Cats and ticks

Cat ticks are spider-like, egg-shaped, blood-sucking creepy crawlies. They have six to eight legs (depending on their life stage) and vary in size from about 1mm to 1cm long. Adult ticks look a bit like small spiders.

Ticks don't fly or jump, but climb or drop on to your cat's coat when they brush past the area they are sitting in. If they fall or climb onto your cat, they will attach themselves and feed on their blood. Once they have had enough, they drop off. They are rarely dangerous to cats, but can pass on bacteria and microbes when they bite, so we recommend preventative treatment or removing them.

How do I know if my cat has a tick?

After feeding, ticks are big enough to spot and feel like a small bump on your pet's skin. Run your hands over your cat's body when they come in for dinner each evening to check for any small lumps or bumps. They tend to attach themselves to areas around a cat's head, neck, ears and feet. Brushing also helps to remove them.

How to remove cat ticks safely

Twisting them off your cat is the best removal method, and pet shops sell handy tick-removal devices to make this easier.

You need to be careful not to squeeze the tick's body, or allow its head to get stuck inside your cat. Squeezing a tick's body can cause it to expel blood back into your pet, increasing the risk of infection. Ask your vet for advice if you're worried about doing this.

1. Once you've located the tick, using gloves if you have them, gently part your cat's fur so that you can easily reach the tick
2. Get your tick remover and slowly push it under the tick's body, flat with your cat's skin
3. When you have a firm grasp of the tick, twist it in a clockwise direction several times until the tick comes loose
4. Take a look at your cat's skin and make sure the tick is completely removed
5. Wash the area with some pet-friendly soap and water
6. Get rid of the tick by putting it in alcohol or popping it in tissue and flushing it down the toilet before washing your hands

Ticks carry diseases, so it’s important to remove any that attach themselves to your cat as soon as possible.

Lyme disease in cats

Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection that is spread by ticks. It's very rare for cats to get Lyme disease in the UK, and many recover quickly with treatment. However, as Lyme disease can be more serious in dogs and humans, we still recommend using a preventative spot on treatment.

Symptoms of Lyme disease in cats

• Lethargy or tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Lameness or sore or stiff joints

If you think your pet has Lyme disease, contact your vet. They can perform tests and start treatment with antibiotics which in the majority of cases will lead to a full recovery.

What is babesiosis and does it affect cats?

Babesiosis is extremely rare in the UK and the tick that spreads it is so far only found in southern England and on the continent. It affects dogs, but is not thought to affect cats or other animals and is not a risk to humans.

The first cases of dogs being treated for the disease, caused by the bacterium Babesia, were reported in March 2016. Other confirmed cases of babesiosis in Essex have been caused by the Babesia canis strain. Despite not being an immediate concern for cats, we would still recommend removing ticks as soon as possible.

Tick-borne encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis can be found is some species of tick in the UK. It is extremely rare in dogs, and even rarer in cats. People can also contract tick-borne encephalitis. It is still extremely rare, but can be a serious illness.