How does an ear tick on a kitten look? - briefly
A kitten’s ear tick is a small, oval‑shaped parasite, usually brown‑red, attached to the inner ear with its body and legs visible through the thin skin. It often causes a slight swelling or pale halo around the attachment point.
How does an ear tick on a kitten look? - in detail
Ear ticks that attach to a kitten’s ear present as small, oval‑shaped parasites measuring 1–3 mm in length. Their bodies are typically dark brown to reddish‑black, sometimes with a lighter dorsal shield that may appear as a faint, pale patch. The legs are short, hidden beneath the body, giving the tick a smooth, rounded silhouette. When engorged after a blood meal, the abdomen expands dramatically, turning a pale gray‑white and increasing the overall size to up to 6 mm. The tick’s mouthparts, called the hypostome, protrude slightly from the skin surface, appearing as a tiny, pointed projection near the base of the attachment site.
The typical attachment site on a kitten is the inner surface of the ear pinna, close to the base where the cartilage is thin. The tick embeds its head into the skin, creating a small, often barely visible puncture. Surrounding tissue may appear slightly reddened or inflamed, but the tick itself remains firmly anchored and does not move freely across the fur.
Key visual cues for identification include:
- Compact, dark-colored body with a smooth outline.
- Enlarged, pale abdomen if the tick has fed.
- Minute mouthpart projection at the attachment point.
- Location confined to the ear’s inner fold, sometimes near the ear canal entrance.
Distinguishing features from other ectoparasites:
- Fleas are flat, jumpy, and lack a visible mouthpart protrusion.
- Mites appear as microscopic specks and do not form a visible engorged body.
- Lice are elongated, wing‑like insects that move actively on the surface.
Recognizing these characteristics enables prompt removal and treatment, reducing the risk of secondary infection or disease transmission.