🐾 Vet’s 2025 Guide to Tick Removal from Cats

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc – learn the safest, most effective methods to remove ticks, prevent future bites, care for bite areas, and protect your feline friend.

📌 Table of Contents

1. Why Ticks Matter to Cats
2. How to Find Ticks
3. Step-by-Step Tick Removal
4. What If the Head Breaks?
5. Safe Tick Disposal
6. Monitoring & Bite Care
7. When to Seek Vet Help
8. Effective Prevention Options
9. Debunking Home Remedies
10. Using Ask A Vet, Woopf & Purrz
11. Summary & Final Tips

1. Why Ticks Matter to Cats 🪲

Ticks attach to cats’ skin to feed on blood, which can transmit serious diseases—like Lyme disease, cytauxzoonosis, and tularemia—and provoke local infection or tick paralysis :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. Early removal—within 48 hours—cuts disease risk significantly :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

2. How to Find Ticks

• Check daily, especially if your cat goes outdoors, spending time in grassy or wooded areas :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Use fingers or a fine-tooth comb to examine ears, neck, armpits, toes, groin, belly, and collar area :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Ticks may look like skin tags or tiny dark bumps—partially engorged ticks may turn gray-green :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.

3. Step-by-Step Tick Removal

Preparation: Wear gloves, gather fine-tipped tweezers or tick removal tool, rubbing alcohol, antiseptic, and a secure jar :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

1. Distract your cat and gently expose the tick by parting fur :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
2. Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible—avoid squeezing the body :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
3. Pull upward with steady, even pressure—no twisting or jerking :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
4. Ensure the whole tick, including mouthparts, is removed :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
5. Drop it into alcohol to kill it :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
6. Clean the bite area with a feline-safe antiseptic and wash your hands :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.

4. What If the Head Breaks?

If the tick’s head stays embedded, treat it like a splinter—don’t dig forcefully. Keep area clean and monitor for infection. If it doesn’t emerge in a day or two or shows swelling/discharge, consult your vet :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.

5. Safe Tick Disposal

• Leave tick in sealed jar of alcohol—or wrap in tape—before discarding :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
• Label the container with date and bite location in case disease testing is needed :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

6. Monitoring & Bite Care

Over 1–2 weeks, watch the bite area:

• Some redness or a scab is expected.
• Contact your vet if swelling, pus, or persistent redness appears :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
• Days later, monitor for systemic signs—lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, lameness, or breathing issues :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.

7. When to Seek Vet Help 🆘

Seek immediate veterinary care if:

• Portions of the tick remain in the skin
• Cat is distressed or shows signs of infection
• Signs of tick-borne illness develop: fever, joint pain, jaundice, breathing issues :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

Tick paralysis cases can cause muscle weakness or breathing difficulty—urgent treatment is essential :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.

8. Effective Prevention Options

Year-round prevention is key. Use only cat-safe products. Options include:

• Topicals: Spot-on treatments like Bravecto, Frontline Plus, Catego—apply to back-of-neck area :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}.
• Oral tablets: Chewable agents like Credelio Cat monthly for cats ≥8 weeks :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}.
• Collars: Seresto collar offers up to 8 months of tick protection :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}.
• Shampoos, sprays, dips: Can be used for immediate tick control, but don’t replace preventive treatments :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}.
• Environmental control: Keep grass trimmed; limit outdoor access; check pets after outings :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}.

9. Debunking Home Remedies 🚫

Myths like using petroleum jelly, heat, alcohol, tea-tree, garlic, or baking soda to remove ticks are dangerous—they can aggravate ticks, promote toxin spread, or injure your cat :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}. Stick to the proven method above.

10. Using Ask A Vet, Woopf & Purrz

If you’re unsure how to remove a tick, notice bite complications, or need help picking the right prevention method—use Ask A Vet for 24/7 guidance. For cats during recovery or grooming, encourage hydration with a Woopf fountain and comfort with a soft Purrz lounger. 🐾

11. Summary & Final Tips

Quick facts:

• ✅ Check your cat for ticks regularly
• ✅ Remove properly with tweezers or a removal tool
• ✅ Dispose safely and monitor the bite
• ✅ Use cat-safe tick preventives year-round
• ❌ Don’t use home remedies—stick to veterinarian-approved methods

Ticks pose real risk—but with proper removal, prevention, and veterinary support, your cat can stay healthy and safe. For any concerns, contact Ask A Vet and rely on top-tier prevention from Woopf and comfort from Purrz. 🐱❤️