Cat Ticks

[netibiza]

My very furry cat is sporting a big tick, but I find it very hard to find it, and she will not let me pinch it off, also I have no nails at the momento. Is there an easy way to kill it? (the tick not the cat!)

[jmak]

Cover it with butter and it will drop off,put garlic in yr cats food no more ticks/fleas.if u pinch it off will get infected

[Khandro]

There is a simple plastic gadget you can get from a vet or pet shop which has a narrow v cut into it. You slide it close to the cat's skin and under the body of the tic and prise it out. You obviously don't have one, you might make one from something like an old 'credit' type card. Don't squeeze it or you will leave the head in. If it's large as you say it will just drop off soon, and that might be the best option.

[rojash]

As jmak says - do not pinch it off: it will leave the head embedded, which will rot and cause infection.

This is what we use: http://www.otom.com/how-to-remove-a-tick

But most flea treatments, if applied regularly will generally prevent ticks as well.

[netibiza]

I used to remove them in the old days without a problem but this cat will not let me hold her long enough to get at it, she is quite vicious having once been feral. I may try the butter one (would marg do it?)

Thank you both, if it drops off, will the head come out too??

[netibiza]

Oh I like that tick twister, will see if any shops here sell them

[Khandro]

Olive oil, marg. Vaseline is OK, the idea is that you are sealing the blighter off from breathing, and it will dislodge itself head and all but it might take a day or two'
If you live in an area where there a lots of tics it wouldn't be a bad idea to get yourself immunised against picking up something nasty, like Lyme disease, if one chooses you instead of the cat.

[China Doll]

Ha! I was going to come on to discuss cat tRicks.... should have gone to spec savers! :c)

[jelly baby]

You can get a drop on solution like Frontline. It's called Stronghold and kills ticks and fleas. I think it is only available from the vet or online with a prescription.

[boxtops]

jely baby, I agree entirely - we wouldn't use anything else

[Khandro]

Not heard of it, but you do not want to kill the tic while it is still attached, or it will still have its head buried in the cat and become an infection. Detaching the tic cleanly is the priority not killing it.

[frugalfred]

I remove ticks from my dog by dabbing the tick with surgical spirit; this anaesthetises the tick, causing it to relax the gripping devices on its head, inside the animal. The surgical spirit also has a sterilising effect on the slight wound left when the tick is removed by the special tool referred to by Khandro above.

[woofgang]

Neti the best tick remover is called o'tom If you can't get one locally or on amazon then give me a shout and I will post you one if you like.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation