attach to a cat? - briefly
A tick finds a suitable spot on the cat’s fur, pierces the skin with its barbed hypostome, and secretes adhesive saliva that hardens to lock the parasite in place while it feeds.
How does a tick attach to a cat? - in detail
Ticks locate a feline host by detecting heat, carbon dioxide, and movement. When a questing tick encounters the animal’s fur, it climbs upward using its forelegs, which are equipped with sensory receptors that sense temperature gradients and CO₂ concentrations. The ascent continues until the tick reaches a suitable skin area, typically around the head, neck, ears, or between toes, where the coat is thinner.
Attachment proceeds through several coordinated steps:
- Grasping – the tick’s front legs clamp onto the hair shaft, while the second pair secures the skin surface.
- Insertion – the hypostome, a barbed feeding organ, pierces the epidermis. Barbs embed in the tissue, preventing dislodgement.
- Salivary secretion – the tick releases anticoagulant and immunomodulatory proteins that dilute blood clotting factors and suppress local immune responses.
- Engorgement – a channel formed by the hypostome and surrounding cement-like substance allows continuous blood flow into the tick’s midgut.
The cement, a polymeric secretion, hardens within minutes, creating a stable attachment point that can endure the cat’s grooming attempts. Once feeding is complete, the tick detaches by releasing the cement and disengaging its mouthparts, leaving behind a small scar. Continuous exposure to tick habitats increases the likelihood of multiple attachment events, emphasizing the need for regular inspection of a cat’s coat, especially in warm, humid regions where tick activity peaks.