What will happen if you leave a tick on a cat? - briefly
If a tick stays attached, it will feed on the cat’s blood and may transmit pathogens such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, or cause anemia. Prolonged attachment can lead to skin irritation, infection, and systemic illness.
What will happen if you leave a tick on a cat? - in detail
A tick that stays attached to a cat for several hours or days can cause a range of problems. The parasite feeds on blood, creating a puncture wound that may become inflamed or infected. Local irritation appears as redness, swelling, or a small crust around the attachment site.
Systemic consequences develop when the tick transmits pathogens. Common agents include:
- Borrelia burgdorferi – the bacterium that causes Lyme disease; symptoms may involve fever, loss of appetite, joint pain, and lethargy.
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum – leads to fever, anemia, and reduced white‑blood‑cell count.
- Ehrlichia spp. – produces fever, weight loss, and possible kidney damage.
- Babesia spp. – results in hemolytic anemia and weakness.
- Cytauxzoon felis – a severe, often fatal disease in cats; signs include high fever, jaundice, and rapid deterioration.
- Rickettsia spp. – can cause fever, skin lesions, and vascular inflammation.
Some tick species secrete neurotoxins that induce temporary paralysis. Tick‑induced paralysis typically begins with weakness in the hind limbs and may progress to respiratory failure if the toxin spreads unchecked.
Prolonged blood loss from multiple ticks can lead to anemia, especially in kittens or underweight animals. Anemic cats show pale mucous membranes, rapid breathing, and decreased activity.
If the feeding site is not cleaned after removal, secondary bacterial infection may develop. Signs include pus formation, increasing pain, and spreading redness.
Early detection and prompt removal reduce the risk of disease transmission. Veterinary examination is advisable when a tick is found, as laboratory testing can identify hidden infections and guide treatment with appropriate antibiotics or antiparasitic drugs.
Preventive measures—regular use of tick‑protective collars, spot‑on treatments, or oral medications—significantly lower the likelihood of attachment and subsequent health issues.