by Jessy Hudson

Created on: October 07, 2009

Ticks can be dangerous parasites not only for humans but for our pets, as well. They can carry diseases that can become deadly. For this reason, if you notice a tick on your cat you will have to remove it quickly and carefully. This can be tricky, at times, as it may be difficult to remove the entire tick if you do not follow the proper procedure.

Firstly, do not be tempted to use any of the folk remedy techniques for removing ticks. The most dangerous part of a tick is its saliva, and attempting to burn, smother or otherwise antagonize it is only going to cause it to release even more saliva into your pet's skin.

To remove a tick from your cat, you will need a pair of sharp tweezers, a small container of alcohol, and a pair of gloves. Be sure to wear the gloves at all times while working near ticks, and never touch a tick with your bare hands.

You will want to ensure that your pet is kept still, so you may need to enlist the help of a friend to hold the cat so that you can focus on the tick. The easiest way to locate ticks on your pet is to gently stroke them, keeping in contact with the skin as much as possible, and to pay attention to any bumps you find. Be sure to check the body, tail and legs of your cat, as well as inside the ears. Once you locate a bump, part the fur in that area to visually check for a tick. This should all be done, of course, while wearing gloves so as not to inadvertently touch the tick directly.

Once you have located the tick, it is time for extraction. The goal is to remove the tick in its entirety. Take the tweezers and grab the tick by the head firmly, as close to the skin as possible. You will want to pull steadily directly outward, without twisting. This should enable you to remove the tick whole, but if there is a very small amount of the head remaining you needn't worry about it too much. The cat's body will push it out as it heals.

Drop the tick into the container of alcohol you have prepared. Ticks can survive just about anything, including drowning, but alcohol is poisonous and should kill the tick within about 10 minutes.

Be sure to keep any ticks that you remove from your cat for at least a few months. You may also want to note the date that the tick was removed. If your cat becomes sick within a few weeks of being bitten by a tick, your veterinarian will need to have access to the tick in order to test it for diseases.

Once the tick has been removed, you may apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the area to disinfect it. If there is redness or swelling, antibiotic ointments may help your cat to heal more quickly. If the area remains red or swollen for more than a couple of days, you will want your cat to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

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