Ticks are not only creepy, but they can be dangerous as well. Carrying a host of diseases, ticks are blood-sucking creatures that can make your kitten severely sick and can also affect you and your family.
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Restraining Your Cat
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You may need to enlist the help of someone in order to remove a tick from your furry friend. It may hurt taking the tick out and you will need someone to not only help hold your kitten, but to also keep her from biting. Have your accomplice hold the kitten by the nape of the neck and hold the rest of her body down with a hand. You can also try wrapping a towel around the kitty in order to contain her.
Removing the Tick
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Wearing gloves, apply isopropyl alcohol to the area in which the tick is located. Then, use a pair of tweezers to firmly grab as close to the tick's head as possible. The head will most likely be under the skin. It is important not to squeeze the tick's body because it can release any diseases it may be carrying into your cat. Once you have secured the tweezers, pull the tick out using steady, forceful pressure. If possible, examine the tick to determine if you have successfully removed the head as well. If not, be sure to swab the site where the tick was with alcohol. If the tick's head is left in, it may work its way out, but infection is possible. It's a good idea to apply a medicated ointment, such as Neosporin, to the wound. Just make sure your kitty can't lick it off.
After you have removed the tick, flush it down your toilet. If you notice there is a red bump or discharge where the tick was removed, contact your veterinarian. This could be a sign of infection or a tick-born disease.
Tick Prevention
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Perhaps the easiest and most-effective method of preventing ticks from invading your kitten is using a once-a-month topical tick medicine. One popular choice is Frontline Plus for Cats, which can be used on kittens who are eight weeks and older. This treatment is applied directly to the skin between the shoulder blades. It is extremely important for the medication to make contact with the skin or else it will not work. While on Frontline, it is possible for your cat to still get ticks, but the ticks will die when they bite your cat, before they can spread any diseases.
Preventing Ticks on Kittens Younger Than Eight Weeks
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If your kitten is younger than eight weeks, he isn't old enough to use most tick medications and the best prevention is to keep him indoors. However, this method isn't always reliable. It is possible for indoor kittens to have ticks because humans can bring them inside on their clothing. Ticks can also climb in through windows and doors. Petting your kitten and using a flea comb are the best ways to look for ticks on your feline friend.
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