Signs of Tick Bite Infections
Some tick bite infections symptoms should occur within 48 hours of the occurrence of the bite. These symptoms include:
- Fever
- Lameness
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy and sleepiness
- Limping
- Dehydration
- Inflamed lymph nodes
In severe cases, arthritis, kidney disease/failure or even puss and foul odor in the bite area may occur. If you notice any of the above mentioned symptoms, take your cat to the vet. If detected early, a cat tick disease may be cured.
Cat Tick Disease
Ticks may transmit a number of diseases to cats. The cat tick diseases depend on the region you are located in, as there are different types of ticks. The most frequent diseases caused by ticks are:
- Lyme disease
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Tularemia
- Hepatozoonosis
- Tick paralysis, which is caused by the toxins in the tick
Removing a Tick
Ticks, especially females, which are larger, may be seen on the surface of your cat's skin. They are black. However, tick may be located in more hidden areas such as ears, between toes, neck or collar area and under the tail. Make sure to check your cat thoroughly.
Ticks should be removed as soon as possible, as it takes a few hours before they transmit any infection to the pet. Use a pair of surgical gloves and avoid touching the tick with your fingers, as ticks may transmit diseases to humans too.
Use a pair of sterile tweezers and pull the tick, making sure that the entire insect is removed. Pull the head of the tick first, to make sure the tick will not release the remaining toxins in the cat's body. After removing the tick, disinfect the area with hydrogen peroxide and apply an antibiotic ointment. The zone may stay irritated for several days due to the tick saliva and in rare cases, the tick bite will leave scars or hairless areas.
You may keep the tick and show it to your vet, so he may diagnose your pet properly.
Preventing Tick Bites
Tick bites may be prevented if you restrict your cat's access outside during tick bite season. However, this seems impossible if your cat is an outdoor type of pet. Typically, tick season lasts from May to September, so you need to pay special attention to your cat's skin during this period. Ticks are more common in woodlands, busy and tall grass areas or mountainous zones.
Groom your cat on a regular basis and look for unusual bites or visible ticks. You may also use flea and tick shampoos and a tick collar that may repel these insects.