Cats and ticks
- Thread starter Speicher
- Start date
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asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
Our 2 cats have had several ticks - the short hair is least prone (fortunately) - and we remove them very carefully and have had no problems. The long hair cat just sits there and lets us take them off. They don't seem to have got any this year and I wonder if they had picked them up off the neighbours chickens. The neighbour has moved and there are no chickens now.
coffeejo
Ælfrēd
- Location
- West Somerset
These rather gross photos should help reassure you about the colour of the little bugger.
I had one in my belly button a few years ago
I had one in my belly button a few years ago
Mrs P, a veterinary nurse of many years standing says that any vet will sell you a tick hook, and the nurse or vet will show you how to use it. Alternatively you can buy Frontline Combo from the vet, a flea and tick spray. This will kill the tick but you then have to wait for the tick to drop off, or your cat to scatch it out itself.
OP
OP
- Location
- Next door to Mr Benn at No 54
I have had a good look this morning. The tick is much smaller, and has turned black.
On Friday last week, Leo had a flea treatment. The sort that you squeeze the fluid onto the back of the animal's neck.
As it is so close to his eye, I hesitate to us flea spray on it. Leo is usually co-operative with treatments, but not to the extent of closing his eyes when told to. As mentionned above it is in the thinner fur on his face. It does not seem to bother Leo, until I am trying to investigate it.
Perhaps this is why my neighbour says he has not had to deal with ticks. Keeping the flea treatment up-to-date kills off the tick.
Thank you all for your advice.
On Friday last week, Leo had a flea treatment. The sort that you squeeze the fluid onto the back of the animal's neck.
As it is so close to his eye, I hesitate to us flea spray on it. Leo is usually co-operative with treatments, but not to the extent of closing his eyes when told to. As mentionned above it is in the thinner fur on his face. It does not seem to bother Leo, until I am trying to investigate it.
Perhaps this is why my neighbour says he has not had to deal with ticks. Keeping the flea treatment up-to-date kills off the tick.
Thank you all for your advice.
GordonB
Guru
- Location
- Somewhere just north of Ipswich
Few years ago my in-laws Jack Russell came back from a foray somewhere in the hedgerows around their farm and was absolutely covered in small white ticks. This was before tick hooks were commonly available so I used a small pair of tweezers to get under the head and ease them off. Took over 100 off her with no ill effects. My dogs and cats used to get them now and then, just eased them off with a tick hook. Prevention is better than cure though, get some Frontline.
The last pair I found on the dog are still in a little petri dish in my study as I wanted to show the kids them under a microscope. Bit dried up now!
Gordon
The last pair I found on the dog are still in a little petri dish in my study as I wanted to show the kids them under a microscope. Bit dried up now!
Gordon
coffeejo
Ælfrēd
- Location
- West Somerset
I keep the dog's anti flea and tick protection up to date but this reminds me (once again) that she needs worming and is due a new flea collar.
Thanks, Leo
Thanks, Leo
Mr Phoebus
New Member
Weil's disease is mainly transmitted through rat urine, besides other animals.
I'm sure you meant Lyme disease, which is what ticks transmit.
OP
OP
- Location
- Next door to Mr Benn at No 54
Yes, Mr Phoebus, you are right, Lyme disease. I was getting increasingly confused last night looking things up on tinternet.
Bluebell72
New Member
- Location
- Hull, East Yorkshire
The tick is full - that's why it's going black. (it's full of blood)
You may want to use a tick hook, especially for the first time, but I have used eyebrow tweezers - on dogs, lambs and humans. It will take less than a minute.
The temptation is to squeeze the tick with the tweezers, which you mustn't do, as it will break up, or as someone else has said, you could leave parts of the tick body - now partially buried in your cat, inside.
Hold the tweezers firmly, get someone to hold the cat still, and grab the tick - pull slowly with a clock wise or anti motion, not just upwards. Ticks burrow.
Ticks live in vegetation, and drop off when they find a new home. They can't leap or fly.
Here's some more info. http://www.bada-uk.org/
You may want to use a tick hook, especially for the first time, but I have used eyebrow tweezers - on dogs, lambs and humans. It will take less than a minute.
The temptation is to squeeze the tick with the tweezers, which you mustn't do, as it will break up, or as someone else has said, you could leave parts of the tick body - now partially buried in your cat, inside.
Hold the tweezers firmly, get someone to hold the cat still, and grab the tick - pull slowly with a clock wise or anti motion, not just upwards. Ticks burrow.
Ticks live in vegetation, and drop off when they find a new home. They can't leap or fly.
Here's some more info. http://www.bada-uk.org/
