Does My Cat Have Ticks? 2025 Vet Tick‑Check Guide for Cats 🐱🛡️

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc, Founder of Ask A Vet • 2025

Ticks on cats can be sneaky—but finding them early is crucial to avoid disease. This comprehensive guide helps you know exactly where and how to look, and what to do if you find one.

🔍 Why Ticks Are Hard to Spot

Ticks are small arachnids that can hide in thick fur or dark crevices, often going unnoticed as they latch and feed. By the time they enlarge, they may have already transmitted pathogens.

1. 👁️ What Ticks Look and Feel Like

• Tick bodies are round and may appear as dark bumps 1 mm—once engorged, up to 5–8 mm :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Unfed ticks are brown with darker mouths; engorged ones turn grayish and swollen :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Since tick larvae have six legs and nymphs/adults eight, feel and inspect closely to differentiate from skin lumps :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.

2. 📍 6 Key Areas to Check

Ticks prefer warm, protected spots. Here’s where cats hide them most:

• Ears & eyelids: Thin fur makes attachment easier :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• Neck & under collar: Hard-to-see areas under tags or collars :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• Groin & inner thighs: Dark folds where ticks latch quietly :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Under front legs / armpits: Warm crevices often overlooked :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
• Between toes & paw pads: Brushes through grass or soil—ticks often hitch here :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
• Base and underside of tail: Dark, warm zone ticks love :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.

3. 🖐️ How to Thoroughly Inspect

1. Run palms and fingers through fur—feeling for unusual lumps or bumps.
2. Part dense or matted fur with your finger or a comb to view the skin.
3. Focus on hiding zones after outdoor time or weekly in tick season.
4. If you spot a bump, inspect closely for legs or mouthparts—signs it's a tick.

4. 🛠️ What to Do If You Find a Tick

• Use fine-tip tweezers or a tick removal tool to grasp tick as close to the skin as possible :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• Pull straight upward steadily—avoid twisting or jerking :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Place the tick in a sealed bag or alcohol-filled container for safe disposal or testing if needed :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
• Clean the bite area with soap, water, or alcohol; monitor for redness or signs of infection.

5. 🩺 Monitoring & When to Seek Help

Once removed, watch the bite site for 2–4 weeks. Contact your vet if your cat shows:

• Fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes
• Loss of appetite, lameness, or unusual behavior
• Muscle weakness, tremors, or neurological signs

6. 🧼 Tick Prevention Tips

• Use vet-approved tick prevention—spot-on, oral, or collars tailored for cats.
• Check all pets in the household regularly.
• Maintain your yard: trim grass, remove leaf litter, create tick-safe zones.
• Wear protective clothing yourself and check yourself after outdoor time.

7. 🛎️ Ask A Vet, Woopf & Purrz: Your Tick-Check Partners

• Ask A Vet: Real-time assistance spotting ticks, removal techniques, and diagnostic follow-up.
• Woopf: Vet-curated tick preventative delivery with reminders and refills.
• Purrz: Calming wraps, grooming combs, and stress relief tools for inspection days.

🐾 Final Vet Thoughts

Finding ticks early is the key to keeping your cat safe. A quick daily or post-outdoor check through six targeted spots can make all the difference. Combined with proper removal, monitoring, and prevention, you can protect your feline friend from tick-borne illness year-round.

If you're unsure or discover symptoms, Ask A Vet is available 24/7. Download our app for peace-of-mind support anytime. 🐱❤️

— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc, Ask A Vet Blog

Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for expert veterinary guidance. 📲