What does a tick bite look like on a cat? - briefly
A tick bite appears as a small, often reddish or inflamed spot, sometimes surrounded by a thin ring of swelling, and the attached tick may be visible as a dark, raised object embedded in the skin. If the tick detaches, a tiny puncture wound remains, which can be slightly raised and may show a faint scar after healing.
What does a tick bite look like on a cat? - in detail
A tick attachment on a cat presents as a small, rounded swelling embedded in the skin. The engorged body may appear dark brown to black, sometimes with a lighter, translucent margin where the abdomen is filled with blood. The mouthparts, called the capitulum, remain visible as a tiny, pin‑like projection at the center of the lesion.
Typical visual indicators include:
- Localized bulge ranging from 2 mm to over 10 mm, depending on feeding stage.
- Color shift from pale gray (unfed) to deep brown or black (engorged).
- A central puncture point where the tick’s hypostome penetrates the epidermis.
- Surrounding erythema or mild inflammation, often limited to a few millimeters around the attachment site.
- Occasionally, a thin, serous crust forms as the cat licks or scratches the area.
Common attachment sites are the head, neck, ears, and between the shoulder blades, where dense fur provides a protected environment. Less frequent locations include the tail base and ventral abdomen.
Secondary signs may develop if the bite becomes infected:
- Progressive redness expanding beyond the immediate perimeter.
- Purulent discharge or an ulcerated center.
- Swelling that increases in size over several days.
- Behavioral changes such as reduced grooming, lethargy, or loss of appetite.
Removal should be performed promptly using fine‑point tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and applying steady, upward traction to avoid leaving mouthparts behind. After extraction, inspect the site for residual attachment structures; persistent inflammation may warrant veterinary assessment.
Regular inspection during routine grooming reduces the risk of unnoticed tick attachment and facilitates early identification of the described characteristics.