Removing a tick in a cat: where to look and how it looks, methods and errors

Greetings, dear readers! If the cat is accustomed to the street - this is very good. Walking with your pet is always a joy. My cat, for example, could not stand the harness, and therefore had to sit at home.

This is partly for the better, because street walks can be dangerous. For example, removing a tick in a cat is not the most pleasant process, and sometimes no walk is worth it.

However, if you approach the matter correctly, then the pet will hardly suffer, and the owner will also suffer from its claws. I’m telling you how to remove a parasite from a cat!

How to correctly pull a tick from a cat

Veterinarians often face the fact that their owners do not know how to get a tick out of a cat, and are forced to eliminate errors, which turns into a serious problem for the animal.

For some reason, the people are walking a lot of wrong ways to get a bloodsucker, despite the negative experience. Therefore, it will be useful to recall how the tick should be removed according to the rules and how this cannot be done.

Ixodic and argas parasites penetrate the delicate skin of a cat with the aim of pumping blood. The former have a solid carapace along the back of males, and in females only in the area of ​​the head.

The second have soft, unprotected flap, integument. Both species in a hungry state are barely noticeable in the thickness of the coat, we begin to see them when they have already managed to introduce a head under the skin, swell in size, saturated with blood. Usually in such an enlarged state we pull them out.

How to remove a tick from a cat

There are several correct ways to get a tick out of a cat, justified in terms of the anatomy of the parasite. It is they who are not tired of promoting veterinarians, fighting amateurs.

In the absence of devices at hand, the tick can be removed with fingers, and in cats with short hair - with a thread. The list of valid methods has been exhausted!

The algorithm of actions and their sequence, as well as the means for processing the bite zone, are important:

• first we feel the animal and find the tick;
• spread the wool and remove;
• the tick is reliably destroyed;
• the wound is treated with peroxide or alcohol, then lubricated with iodine.

If the cat is prone to allergic manifestations, then it is better to give her an antihistamine, and lubricate the wound with an anti-allergic ointment.

Let us dwell on the intricacies of removing a bloodsucker for each of the methods.

1. When removing ticks from cats with tweezers, it’s enough to attach the hook tip to the skin, pass the parasite body close to the skin into the slot so that the tick is fixed, and turn the hook around the axis. The parasite will easily come out unscathed.
2. If there is a device with a soft loop, then you need to throw a loop on the body of the parasite, pull it up and fix it at the suction point of the tick to the skin. Then the device must be rotated in any direction until the bloodsucker is removed.
3. When there is a device with a rigid loop, the tick body is introduced into its wide part, then the loop is shifted so that the junction of the bloodsucker with the skin is in the narrow part, and the tick itself is securely clamped. By turning the device, it is possible to remove the tick alive, without damage.
4. You need to use ordinary straight tweezers in a special way, placing the tips strictly parallel to the skin so as not to squeeze the body. Clamp the parasite as close to the skin as possible, and then rotate the tweezers along the axis. Vertical and angular clamping not permitted!
5. If there are tweezers or forceps with curved tips - fine! The tool is held vertically or at an angle so that the tips are parallel to the skin and in contact with it. Extraction - only by turning the tips, without jerking to yourself!
6. When there is absolutely nothing suitable at hand, in extreme cases, you can pull out the tick with your fingers. To do this, put on gloves or wrap them with cloth, grab at the skin itself, without pressing on the body, and crank it to the side.

Since wool interferes with removing a tick from a cat, it is possible to resort to thread only with short hair. Otherwise, long villi caught in the loop will be pulled out before the parasite, and the cat will inevitably be outraged, which will let you know with claws or teeth.

When the hair is short, the cat will transfer the removal procedure calmly, allowing it to manipulate it incomprehensibly. The principle of extraction with thread is the same as with a soft loop - we put it on, tighten it near the skin itself, rotate it and finally remove the whole parasite.

How not to remove a tick from a cat and why

Despite the wide availability of the Internet and the relentless propaganda of veterinarians, people stubbornly continue to fill the ticks with oil, gasoline, acetone, nail polish and other aggressive chemicals.

In fact, the tick will not leave the place of suction. As for the “grip”, such a statement only works for oil and alcohol, and then in the first minutes and only for such a bloodsucker who has already managed to fully satiate and is ready to fall off.

Wetting the body sticking out from under the skin with vegetable oil or a liquid with alcohol does not eliminate the need to correctly and quickly remove the tick.

In 90% of cases, the parasite from exposure to aggressive substances simply dies, and before that, relaxing the proboscis, it burps the intestinal contents, along with the causative agents of dangerous feline ailments, in the wound along with the saliva.

The remaining common mistakes when removing the stuck parasite relate to the capture method and the direction of movement during extraction.

• It is impossible to take on the abdomen and it is unacceptable to squeeze it anywhere, otherwise the infected contents of the intestine can get into the wound.
• Capture is done exclusively close to the skin, at the point of entry of the head into the skin.
• Jerks and pulling movements are unacceptable - this inevitably leads to the separation of the body.

A parasite head left in the thickness of the skin with a proboscis and tentacles will provoke local inflammation, most likely purulent.

But if the pet is calm, or there is an assistant who can hold the animal, then carefully remove the remnants of a splinter with a carefully calcined needle, without forgetting to treat the wound thoroughly.

Where to look for a tick on a cat and how it looks

It is better to regularly test and examine cats, often walking in the wild, in addition to the tick, it is important not to miss the possible infection with fleas, ringworm and other troubles.

When feeling blood, a tick, when felt, resembles a tubercle in the place where it did not exist before and should not be. Pay particular attention to such areas:

1. head;
2. ears
3. neck, especially the front;
4. chest and tummy;
5. groin;
6. paws;
7. the inside of the hips;
8. armpits;
9. the area under the tail.

These places are characterized by thin skin and a close arrangement of capillaries, therefore they are most attractive for bloodsuckers.

The parasite itself, having managed to pump, looks like a hardened drop or a small raisin, often gray, but brown or close to black shades are possible.

What about female cats, that males have 8 papillae, also resembling tubercles! Therefore, do not take them for a tick and do not try to remove them!

Veterinarians often encounter such cases. Therefore, study your pet in order to know its anatomy and not to mock him because of his own ignorance.

How to get a tick out of a cat at home

If a person can notice a sucking parasite on his body, then in the thick coat of a pet it is quite difficult to find it.

Since cats love to walk in the thick grass, they are often attacked by various insects, including dangerous ticks.

How to remove a tick in a cat

The main rule of tick removal is accuracy. The parasite must be removed in such a way as not to exert strong pressure on its body.

To properly remove the tick, it is recommended to use a special tool. It looks like a small nail clipper.

It is used to capture and twist the sucked parasite. There are also handles with a loop at the end. It must be thrown on the tick. If there are no such tools, other improvised devices will help.

Hook the parasite onto the jaw or head. The tool must be kept near the skin of the animal. Calmly, with little effort, scroll a tick a couple of times, unscrewing it from the animal.

Naturally, for this you will need to immobilize the cat. It is more convenient to carry out this procedure together. After removal, the wound must be treated with an antiseptic or disinfectant. A live tick is recommended to check for the presence of dangerous bacteria.

Ways to get a tick out of a cat

In addition to modern devices designed to extract ticks, you can use other tools:

• Tweezers. Gently grab the parasite near the proboscis. With the help of rotational movements, you can quickly pull out the insect. It will take only two to three turns. Instead of tweezers, some use a surgical clamp. However, due to the cloves at its ends, the likelihood of crushing the tick significantly increases;
• Thread. Take a small piece of thread, make a loop that you need to throw on a bloodsucker. Connect the two ends of the thread, twisting them into a single whole. When twisting the thread in the fingers, the tick begins to turn;
• Syringe. Effective when the tick just sucked.Cut off the tip of the syringe, attach to the tick, pull the piston. If you do everything right, the syringe will suck out not only the tick, but also all the pathogenic bacteria.

Mist extraction errors

Many mistakenly believe that the parasite can simply be pulled out. But in this case, the head with the proboscis almost always comes off, remaining under the skin. In addition, there are many other errors that should not be made:

1. Do not crush the swollen body of the tick on the skin of the pet;
2. do not burn the parasite with a cigarette;
3. do not pick out a tick with a needle;
4. do not water the insect with caustic fluids;
5. do not pull out the tick.

Having seen a tick on his cat, the owner immediately begins to remove it. Often the cat twitches and breaks out, which leads to sloppy work and crushing the parasite.

It is recommended to calm the animal. At the site of the bite, the cat will feel itching and pain. To eliminate unpleasant sensations, it is recommended to treat the affected area with a spray, which contains hydrocortisone.

Do not water the tick with oil, blocking its airways. This will scare the parasite, and make it splash out the contents of the stomach into the cat's blood.

Pulled a tick from a cat, what to do

After removing the tick, a small, but open wound remains on the cat's body. In order for the infection not to get here, it must be treated.

Of course, the animal will react negatively to iodine or alcohol. In addition, this treatment can injure tissues, cause a chemical burn, and cause unpleasant consequences. It is better to use solutions of furatsilina, chlorhexidine or other similar means.

As for the tick itself, then you need to make sure that it is not infected with dangerous viruses. You can find out only in laboratory conditions.

If the result is negative, you will be calm that the pet will not become infected. But at the same time, pay attention to his health condition for some time.

For positive results, you should immediately contact your veterinarian, even if there are no symptoms of the disease. The specialist will prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

They pulled out a tick from a cat, but its head remained

Do not worry too much about the fact that some parts of the body of the parasite remain under the skin. After all, the main danger is precisely the saliva of the parasite, and not its body part.

However, there is a possibility that the salivary glands for some time will produce saliva, which with dangerous bacteria will get into the wound. Therefore, the remains of a bloodsucker must be removed as soon as possible.

Of course, now it will not work to pass the tick to the laboratory, but you can easily get your head out with a proboscis. They act with her as with a usual splinter.

There are situations when numerous attempts to extract a proboscis from a cat are unsuccessful. In this case, it is impossible to incise or in any other way expand the place of the bite. In this case, it is recommended to seek the help of a veterinarian.

Preventative measures

Practice shows that not all owners of furry pets use preventive measures to protect the animal from insects.

This is explained by the fact that many do not believe in their effectiveness. Of course, they cannot give one hundred percent protection against ticks. However, some measures still significantly reduce the risk of tick attacks during a walk:

• collar.In a modern pet store, you can purchase a special collar that is saturated with deterrent compounds. If you put such a tape on the cat, it is unlikely that the bloodsuckers will find it attractive. The main advantages of such collars should include a fairly long period of validity. The deterrent effect may persist for several months. No complicated operations are necessary with the collar. It is enough to put it on an animal;
• sprays. Today, there are sprays that are used in different ways. Some are designed to treat all the hair of a pet, others - only for application to the withers. However, they all have a sufficiently high efficiency, which is confirmed by many breeders. Although it is worth noting certain disadvantages. For example, when applying the product, it must be ensured that it does not get into the nose, mouth and eyes. It is also necessary to prevent spray licking immediately after application. For this, the cat needs to be held in hands until the applied agent has completely dried;
• drops. Such preparations are applied exclusively to the withers. After use, the active ingredients are absorbed into the upper layers of the skin. Thus, the cat will remain unattractive for parasites for a long time. Of the advantages, it is worth noting the possibility of applying drops to eight-month-old kittens. However, do not forget that such drugs are contraindicated in pregnant cats, kittens under eight months of age, sick and weakened individuals;
• regular inspection. Returning from a walk, it is recommended to carefully examine the cat. So you can find a tick that has just begun to stick. Also, ticks, before digging into the skin, can walk on the body of the animal for several hours. That is why a re-examination is recommended after some time;
• try to choose a place for walking, where the probability of meeting a tick is small enough. For example, at least during a period of increased tick activity, give up walking in the forest. Better give preference to city parks.

Regardless of which antiparasitic agent you decide to use, carefully read its instructions.

You need to understand that the poisonous components that destroy and scare away bloodsuckers can cause significant damage to the health of a cat. For example, non-compliance with dosages often leads to intoxication. If you suspect this, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

How to get a tick from a cat, what to do and what is forbidden

By themselves, the bites of ixodid ticks are unpleasant, but not dangerous: the most serious complication can be infection and irritation from insect saliva.

Only carriers of infectious diseases, such as encephalitis, tularemia, and borreliosis, are dangerous. Owners of independent pets need to master the skill of how to get a tick out of a cat.

A clean cat will definitely try to remove the parasite: lick it or bite it. A disturbed insect, if constantly disturbed, will constantly secrete saliva containing toxic substances and try to get deeper.

You can not do it this way

On the Internet there are a lot of "useful" tips "how to get a tick from a cat." Often amateurs are advised to drip the oil solution at the site of the bite, as a result of which the insect will stop receiving oxygen and die itself - then it can be safely removed.

Only one thing is true in this advice: a tick without oxygen will die sooner or later. But until this happens, he will secrete saliva containing poisons and a possible infection. A layer of oil will only create ideal conditions for the spread of this infection.

In addition, the cat will suffer: picking with a needle is painful for her too. It seems to many: if a tick is crushed, it will die and fall off itself.

However, if the carrier of the infection is crushed, then the pathogenic microflora from his body will fall into the hands of a person and the skin of a cat: not the easiest option for introducing an infection, but quite possible. And, besides, the head of the tick, if crushed, will remain under the skin: without a body it is almost impossible to pull it out without making an incision.

So it is necessary

It is best if the doctor removes the insect removal procedure. But the doctor is not always close. Using a tool is the easiest way to remove a tick from a cat at home.

It can be a hook that looks like a curved fork with two ends (special or homemade), manicure tweezers, a strong thin thread. The tool can be any one that can tightly grasp the body of the tick as close as possible to the skin of the animal.

The insect must not be removed in a jerk, but carefully twisted clockwise. In the process, care must be taken not to damage the insect: its entire head should not remain inside.

So that the parasite does not cause much harm to its saliva, do not bother it. And, if you already captured the body of an insect, you need to quickly twist it, until he began to secrete saliva.

Safety precautions

In the process of removing the tick, one must remember that the insect can be contagious. True, epidemiologists believe that fear of infection is only in a certain season and in a certain area.

But you should not take risks: it is better to do everything with rubber gloves and carefully so as not to damage the cat's skin once again.

After removing the tick, many try to remove this muck from the eyes rather. But throwing it away is not worth it: even having been in a cat and tortured with crochet or tweezers, it is quite tenacious - it will come to its senses and climb into someone again.

However, if there is a suspicion that the tick is infected, do not destroy it immediately: it is better to deliver it in a tightly closed jar to a laboratory for research.

Antiseptic

Before removing the tick, tools and hands need to be treated, but the skin of the animal, especially around the site of the bite, should not be smeared.

After it was possible to pull out the tick from the cat, an antiseptic treatment must be done immediately. The bite site is best treated with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or terramycin (spray or solution).

If there are no such substances, it is permissible to use iodine, alcohol, brilliant green, methylene blue, but these are not the best antiseptic options: they are painful and injure the skin, especially green.

Infection prevention

The first 2-3 weeks after the bite, it will be necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the bitten animal: approximately the incubation period of diseases transmitted by ixodid ticks lasts approximately.

In cats, the clinical picture of these diseases is not specific, so any changes in condition and behavior should cause concern.

Symptoms of allergies and secondary infection will also not develop immediately. Like humans, cats are given prophylactic immunoglobulin at the risk of encephalitis infection.This vaccination is paid, but is it worth saving on the health and life of a pet?

Bite Prevention

At risk are cats that live and walk freely near forests: it is there that the highest concentration of active ticks is observed in the warm season.

But they can be protected with the help of antiparasitic agents: collars, drops on the withers and sprays. All these tools have their advantages and disadvantages. The collar is less toxic than other agents, but has a longer contact with the skin of the animal and can cause irritation or an allergic reaction.

That is why drops should be applied to the withers: a cat cannot reach it with its tongue. Drops can be used no more than once a month.

Sprays are safer, but their duration is shorter, and, therefore, their effectiveness is lower. But the main thing: it’s not enough to know how to get a tick out of a cat;

And this can be done only by an attentive owner who daily at least strokes his pet. And ideally, it also combs and examines.

How to get a tick from a cat at home

A tick bite is dangerous not only for humans, but also for domestic cats and cats. Parasites lie in wait not only in the forest.

They can be found anywhere where tall grass grows: in the park, in the country, and even in the city. If you find a tick in a cat, you should remove it as soon as possible.

The method of extracting ticks in humans and domestic animals is not much different. The article describes the appearance of the tick so that it is easier for you to distinguish it, as well as tips on preventing the development of dangerous diseases in cats.

How to detect a tick and how it looks

Many people do not know what a tick looks like, and sometimes confuse it with other harmless insects. Distinctive features of the tick:

Distinctive features of the tick:

1. a black, gray or brown body in the form of a rounded drop;
2. the number of paws depends on the maturity of the insect. The young individual has 3 pairs of legs, and the adult has 4 pairs;
3. on the pointed part of the body is a head with a proboscis. During suction, the tick burrows itself into the skin with the head, sometimes even with the paws, and only the trunk remains outside.

Methods for detecting ticks in cats

It is almost impossible to notice the parasite in thick wool before it is sucked because of its tiny size. By the size of the calf, you can determine how long it sucked.

Before the parasite begins to feed, it looks like a flat seed, but if it has already begun to feed on blood, its body increases in size and becomes red, pink or gray.

Methods for detecting ticks in cats It is almost impossible to notice a parasite in a thick coat before it is sucked because of its tiny size.

By the size of the calf, you can determine how long it sucked. Before the parasite begins to feed, it looks like a flat seed, but if it has already begun to feed on blood, its body increases in size and becomes red, pink or gray.

Finding a well-fed tick is much easier. To do this, you need good lighting (light from a window, or a table lamp), and a comb with frequent teeth.

There were times when the owners took the nipple of an animal for a tick. Nipples are found in females and males and are found on the animal’s stomach in an amount of 8 pcs.

How to get a tick out of a cat - step by step instructions

After the parasite is detected, you must immediately remove it.If it is decided to independently conduct the removal procedure, simple rules should be followed.

• The procedure is carried out in rubber gloves - this will protect against accidental infection.
• It is necessary to fix the pet so that it does not move during the procedure. It is better to ask a second person for help.
• In no case pull the parasite abruptly.
• Pull out the tick in a circular motion, clockwise.
• Before the procedure, treat your hands, tools and bite with a disinfectant.

Extraction methods

There are two ways to properly and safely remove a tick from a cat. The first way is to remove it with your hands, thread or tweezers. No matter which tool you choose, the algorithm of actions is the same.

Use your fingers or tweezers to grab the insect as close to the proboscis as possible. Pull out slowly by slowly turning the body clockwise or swaying from side to side.

The second way is to remove using a syringe. To do this, you need a new medical syringe and knife (preferably clerical). You need to take a syringe and cut off with a knife the part on the side of the needle.

The edge should be flat. Then tightly press the syringe to the place where the tick sits. Slowly pump out air. The difference in pressure should pull the insect out.

After the procedure, you need to destroy the tick and process the bite site. This method is rarely used. If the tick is firmly stuck, the vacuum inside the syringe will not pull out the insect, but only provide an additional flow of blood.

What can not be done

During the procedure, we strongly do not recommend working with your bare hands. The use of gloves will protect the person from accidental infection and reduce the risk of damage to the skin of the pet.

If there is a suspicion that the insect is infected, then you need to pack it in a sealed container and take it to the laboratory. You need to do this no later than 2 days after the bite. According to statistics, every 5 ticks are carriers of a dangerous infection.

1. The use of oil and other lubricants is not recommended. Many believe that if you lubricate a tick and a bite site with petroleum jelly, oil or kerosene, it will come out by itself. But this is not so. The insect can suffocate and die, which will complicate the extraction.
2. You can not abruptly remove the insect. If the head remains under the skin, inflammation at the site of the bite or infection of the entire body may follow. This is due to the fact that it is the saliva of the tick that is the repository of dangerous microorganisms and infections.
3. You can’t crush him. In a crushed state, the tick is much more dangerous. If the liquid from the crushed tick gets on the skin, infection cannot be avoided. The surest way to kill a tick is to burn it or put it in alcohol.

If the head of the tick remains under the skin of the cat

It happens that the head remains under the skin, this is easy to notice with a careful examination of the bite. A black dot under the skin indicates that part of the body of the tick has not been removed.

Track the condition of the lesion site for a week or two, if pus or inflammation appears, take the necessary measures for treatment at home, or take your pet to the veterinarian.

Pulled out a tick - what's next

Symptoms of infection may not appear immediately. In the first month after the bite, you need to carefully monitor the health of the pet and its behavior.

Substances that the tick injects during a bite can cause not only illness, but also serious allergies. A change in behavior is a reason to go to the vet.

What should alert:

• heat;
• loss of appetite, weight loss;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• change of stool;
• discoloration of urine;
• pallor of the mucous membranes;
• change in appearance, dullness of the coat.

Diseases that threaten cats, cats and kittens after a tick bite:

1. tularemia;
2. theileriosis;
3. hemobartonellosis.

Any disease can be cured if you notice the disease in time and start treating it. You can avoid all problems if you vaccinate your cat with immunoglobulin. Vaccination is paid, but not more expensive than the life and safety of the animal and its owners.

Removing a tick from a kitten is more difficult or not

The process of removing a tick in a kitten is not more complicated than in an adult cat or cat. Pull out the parasite more carefully so as not to damage thin skin.

But the consequences of a tick bite for kittens can be much more serious than in adults. The immunity of a kitten is much weaker than that of an adult cat, so it is harder for him to fight serious diseases.

Where does the cat tick that does not go outside

If the cat does not happen on the street, this does not mean that he is completely protected from danger. A tick can bring a person into the house.

It is enough to take a walk on the street, in the park or just walk past the bushes. Hungry ticks quickly cling to clothes and shoes and move around it in search of open skin. If the tick did not have time to dig into a person, he can remain on his clothes, and at home move to a cat.

Prevention

The risk group includes cats (cats, kittens) Freely walking on the street or cottage. You can protect them with the help of funds that you can buy in a pharmacy or cook yourself:

• Sprays
• drops;
• collars.

Sprays are the safest way to protect, but their action is limited to a short period of time. Drops: Liquid products drip onto the coat.

They are absorbed into the skin and the protective effect can last for several months. But the composition of such drops is very toxic.

The collar is a great helper in protecting your pet. But you need to wear it only while walking on the street, as long contact with the skin can cause allergies.

Despite all these measures, only a constant attentive attitude to the pet will save you from many unpleasant consequences.