A cat was bitten by a tick: what to do in the first place and how to prevent infection with infectious diseases

Do ticks bite cats

Many owners are interested in the question of why ticks do not bite cats. In fact, parasites do not have the ability to distinguish which animal is in front of them. They search for prey with the help of special thermal sensors. And if a cat passes by a bush or grass where a tick lives, then most likely it will be attacked by it.

Are ticks dangerous for cats?

It is not the parasite itself that is dangerous, but the infection it carries. Even 10 years ago, when asked whether various types of ticks are dangerous for cats, veterinarians answered in the negative. However, it is now known that these animals are also susceptible to infectious diseases carried by ticks.

At the same time, there are diseases that do not pose a danger to humans, but are very difficult to tolerate by these animals. Therefore, each owner needs to know how ticks are dangerous for cats.

Can a cat die from a tick

Ways to infect a cat with ticks

Parasites that attack a cat can live in grass, on bushes, on other domestic and wild animals, as well as on humans. Therefore, an animal can meet a tick in various ways:

• for a walk on the street, in a forest or park;
• the parasite can crawl from another animal:
• the host may bring the parasite on their clothes or shoes.

Even cats that never go outside are at risk of being infected.

Cat bitten by a tick symptoms

After being introduced into the body of the victim, the insect uses painkillers, so the cat does not experience discomfort. Also, within 1-2 weeks after the incident, the animal can behave calmly. Symptoms of a tick bite in cats may not occur unless the parasite has been infected. During the above period, it is necessary to carefully monitor her condition.

If a cat is bitten by an infected tick, the following symptoms occur.

Tick ​​bite in a cat: what to do at home

If the parasite is found next to the cat, in the place where she sleeps or just on the fur, it is necessary first of all to conduct a thorough examination of the pet's skin. With the help of a fine comb, you need to comb the animal against the coat, inspect the skin, pushing the hairline with your hands. Most often, ticks dig into the following parts of the body:

• hind legs;
• groin;
• armpits.

If a bite mark is found, it is necessary to treat it with an antiseptic and observe the condition of the pet for 2 weeks. In case of alarming symptoms, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

When the tick is saturated with blood, it will fall off on its own. However, you should not wait for this moment: the longer the parasite is on the victim, the more infection enters its bloodstream.

Treatment of cats from ticks of various types at home

In some cases, treatment of the animal at home is acceptable.

Ear mite

An ear mite or otodectosis is the appearance in the auricle of an animal of small parasites up to 1 mm in size. They do not pose a danger to the life of the animal, but they cause severe discomfort: itching, burning, inflammation. This disease at an early stage can be cured at home. There are several recipes.

Subcutaneous demodexes

Demodicosis is treated in stages:

1. It is necessary to wash the animal thoroughly using special shampoos.
2. In order to cleanse the skin of scabs and crusts, it is necessary to treat the affected areas with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine.
3. After that, it is necessary to apply sulfuric, aversictin ointment, or a drug prescribed by a doctor, to the affected areas.

What to do if your cat has tick-borne encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis is the most dangerous disease that can develop in a pet after a tick bite.

Clinical picture of the disease

The encephalitis virus enters the bloodstream, quickly spreads throughout the body, mainly affects the brain.

If a cat is bitten by an encephalitic tick, there will be following symptoms:

• weakness, apathy, lack of interest in what is happening around;
• loss of appetite or complete refusal to eat;
• decreased vision, hearing impairment, it is difficult for the animal to navigate in space;
• violation of coordination of movements;
• decreased muscle tone, convulsions, in severe cases, complete paralysis may occur.

At the initial stage, the clinical picture is similar to other, less dangerous diseases. If the symptoms mentioned above appear, it is necessary to contact a veterinary clinic to clarify the diagnosis.

Therapies

Despite the fact that the disease is serious, veterinarians at an early stage of its development do not always immediately prescribe serious treatment, relying on the internal reserves of the body.

Often drugs are used to alleviate the somatic condition of the animal: antipyretic, antihistamine, vitamins.

For the treatment of the acute form of the disease, corticosteroids and replacement therapy are used. If the infection has given complications in the form of paralysis, convulsions, loss of vision are observed, then the disease is considered incurable.

Cat bitten by a tick consequences

Many owners are interested in the question of whether a tick bite is always dangerous for a cat. Not all parasites are carriers of dangerous viruses, but the probability of meeting with such an insect is quite high. In addition to the above diseases, others may develop.

The consequences of a tick bite in a cat:

• borreliosis: the virus affects the nervous system and joints of the animal, it can be treated only in the first 2 stages;
• demodicosis: boils appear on the skin, from which lymph and pus ooze, hair falls out in the affected areas.

Prevention of ticks in cats

It is more advisable to carry out regular tick prevention than to observe the signs and consequences of a tick bite in a cat later. To do this, it is necessary to use special means for prevention, but none of them gives a 100% guarantee. The animal must be regularly and carefully examined, combed wool.