Cat Ticks

[sherrardk]

Pretty sure my cat has got a tick on his neck. How can I know for sure before I try to remove it, I don’t want to make things worse if it’s not a tick. It’s on the side of his neck, in the fluffiest bit of his fur (he’s v fluffy, not smooth like most moggies). He’s only picked it up today and it’s a white, round thing. Unfortunately, I am v squeamish with a v weak stomach so I have had to limit my research somewhat (the photos made me want to hurl).

[ladybirder]

You'd psyched me up as well Sherr. Phew. The relief. x

[sherrardk]

Second son was just stroking him and the effing tick had moved - have dealt with it (cat wasn’t happy) - will get one of his favourite slaves to check him for more tomorrow.

[ladybirder]

Oh dear. Get an eviction order quickly!

[tonyav]

Oh gawd, good that you have removed it though, sherr. See the psyched up payed off.

[sherrardk]

I’m so squeamish, but the gizmo I bought was fab - would never have been able to do it with my nails even if I had the constitution to do so. My stomach is all swishy now though (not sure how I managed to get through having five kids and getting them all into double figures).

[ladybirder]

What have you done with it Sherr?

[sherrardk]

Put it in loads of kitchen roll, squished it and chucked it in the bin (all done v quickly before I could chicken out).

[Barmaid]

Those tools are great. Really satisfying when you get the little blighter in one piece. Now treat kitty with a spot on from the vets so if a tick bites it will die.

We are surrounded by fields and have loads of deer. Even I had a tick last year. Asbo used to get at least one a week until I changed his flea treatment.

[sherrardk]

I’d have a *** heart attack if I got a tick on me, will sort the tick treatment out. The cat is a scruffy fluffy cat and is particular about who can get v close to him (so I’m relying on an 18 and 13 year old for that info, the 15 year found the tick by accident and has washed his hands about five times).

[ladybirder]

Poor lad. That made me laugh.

[tonyav]

the 15 year found the tick by accident and has washed his hands about five times).

LOL, watch that it doesn't turn into an OCD thing everytime he touches the cat, sherr.

[Barmaid]

Reassure him that it's only if the tick bites him there's a problem. And the tick didn't cos it had already buried in the cat.

God I could tell you the most disgusting story about the tick that never was but I think you'd be sick.

[sherrardk]

Please don’t barmaid, I can’t even listen to stories about yuck stuff - I really need to grow a pair but I think it’s unlikely now.

[lankeela]

To be honest unless the cat is infested then the odd one is not going to make a lot of difference and the cat has probably had them before and they have dropped off without you even noticing. Worst thing you can do is to suffocate them with vaseline, or nail polish or putting alcohol on them as they can disgorge their contents into the host animal. If you must remove it and have nothing else get a tissue and grip it between finger and thumb gently turning and drawing it out. The smaller they are the more difficult so leaving them a couple of days will make it easier and by then they have often dropped off anyway.