What does a fed tick on a cat look like? - briefly
A fed tick appears markedly enlarged, often three to five times its original size, with a rounded, balloon‑like body that may be gray, brown, or reddish and is firmly attached to the cat’s skin. The abdomen is distended with blood, making the tick look smooth and glossy compared with an unfed, flat specimen.
What does a fed tick on a cat look like? - in detail
An engorged tick attached to a cat presents several unmistakable visual cues. The body expands dramatically, often reaching the size of a small pea (approximately 3–5 mm) or larger, depending on the species and the length of the blood meal. The abdomen becomes balloon‑like, rounded and markedly distended, while the head and mouthparts remain relatively narrow.
Color shifts from the typical brown or reddish hue of an unfed tick to a darker, sometimes blackened tone. The cuticle may appear glossy or slightly translucent, allowing the underlying blood to be visible. The ventral side often shows a lighter, creamy area where the tick’s internal organs are exposed.
Texture changes as well: the engorged tick feels soft and pliable rather than hard, and it may ooze a small amount of fluid if squeezed gently. The legs remain visible, splayed outward, but the overall silhouette becomes less segmented and more globular.
Common attachment sites on a cat include:
- The base of the skull and neck region
- Between the shoulder blades
- Around the tail base
- Inside the ear canal
- Along the ventral abdomen
These locations provide easy access to skin folds and warm, protected areas where the parasite can remain undisturbed.
When inspecting a cat, look for a raised, dome‑shaped bump that moves slightly with the cat’s motion. If the tick is fully engorged, the skin around it may appear reddened or irritated, but the tick itself dominates the visual field. Removal should be performed with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible to avoid leaving mouthparts embedded.