Feline Tick Disease

Ticks are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of mammals. Outdoor cats near wooded areas are at particularly high risk for ticks, which, unfortunately, can be vectors for a number of unpleasant and dangerous diseases.

  1. Lyme disease

    • One of the most serious tick-related diseases for any animal (or human) is a bacterial infection called Lyme disease. A cat with Lyme disease will exhibit stiff muscles and joints, fatigue, fever, faintin, and what owners describe as a "zombie-like trance," according to cat medical site Messy Beast.

    Tick Fever

    • Certain fevers are transmitted by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain-Spotted fever, according to Web DVM. Although the disease is milder in cats than in dogs, look for signs such as vomiting, dizziness and stiff joints.

    Other symptoms

    • Vet info lists other possible symptoms of a tick bite as limping, lethargy, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes and oozing puss from the bite area.

    Tick removal

    • Remove the tick as soon as possible as some diseases, such as lyme disease, won't kick in until four hours after the tick bite. Use a sterilized pair of tweezers to remove the tick's head first, then the rest of the body. Clean the skin with rubbing alcohol and rub with antibiotics.

    Prevention

    • The best way to prevent ticks is to keep the cat indoors, especially around wooded areas. Daily grooming can help prevent infections, as you'll catch ticks early, and flea collars can help repel ticks.