How long does a tick live in a cat? - briefly
A tick generally stays attached to a cat for 5 to 14 days, with duration varying by species and life stage. Prompt removal within this window reduces the risk of disease transmission.
How long does a tick live in a cat? - in detail
Ticks attach to felines for a limited period required to complete a blood meal. Adult females usually feed for 5‑7 days before detaching to lay eggs; males feed intermittently for up to 3 days. Larval and nymph stages, which can also infest cats, feed for 2‑3 days each.
The tick life cycle consists of four stages: egg, larva, nymph, adult. After hatching, a larva seeks a host, feeds, then drops off to molt into a nymph. The nymph repeats the process, then matures into an adult. Only the adult female requires a prolonged feeding period to develop eggs; all other stages detach shortly after engorgement.
When a tick is found on a cat, it typically remains attached for no more than a week. Prolonged attachment beyond 7 days increases the risk of pathogen transmission, anemia, and local skin irritation. Early detection and removal reduce these risks dramatically.
Removal guidelines
- Inspect the animal daily during peak tick season (spring‑autumn).
- Use fine‑pointed tweezers or a specialized tick remover.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, apply steady, upward pressure.
- Disinfect the bite site after extraction.
- Monitor the cat for signs of infection or illness for at least two weeks.
Preventive measures