What does a tick on a cat's body look like? - briefly
A tick on a cat presents as a small, rounded swelling that can be brown, gray, or reddish, resembling a tiny, engorged seed embedded in the skin. After feeding, the parasite’s body becomes oblong and raised, with its legs visible at the edges.
What does a tick on a cat's body look like? - in detail
A tick attached to a feline presents as a small, rounded body that expands as it feeds. The organism consists of two main parts: the capitulum (mouthparts) and the idiosoma (main body). The capitulum protrudes forward, anchoring the parasite to the skin with barbed structures called chelicerae. The idiosoma appears as a smooth, dome‑shaped lump that may be tan, brown, or gray, depending on species and degree of engorgement.
Key visual indicators include:
- Size: unfed larvae measure 0.5–1 mm; nymphs reach 1–2 mm; adult females can expand to 5–10 mm when fully engorged.
- Color change: early stages are pale; after blood intake the body darkens to reddish‑brown.
- Surface texture: initially smooth; later stages develop a slightly wrinkled appearance.
- Attachment site: often found in warm, protected areas such as the neck, behind the ears, under the forelimbs, or around the tail base.
- Visibility of capitulum: the head region remains visible as a small, darker point at the front of the lump.
If the tick is partially detached, the idiosoma may appear flattened and the capitulum may be less apparent. In contrast, a fully attached adult female shows a swollen, balloon‑like shape that can obscure the underlying skin. Recognizing these characteristics enables prompt removal and reduces the risk of disease transmission.