Tick On Cat

[myles1972]

My poor old mog, as if she hasn't got enough to deal with (thyroid and circulation issues) picked up a tick recently. I mistook it for a seed but removed it carefully.
When out it was obvious it was a moving seed! If I have left the mouthparts in her, how can I treat it myself?

Thanks in advance

Myles

[TheHeretic]

Don't worry about the mouthparts. The skin will heal, and dispel the bits.

Get yourself a tick removal tool if they are an issue. They make them detach quickly, and leave no bits in the skin.

[karona]

If you haven't got a tick-hook there are loads of other methods, Google is your friend here, but my favourite is a cotton bud dipped in olive oil, wipe it over the ticks arse (it breaths through it). It will detach and come away stuck to the cotton bud, just drop it into the oil.
Ticks are a trivial problem for cats and dogs, our tick-jar has about 20 in it just from this week, but they are definitely not trivial for humans.

[myles1972]

Thanks for the quick replies! I'll get a tick hook, and that olive oil tip was a gem!

[bexVN]

Tick remover as pictured is the best tool.

Should actually avoid smothering, this used to be the advice but it has been shown that this increases the risk of the tick releasing toxins into the blood stream which you want to avoid.

Tick head should be broken down by the body so you will see a lump in the area that should go down after a few days, however if it looks red/ inflamed, is bothering your cat or starts to look infected it should get seen for treatment.

[Mobile Chicane]

Tick remover, as suggested above.

Unfortunately, even with that, getting ticks off Bob cat is a two-person job.

Prevention being better than cure, I was recommended by the vet to use Effipro (Fipronil) as Bob's flea treatment during the summer months.

This year, all's been fine.

There are reports that fleas are becoming resistant to Fipronil (not that Bob ever had these). Where I live fleas are not the issue, but ticks most definitely are.

Anywhere there are deer, the vegetation will have ticks in.

[myles1972]

Fifteen years for her first tick!! We have recently moved to a wooded area near Marlow, so probably more likely to have deer gambolling aboot! She (Shelby)was very well behaved when I removed it, not so happy when I wanted to survey the area later.

Thanks for the answers guys!