If you think that this problem is typical only for stray cats or those who live in private homes, you are mistaken. This problem can be encountered by owners of exclusively domestic, apartment, cats. You can bring the tick on your shoes or clothes. So it is worth to familiarize in advance with the measures of prevention and treatment of tick bites, and also be able to remove it from the skin of the pet.
Are ticks for cats dangerous?
To begin with, not all cats owners know about the degree of danger of a tick bite. As a rule, we have to deal with ixodic ticks. Namely, they are carriers of not only viral encephalitis or typhoid, but also pyroplasmosis. In addition, they are spreaders of helminthic invasions.
The fact is that all viruses reproduce directly in the body of the tick. As soon as he bites the animal, it all gets wounded, where the mite lays eggs and passes the baton to new generations. So you need to detect and remove the parasite as soon as possible.
The tick bitten the cat: symptoms
As a rule, there are two ways of developing the event if the tick reaches your pet. At best, otodectosis will begin, in a more sad version, the cat will still catch pyroplasmosis .
While the incubation period of pyroplasmosis lasts, the animal behaves in the usual way. But after the expiration of this period, the cat becomes noticeably sluggish, loses its appetite and interest in favorite treats and is generally inactive. Almost always the disease is acute:
- the cat's urine becomes reddish, can also acquire darker shades up to black;
- if the cats have ticks, there is increased thirst and a weak appetite;
- the mucous membranes become pale;
- the temperature of the animal rises.
Ear mite will show itself with redness, scaling or noticeable itching. All this you are formed on the inner surface of the auricle. The cat starts to shake its head, itch or rub against objects and sex. If the time is not taken, the place of the lesion will start to appear fluid or pus. If untreated, the animal may become deaf.
How to remove a tick from a cat?
First of all, remember the simple rule: many diseases can have similar symptoms and can not be diagnosed independently. Once you notice that the cat itches or its behavior has changed, lead to the veterinarian.
Treatment of ticks in cats is to clean the ear from the parasite and the products of its vital activity and to continue to use the prescribed drugs. You swab remove all of the auricles, then treat it again with hydrogen peroxide and use ear drops from ticks for cats.
If you saw a tick on the body of a cat, it should be removed immediately. Most often they choose ears, abdomen, armpits or inguinal places. Feel the hair with your fingers. If the parasite has just started sucking blood, it looks like a small dark seed.
Then we put on gloves and start to work neatly. Act quickly, so that the parasite does not have time to dig into the skin even more. Using tweezers, grab the head of the mite and remove it. For these purposes, there are special devices. Next, treat the bite site with an antiseptic and go to the doctor.
Prevention of ticks in cats
The surest way to avoid all these troubles is to use preventive measures. It's not so simple to get a tick from a cat, how to protect it during the summer season. Use collars or special preparations.
There are all kinds of ointments, sprays, drops from mites for domestic and foreign cats. Assign them to a specialist. Remember that drugs are toxic not only for parasites, but for the animal itself. So strictly adhere to the recommended dose. Watch the pet's fur after walking on the street and closely monitor changes in his behavior.