What does a tick on a cat look like? - briefly
A tick on a cat looks like a small, oval or round parasite, dark brown to reddish, about 2–5 mm in size before feeding. After ingesting blood it expands into a larger, gray‑white, balloon‑like swelling attached to the skin.
What does a tick on a cat look like? - in detail
A tick that has attached to a feline presents as a small, rounded body that expands as it feeds. The unfed stage measures 1–3 mm in length, roughly the size of a pinhead, and appears tan to reddish‑brown. Once engorged, the abdomen swells dramatically, reaching up to 10 mm or more, and the color deepens to a dark brown or grayish hue.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Body shape: Oval when unfed, becoming markedly spherical after feeding.
- Size change: Rapid enlargement within 24–48 hours; a noticeable bulge forms under the cat’s fur.
- Color shift: Light brown to reddish before feeding; dark brown, black, or gray after blood intake.
- Legs: Eight short legs clustered near the head; legs are clearly visible on the anterior side but may be obscured by hair when engorged.
- Mouthparts: A pointed, backward‑curved hypostome used to anchor into the skin; often visible as a tiny, dark protrusion near the head.
- Location: Commonly found in thin‑haired areas such as the neck, behind the ears, under the collar, and between the toes.
Ticks differ from fleas by their solidity and lack of jumping ability. Fleas are flat, laterally compressed, and move rapidly, whereas ticks remain motionless while attached. The presence of a clear, raised attachment point with a visible feeding cavity strongly indicates a tick rather than another ectoparasite.
Identifying an engorged specimen is critical because it signals prolonged feeding, which increases the risk of pathogen transmission. Early detection relies on visual inspection of the cat’s coat, especially in the regions listed above, and on feeling for firm, rounded bumps that do not shift when pressed.