Ticks - advice and information
17 June 2021
Ticks seem to attach themselves to cats more often now than previously, particularly to long haired cats (the After picture above shows the tick full of the cat's blood). Cat ticks transmit microbes that cause diseases, such as Lyme disease and babesiosis but it's unusual for cats to catch these diseases. If you live in an area with cat ticks, it's a good idea to use a tick treatment that will kill them if they attach.
Stronghold Plus is available on the market which treats ticks as well as fleas and roundworms. There are several other veterinary products available which also treat ticks., Frontline spray can also be used as an effective treatment against ticks (NB: Frontline spray shouldn’t be used on pregnant or nursing queens. It can be used on kittens over 2 days of age). Ticks attached to a cat can be sprayed directly so there is no need to spray the whole cat. Alternatively, your vet or vet nurse will be able to use a special tool to remove the tick, ensuring that the mouth and head are fully removed (please don’t attempt to pull ticks off as the mouthpiece can be left behind and can cause an infection or an abscess).