What does a tick embedded in a cat look like? - briefly
A tick attached to a cat looks like a tiny, oval, dark brown or grayish bump that may be partially visible through the fur, with its mouthparts sunk into the skin. The surrounding spot can be slightly raised or inflamed, and the tick’s body often swells as it feeds.
What does a tick embedded in a cat look like? - in detail
A tick that has attached to a cat presents as a small, oval or round mass protruding from the skin. The anterior end, called the capitulum, penetrates the fur and epidermis, leaving a tiny, often pinkish or reddish point that may be difficult to see unless the cat’s coat is closely examined. The body of the parasite is situated just beneath the hair, typically at the base of the mass, and can be felt as a firm, raised nodule.
When the tick begins to feed, its abdomen expands dramatically. An unfed tick measures 2–5 mm in length; after several hours of blood intake, the engorged stage can reach 6–12 mm, sometimes appearing as a translucent, balloon‑like swelling. The cuticle of the engorged body becomes pale yellow to light brown, contrasting with the darker, darker‑colored dorsal shield (scutum) that remains visible on the anterior half of the tick.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Capitulum: tiny, pointed, often hidden under hair; may show a slight depression in the skin.
- Scutum: dark brown to black, hard, covering the front half of the tick.
- Engorged abdomen: smooth, glossy, pale, markedly larger than the head, giving the tick a “filled‑balloon” appearance.
- Surrounding skin: may exhibit a small, localized erythema or mild swelling; the cat’s fur around the attachment point often looks matted or clumped.
If the tick is in an early feeding stage, the body remains compact, the scutum dominates the visual field, and the surrounding skin appears normal. As feeding progresses, the abdomen swells, the overall shape becomes more globular, and the skin may show a faint halo of irritation. Detection requires careful parting of the cat’s fur and gentle palpation to feel the firm nodule and distinguish it from a simple bump or hair mat.