How to Remove a Tick From a Cat

Finding a tick on your cat can be worrying. These small, spider-like bugs aren’t just gross; they can carry germs that make your cat sick. That’s why it’s very important to remove ticks from cats quickly and correctly. Trying to pull a tick off the wrong way can make things worse, like causing an infection. This guide will show you the right way to do it, step by step.

What is a Tick?

A tick is a small bug that is related to spiders. It bites animals and drinks their blood to live. Before a tick eats, it’s tiny and flat, like a seed. After it attaches to your cat and starts feeding, it swells up with blood and can get as big as a pea. Ticks don’t jump or fly. They wait on tall grass or plants and grab onto your cat as it walks by.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Tick-Free Cat

Follow these steps to handle a tick problem. We’ll cover finding the tick, getting your tools ready, taking the tick out, and what to do afterward.

Step 1: How to Check Cats for Ticks

First, you need to check your cat carefully to find any ticks. Cats are good at cleaning themselves, but ticks are good at hiding in places your cat can’t reach. Make it a habit to check cats for ticks, especially after they have been outside. The main tick season for cats is in the spring and fall .

• Feel for Bumps: Gently run your hands all over your cat’s body. Feel for any small, hard bumps on the skin.
• Check Hiding Spots: Pay close attention to their favorite hiding spots. Check their head, neck, and in and around their ears. Also look between their toes, under their front legs, and around their tail .
• Make Sure It’s a Tick: Part your cat’s fur to get a good look at any bump you find. Make sure it’s a tick and not just a skin tag or a nipple. A tick has a hard, oval body, and you might see its tiny legs close to the skin.

Step 2: Getting Your Tools Ready for Tick Removal from Cats

Getting your tools ready first makes the job easier and less stressful for your cat. You don’t want to be looking for tweezers for ticks while trying to hold your cat still.

Here are the tools you’ll need:

• A Tick Tool: You will need fine-point tweezers or a special tick removal tool. Regular tweezers are not the best because they can squeeze the tick’s body.
• Safety Supplies: Wear a pair of gloves to protect yourself. You will also need a pet-safe antiseptic to clean the bite area and a small jar with rubbing alcohol for disposing of ticks safely.
• A Helper: It’s helpful to have another person hold and calm your cat. They can distract your cat with a toy or a treat.

Step 3: Steps to remove a tick

Now you are ready to remove the tick. Put on your gloves and part your cat’s fur so you can see the tick clearly. This is how to remove a tick from a cat.

Method 1: Using Tweezers

This is the most common way. You just need a steady hand.

1. Get a Good Grip: Place the tweezers as close to your cat’s skin as you can. Grab the tick’s head, not its body.
2. Don’t Squeeze the Body: Be very careful not to squeeze the tick’s body. Squeezing it can push germs from the tick into your cat.
3. Pull Straight Up: Pull upward with a firm and steady motion. Do not twist or jerk the tweezers. The tick will let go.
4. Get Rid of the Tick: Drop the tick into your jar of rubbing alcohol to kill it.

Method 2: Using a Tick Removal Tool

These tools are often hook-shaped and make the job easier.

1. Slide and Hook: Slide the tool under the tick, flat against your cat’s skin, until the tick is caught in the tool’s hook.
2. Twist and Lift: Gently turn the tool. This twisting helps the tick let go of the skin. The tick will come out easily.
3. Drop the Tick: Lift the tool with the tick and put the tick in your jar of rubbing alcohol.

Step 4: What to do if tick head stays in

First, don’t panic or try to dig at your cat’s skin. If the tick’s head or mouth gets stuck, it’s usually not a big deal. Trying to dig it out can cause more harm and lead to an infection.

Your cat’s body will push the parts out on its own over a few days, just like it would with a small splinter. Clean the area like we explain below and keep an eye on it. If you’re worried, it’s always best to call a professional for help.

Step 5: After the Tick is Out: Cleaning and Watching

After the tick is out, you still have a few things to do. This includes cleaning the tick bite area and disinfecting after tick removal.

• Clean the Bite: Use a cotton ball or a wipe with a pet-safe antiseptic to gently clean the spot where the tick was.
• Watch the Spot: It’s normal for the spot to be a little red or have a small scab for a few days. But if you see a lot of swelling or pus, or if the spot seems to hurt your cat, call for professional advice.
• Watch Your Cat: Keep an eye on your cat for the next few weeks. If your cat seems tired, doesn’t want to eat, or is limping, contact a professional right away. This is an important part of monitoring cats after tick removal.

Step 6: Getting Rid of the Tick for Good

A live tick can still bite you or your pets. The best way to kill the tick is to drop it in a small jar with rubbing alcohol. Then you can flush the dead tick or throw the sealed jar in the outside trash. Never crush a tick with your fingers. This is the right way of disposing of ticks safely.

How to Stop Ticks: Tick Prevention for Cats

The best way to deal with ticks is to stop them from biting in the first place. There are many good tick control products to keep your cat safe. This is how to get rid of ticks on cats before they become a problem.

• Types of Tick Control: You can find spot-on treatments that you put on your cat’s skin, pills or chews, and special tick collars for cats. Each one works for a certain amount of time.
• Important Safety Warning: Never use tick medicine for dogs on your cat. Products for dogs can have chemicals that are very dangerous and even deadly for cats. Always ask a professional for the best and safest tick prevention for cats.

Key Takeaways

• Get Ready First: Have your tick removal tool, gloves, antiseptic, and a jar of alcohol ready before you start. 
• Grab Close and Pull Straight: Use fine-point tweezers for ticks to grab the tick near the skin and pull straight up, slowly and steadily. 
• Don’t Dig for a Stuck Head: If the head gets stuck, clean the spot and let your cat’s body push it out. This is what to do if a tick head stays in. 
• Clean and Watch: After you remove the tick from the cat, clean the bite with a pet-safe antiseptic and watch for any signs of infection or sickness. 
• Throw it Away Safely: Kill the tick in rubbing alcohol so it can’t bite again. 
• Prevention is Best: Use tick control products made just for cats to keep them safe from future bites.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Can I just use my fingers to pull a tick off my cat? 

No, you should never use your fingers. When you use your fingers, you might squeeze the tick’s body. This can push germs from the tick into your cat’s blood and make it sick. It also makes it more likely for the tick’s head to break off in the skin. This is not a method for removing ticks safely.

2. What sicknesses can cats get from ticks? 

Cats can get sick from ticks, but it’s less common than in dogs. They can get diseases like Lyme disease, but this is very rare . The best way to lower the risk is with quick and correct tick removal from cats.

3. Is it normal for a bump to be left after removing a tick? 

Yes, this is normal. The tick’s bite can make the skin a little red and swollen. A small, hard bump might stay there for a few days or even a week. This is usually okay as long as it doesn’t get bigger, look infected, or seem to hurt your cat.

4. When is “tick season for cats”? 

Ticks are most active in warm weather, usually from spring to fall . But in some places, ticks can be around all year. It’s a good idea to check your cat for ticks regularly, no matter the season.

5. Can I use my dog’s tick medicine on my cat? 

No, never. This is very important. Many tick products for dogs have chemicals that are poisonous to cats. These can cause seizures or even be deadly for your cat . Always use a product that says it is safe for cats.

6. Should I save the tick after I remove it? 

It can be a good idea. You can put the tick in a sealed bag or jar (without alcohol) and show it to a professional. Different kinds of ticks carry different germs, so knowing what kind of tick it was can help keep your cat safe.