How to twist a tick out of a cat

Cats are attacked by ticks less often than domestic dogs. This is due to the activity of animals – cats are less likely to climb in the woods, parks and squares. But you should not forget about safety. For preventive purposes, regular anti-parasitic treatment is necessary. The selection of drops in the withers, collars or sprays, should be carried out by a veterinarian, taking into account the condition of the animal, its age and the presence of chronic diseases.

How to properly remove a tick from a cat

For subsistence purposes, ectoparasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals attack domestic dogs and cats. Among the dangerous parasites stand out ixodes ticks, which threaten, when bitten, not only the development of an allergic reaction, but also the risk of infection by various diseases.

Ticks are localized in places with dense grass cover – forest strips, parks, squares. When ectoparasites are active, they begin to fall from trees onto animals and people in an effort to find their own sustenance. Fortunately, cats differ from dogs in that they are less susceptible to tick attacks.

They don't often walk through dense grass or in parks and squares. But if you notice that your pet has a parasite on the coat or has already sucked on it, you need to take steps to eliminate it. Act quickly and carefully.

The dangers of the tick in a cat

European tick or ixodid tick, carries the danger of infection with serious diseases not only for pets, but also for humans. Localization of ticks in the peak of activity – forest park areas, places with dense grass, an abundance of bushes and trees.

In summer, during the season of activity, the tick can crawl to the cat and when visiting public transport. This is due to the migration of people – dacha residents returning from their plots carry the parasites not only on their clothes and shoes, but even in their bags.

Seasonal activity of the European tick is observed in the period from May to October. The peak months, when the risk of catching a tick by cat increases, are July and August. A peculiarity of ixodid ticks is their incredible sensitivity.

The tick can sense its victim from a distance of 10 meters. The parasite chooses a convenient moment and jumps from the top of a tree or bush onto the cat. The tick first seeks out the most successful places for the bite on the animal's body with a good blood supply. From the moment the tick falls on the skin until it succumbs to the selected area, 1 to 3 hours pass.

The tick can be detected in the area of the muzzle, ear pits, groin and elbow area. With the help of a special mouthpiece, the ectoparasite pierces the skin. The parasite is able to remain on the victim's body for a long time and with each passing hour, the mouthpiece and head of the tick penetrate deeper. Over time, it is completely problematic to get the tick out without consequences for the animal.

Most often the tick bite for a cat threatens to develop an allergic local reaction . Inflammation occurs at the puncture point. Ticks are carriers of various blood-parasitic diseases and together with a specific secretion penetrating the skin when bitten, pathogens get into the body of the animal. Infection occurs not only by viruses, protozoa and bacteria, but also by helminths.

One of the most frequent diseases transmitted by the ixodid tick is pyroplasmosis. Infection with pyroplasmosis can be fatal in small kittens and cats with weak immune defenses.

How to rid a cat of a tick

To do it right, the cat must be soothed and fixed in one position. Otherwise, some of the parasite will remain on the animal. How to remove a tick from a cat:

1. If necessary, trim off the excess hair at the bite site. Treat the skin around it with an antiseptic, but not iodine or green.
2. Seal off the access to oxygen: Lubricate the insect with nail polish, oil or greasy cream. Leave it for about 15 minutes.
3. Prepare a magnifying glass and tweezers. If there is a lack of oxygen, the parasite will pull its head and legs out a little.
4. Grab the head with tweezers and gently pull it upwards. After that, pull out the paws one by one. First the front paws, then the hind paws.
5. Separate the mite from the skin and treat it with antiseptic. If it holds its body without paws and head, oil it again and after 5 minutes remove it from the skin.

All movements should be smooth and careful not to tear off a piece of the parasite and not to leave part of it on the cat.

You don't just have to pull it up, but you have to rock it, twist it, or jerk it slightly. This makes it easier and less likely to stay inside.

You can use a lasso. You can buy one at a pet store. It looks like a pen with a loop on the end.

This device is sold at any pet store or online store. You can buy it just in case, so that at the right moment you don't have to look for how to get the mite.

• evenly cut the base of the syringe, where the needle is attached;
• place it on the area with the tick;
• to create a vacuum, it is desirable to smear cream on the cut edges;
• Pull the syringe by the piston;
• not only the tick will come out, but also the poisonous substances it sends to the skin;
• Make sure to lubricate with an antimicrobial agent at the end.

Ear mite.

In cats, the ear mite often affects the ear canals very deeply. It's another species that mostly doesn't drink blood but eats the epidermis. It moves inward along the ear canal.

Over time, it multiplies throughout the body. This causes terrible itching, and the cat is constantly itching. By scratching until it bleeds, it can get an infection into the bloodstream. Such a mite often settles on kittens up to a year old.

If an ear mite is present, the cat is constantly shaking its head and scratching its ears. There is a black plaque on the inside of the shell. To get it out of the ear, you need to do the following:

If you do not start treatment in time, further will go inflammation, and the pet may remain without hearing.

Effective pills against ticks for dogs and cats

At the moment, the main oral medications (pills) against ticks for dogs and cats are the following:

• Bravecto (for dogs and cats)
• Nexgard (for dogs)
• Nexgard Spectra (the same as Nexgard, only with a substance added to the composition that protects the pet from helminths and heartworms)
• Simparica (for dogs)
• Inspector Quadro (for dogs and cats)

All the listed pills are non-toxic, do not reduce immunity, do not affect the liver and do not poison your pet's body.

Effective anti-tick drops for cats and dogs

The drops are applied on the withers. For application methods and precautions, see the instructions.

The drops are effective for three weeks, then the procedure must be repeated.

The drops are divided into two types: the former penetrate the skin and repel ticks when they attach themselves to the pet, while the latter are repellents (like mosquito repellent) and scare off ticks by smell. The effectiveness of the latter decreases after walking on wet grass or getting caught in the rain.

Step-by-step instructions

Apply these instructions for a quick and safe extraction of the parasite from the cat's body. It is best to perform the manipulation with two people.

1. Wear gloves. Be sure to disinfect your hands and tools.
2. One person should hold the cat and "clear" the bite site with your hands. Give your pet a treat.
3. Bring the tic-twister prongs to the tick's belly and place them in the slit in its neck. If using tweezers, its ends should fit snugly against the neck of the parasite.

What to do if the tick's head remains in the pet's body

Such a situation can occur with sudden movements during extraction or if you act with your bare hands. Do not panic: the main part is removed, and the pest no longer feeds on the animal's blood. Disinfecting the wound will help to avoid suppuration, and the body should push the foreign body out after a while.

Observe the wound for 24 hours. If you notice a change in skin color, suppuration, or swelling at the bite site, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Additionally, I recommend watching a detailed video on how to remove ticks from animals:

What you shouldn't do if you get a tick bite

The removal of parasites from the bodies of animals is surrounded by myths and advice from experts, but not all of them are useful and safe for the pet.

Do not hesitate.

You should not wait for the parasite to leave the pet's body on its own. The longer it stays on the pet's body, the higher the risk of hemobartonellosis, a dangerous disease for cats. If you're not sure you can handle the extraction procedure yourself, go to a vet.

Do not use liquids

The advice to use alcohol, acetone, nail polish remover, dichlorvos and other dangerous substances to extract the parasite can be detrimental to your pet's health. Do not use substances that contain organophosphates, amitraz or permethrin.

The most popular tip is to dab sunflower oil on the bite site. The recommendation is folk, but unreliable. The parasite can really suffocate, but its body will continue to "live" in the pet's body for some time. If you try to remove it afterwards, there is a good chance that part of the torso will remain under the skin.

Use only mechanical methods of removal and rely on your common sense. If in doubt, consult a doctor.

Do not perform surgical manipulation.

Do not try to enlarge the wound with a needle or pin. If a tick head remains in the animal's body, do not attempt to remove it yourself. It is best to see a veterinarian.

How do I get a tick out of a cat?

Cats often survive a tick bite much easier than dogs or people – their immune system can cope brilliantly with the bacteria that can transmit the pest by direct contact with the blood. However, this is not always the case, so it is still important to know how ticks are removed from cats and how to avoid serious consequences.

If you remove the tick yourself, the step-by-step algorithm is no different from removing the pest from any other warm-blooded creature:

• Take tweezers, string or a special miniature device similar in shape to a nail gun (the latter is sold in pharmacies).
• Try to grab the pest as close to the head as possible. If you grab it by the torso and squeeze it, you may crush the insect and thus provoke blood poisoning in the cat.
• Gently pull the tick out by rotating it around its axis. This step is somewhat like gently unscrewing a screw from the wall – you need to act the same way.
• Examine the wound. If the head of the insect remains in it, it must be removed by all means. Sometimes you can just squeeze it out, sometimes you have to dig it out. But no cat will wait patiently while you do this, which will create more difficulties in an already nervous situation. Therefore, it is in your best interest to remove the pest correctly right away.
• Disinfect the wound. If not with alcohol, which stings a lot, then at least with Chlorhexidine or any other disinfectant liquid.Release the cat in a place where you can monitor its condition for a while and help it if negative symptoms appear.
• You can either burn the tick or have it tested at a lab to see if it is infected with any disease. Never squeeze it with your bare hands. You can catch dangerous viruses that way, too.

How do you remove a tick from a cat?

Carefully, with a rotating movement, remove the tick from the cat or cat with a "tic-twister" or tweezers, in extreme cases – with hands in rubber gloves.
To prevent the head of the parasite from remaining in the animal's tissues and provoking inflammation in the bite site, grasp it as close to the trunk as possible. It is advisable to burn the removed mite from the cat or cat at home so that the infection, which may be in its body, does not spread. The wound on the skin should be disinfected.

Now you need to carefully observe the behavior and well-being of the cat: lethargy, lack of appetite, uncharacteristic color of urine – reasons to urgently contact a veterinarian!

Act quickly

As a rule the transfer of infectious agents of infection takes place not earlier than 24 hours after attaching the tick, so that if you get the tick from a cat or cat quickly, the chances of getting infected are very low. If there are several ticks and they feed on blood for a long time, this can cause anemia. In the place of the bite, inflammation can occur.

Therefore, for the prevention of tick bites are not suitable insect repellents.

A cat does not have to be in the woods to encounter a tick.

Once in the grass that grows in the city as well, the mite can get on a person's clothes and end up in the apartment. Even keeping an animal indoors all the time does not eliminate the risk!

They appear in early spring and only disappear when the snow falls. Therefore it is almost always necessary to protect the animals against tick bites.

The most important thing: diseases that ticks carry are not only fatal for dogs, but also for cats.

This is, for example, feline hemobartonellosis, also known as infectious anemia. The symptoms (lethargy, loss of appetite and consequent weight loss, pale mucous membranes, discolored urine, dehydration) are unspecific, and can only be diagnosed by laboratory blood tests. The disease develops slowly, and the first symptoms may occur more than a week after the bite of an infected vector. Some animals may be infected with Haemobartonella for months because symptoms appear gradually and owners do not always notice them.

Regular use of prophylactic medications remains the primary means of combating vector infections that can develop if a cat is bitten by a tick. It is important to understand that the risks associated with the use of such medications are negligible compared to the risk of disease. Follow the instructions exactly (dosage of the medication according to the weight of the animal, frequency and regularity of application) and the process will be completely safe. Your self-discipline will keep your cat alive for years to come!

How do I remove a tick from a cat?

If you remove the tick yourself, the step-by-step algorithm is no different from removing the pest from any other warm-blooded creature:

• Take tweezers, string or a special miniature device similar in shape to a nail gun to remove ticks (the latter is sold in pharmacies).
• Try to grasp the pest as close to the head as possible. If you take it by the torso and squeeze it, you will crush the insect and thus may provoke blood poisoning in the cat.
• Gently pull the tick out by rotating it around its axis. This step is something like gently unscrewing a screw from the wall – you need to act the same way.
• Examine the wound. If the head of the insect remains in it, it must be removed by all means. Sometimes you can just squeeze it out, sometimes you have to dig it out. But no cat will wait patiently while you do this, which will create more difficulties in an already nervous situation. So it is in your best interest to remove the pest correctly right away.
• Disinfect the wound. If not with alcohol, which burns a lot, then at least with Chlorhexidine or any other disinfecting liquid.Release the cat in a place where you can observe his condition for a while and help him in case any negative symptoms appear.
• You can either burn the tick or have it tested at the lab to see if it is infected with any disease. Never squeeze it with your bare hands. You can catch dangerous viruses that way, too.

You can read more about how to get rid of ticks in cats here: https://dezoff.ru/kleshhej/udalenie-kleshchey-u-koshek/

How to get a tick out of a cat

Contributor(s): Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and treating companion animals. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked in the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Number of sources used in this article: 7. You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

Ticks are small parasites that are not only a nuisance, but can also infect a cat with dangerous diseases. It is necessary to know how to remove the mite from the skin if you find it on your cat: it will help you to protect your cat and yourself from diseases. It can be difficult to remove the mite, especially if the cat resists, so have patience and be careful to get it right.

Have everything you need ready









• Ointments with antibiotics and hydrocortisone meant for people may be too strong for cats, so ask your vet to recommend suitable ointments.
• Get some cotton swabs if you don't have them: you can use them to apply ointment to your cat's skin without touching it with your fingers.
• Once you have all the tools you need, lay them out in a well-lit area where you will remove the tick. Prepare in advance so that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

What to do if a tick head remains in the wound

If the mite is removed carelessly, its head sometimes remains in the cat's body. It is clearly visible in bright light and can be removed with a needle or tweezers. The action is the same as when removing a splinter – carefully move the edges of the wound and pick up the remaining fragment. Then the bite site is treated with antiseptic.

Immediately after the removal of the tick the wound is filled with chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide or other antiseptic. It is necessary to periodically inspect it. If the bite site becomes red or infected, the cat should be taken to the veterinary clinic.

The removed mite should be placed in a vial, sealed tightly with a lid and sent to the lab for examination. If this is not possible, it is better to destroy the parasite by burning it. The insect should not be thrown into drains or crushed.

After removing the tick, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and rub them with alcohol. This will help prevent infection.

It is important to monitor the cat's condition. Symptoms of the disease may not appear immediately, but 1-4 weeks after the parasite has been removed. The owner of the pet should be alert:

All diseases carried by the ixodid tick are treatable. The main thing is to remove the bloodsucker in time, and if symptoms of the disease are detected, immediately seek veterinary help. Do not delay if the signs of infection are found in kittens. They have weak immunity, so the disease develops faster.



Can an animal without a walk get a mite?

A cat can pick up an ixodes mite even if it does not go for a walk outside. Sometimes spiders get into the house on a person's clothing or shoes. An arthropod insect that has entered the home seeks prey – it can be an animal or a person.

Prevention includes regular examinations of the pet, even if the cat does not go outdoors. Special products are used to protect pets:

• Insecto-acaricidal drops on the withers are considered the most effective. They are applied once a month. However, such preparations are not suitable for kittens younger than 2 months.
• Mite sprays contain substances whose smell deters bloodsuckers. However, there is one drawback – after spraying, the animal may lick the toxic composition from the hair. To avoid trouble, it is better to apply it in the same place as the drops – on the withers.
• Another method of protection is a collar with insectoaricide composition. It is absolutely safe even for small kittens.

If the cat goes for a walk freely, the owner must be on the alert – in spring and summer there is a high probability of getting a mite. Make it a habit to check the cat every day.

It is important to get the bloodsucker out as quickly as possible. The sooner this is done, the less chance of your pet contracting an infectious disease.

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