What is it: a tick on a cat's body? - briefly
A tick on a cat is a blood‑sucking arachnid that attaches to the animal’s skin and may transmit pathogens. Prompt removal is essential to reduce the risk of disease.
What is it: a tick on a cat's body? - in detail
A tick found on a feline is an ectoparasite that attaches to the skin to feed on blood. Adult ticks belong to the families Ixodidae (hard ticks) or Argasidae (soft ticks); most infestations of domestic cats involve hard species such as Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, or Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
Identification
- Size: unfed larvae measure 0.5 mm, nymphs 1–2 mm, adults 3–5 mm when engorged.
- Shape: oval, flat before feeding; becomes rounded and swollen after blood intake.
- Color: varies from pale beige to dark brown; engorged ticks appear grayish‑white.
- Location: commonly found on the head, ears, neck, and between toes, but may attach anywhere on the body.
Life cycle
- Egg → larva (six‑legged) → nymph (eight‑legged) → adult.
- Each stage requires a blood meal; a single cat can host multiple stages simultaneously.
- Development time depends on temperature and humidity; in warm climates the cycle may complete within weeks.
Health risks
- Transmission of pathogens such as Bartonella henselae (cat‑scratch disease), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia spp.
- Local irritation, inflammation, and secondary bacterial infection at the bite site.
- Rarely, hypersensitivity reactions causing severe edema or systemic illness.
Removal procedure
- Use fine‑pointed tweezers or a specialized tick‑removal tool.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible, avoiding compression of the abdomen.
- Apply steady, upward traction until the mouthparts detach.
- Disinfect the area with chlorhexidine or povidone‑iodine.
- Preserve the tick in a sealed container with alcohol for potential laboratory identification.
Prevention strategies
- Administer veterinarian‑approved acaricidal spot‑on products (e.g., fipronil, selamectin) monthly.
- Provide oral systemic medications (e.g., afoxolaner, fluralaner) that kill ticks after ingestion.
- Maintain a tidy environment: remove leaf litter, mow grass regularly, and limit outdoor exposure during peak tick activity (spring‑early summer).
- Conduct weekly inspections of the cat’s coat, especially after outdoor excursions.
Treatment of tick‑borne disease
- Diagnose via PCR, serology, or microscopic examination of blood.
- Initiate appropriate antimicrobial therapy (doxycycline for Anaplasma, azithromycin for Bartonella) as prescribed by a veterinarian.
- Supportive care may include fluid therapy and anti‑inflammatory drugs.
Prompt detection, correct removal, and consistent preventive measures reduce the likelihood of infestation and associated illnesses, safeguarding feline health.