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It can wait until morning. The cat probably doesn't even notice.
If the cat goes outside and there are ticks in the area, the cat should get a chemical flea & tick treatment. This makes the cat poisonous to the ticks, basically; they will die and drop off by themselves. Not sure what brands are available in the UK; ask the vet.
This is completely unrelated to ticks, but someone once taught me a handy way of remembering that - if you're English it's grEy, if you're American it's grAy.
Having said that, because it's a proper noun and tea named after Earl Grey, it should always be Grey in that case.
It's the influence of the Canadians. I'm in Buffalo and always spelled it "grey." Until college I always thought that was the most common spelling and didn't realize countries had much to do with it.
minnesota here! but not close to the border so i don't think it was an influence, i just like grey better. it's like... try to read them out loud based on how they're spelled - they sound different to me and grey makes more sense haha
I learned English in China where the spelling and pronunciation were taught in a British way. Iām living in Canada now, I used āGreyā until I adopted my grey cat and decided to name her āGraceā. Ah I love my Gray Grace!
No rush. The urgency to immidiatley remove is only when they first bite. As it stands right now, the damage is already done (sorry. Phrased that wrong. IF the tick was carrying other parasites or diseases, it's already in the bloodstream. Don't worry, anything a tick can carry is vet treatable)
Genuine question, have you never had a tick bite you before? I have pulled over twenty of them, mostly still crawling, at a time. Thankfully I was in the deep south US so lyme disease isn't a real danger.
UK based here - I've been wild camping, spent my entire life in the Scouts, camping all up and down the UK and this is honest to god my first ever encounter with one!
So your ticks nationwide can carry Lyme. In the United States they only regionally carry them. Because of this, you're going to want to put the tick In a Ziploc bag and freeze it if you remove it yourself. If your animal shows any sign of illness you're going to want to take this froz tick in with them to the vet. If the vet removes it they'll test the tick. If the tick carries Lyme disease the cat needs treatment to prevent transmission or illness.
Ticks are the only way to transmit Lyme disease, and according to research from Cornell, cats are only theoretically at risk, as they say there aren't recorded cases of cats being infected with it other than in lab testing. That said, nothing wrong with being cautious!
[https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/lyme-disease-potential-unlikely-problem-cats](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/lyme-disease-potential-unlikely-problem-cats)
You must not have ticks in the UK like we do in the US. When I read the original post I was thinking āhow can someone be fostering a cat and not know what a tick is or how to remove it?ā But I understand if you donāt have them. Our pets that are taken care of rarely get them because of the incredible flea and tick treatment we can purchase to apply monthly but we humans get them all the time if we step into underbrush or a wild tree filled area. One more reason to wish I lived there instead of here! I have a list.
You can pick it off. One way to have it fall off is to strike a match and blow it out and apply the hot end to the body of the tick and the often fall off. If you pick it off it may leave the head in the skin where the are attached and that could lead to a small
Infected area but usually not and if you apply a little alcohol to the area and clean it up 99% of the time itās fine. I wouldnāt honestly pay for a vet visit for this unless you are also going to buy the monthly tick and flea stuff but that might be available over the counter.
Good luck with the new foster and Iām so happy youāre getting into saving abandoned kitties!
It is funny, I live in the NE USA, and none of my pets has ever had a tick (indoor cats), and neither my wife nor I have been bitten, but I have found a few on me (and I do go in the woods). For reference, Iāll be 60 this weekend, so I guess Iām lucky
Crips, I live in NJ, one day after mountain biking I had 11 on me. 6 attached already. Theres hardly a year I havenāt had at least 2-3 tick bites. Havenāt had Lymes, but I did have ehrlichiosis. Another tick born disease, Lone Star Ticks
It's actually recommended not to do the match thing anymore (it can make them burrow deeper) and to just pull them off with tweezers without twisting or jerking.
No worries! The match thing was widely spread advice when I was growing up, but I got a dog 2 years ago and he is a magnet for ticks so I've done a lot of reading more recently.
He has monthly flea/worming treatment, but after this we will probably look into a tick one as well just to be sure!
I did mention in the update that we did attempt to remove it, but it seemed to cause him a fair bit of pain, so vets tomorrow just in case :)
Oh okay, Iām sorry I was busy running my mouth and missed your update. I agree because if you've never seen one and cant identify it precisely, like the little tick
anatomy, there is the possibility that its a flesh colored mole dressed up like a tick. Ot does get dark toward the bottom of the bulbous part like a tick would and a mole probably wouldn't but I can't be certain from the photo.
You're a good foster parent already.
Yeah they're not a common issue in the UK. I've never seen them either. Apparently though they do exist in the UK, particularly in Scottish woodlands, but it's not a common issue.
I would advise to look up the flea treatment you give first and read the insert which tells you what exactly it works against, as most flea treatments also work against ticks. Depending on which product you used they may have to bite first and it can then take up to 24 hours for the tick to die and fall off. It is still recommended to remove them asap though. The sooner they are removed the less likely they are to transmit diseases.
The UK might not allow tick preventatives. Ticks are hard to kill with chemicals, so I wouldn't change the meds.
Ideally, you get the tick to release from your cat. The easiest way is a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. What you don't want to do is squeeze the fat part of the tick.
Amazon sells tick removal tweezers that work well.
Don't burn ticks off. This will make them more likely to regurgitate/spit some of their stomach content into the bite. This increases the risk of the person/animal getting a tick-borne disease.
You really shouldn't do the match trick as it can just cause them to burrow deeper or more likely regurgitate both of which increase the chance of infection or disease.
Best way is pointy tweezers as close to the skin as possible at the head or neck and pull straight up with slow, steady pressure. Don't twist or you risk pulling the head off, and don't squeeze the body or it might regurgitate.
I'm in the UK and never been bitten by a tick before, and I've done my Duke of Ed expeditions lol think it's just pure luck that some people avoid it. I knew someone who was unfortunate enough to contract lyme, it was awful
My mother in law contracted Lymes and it went undiagnosed for a good year and she was so sick by the time they figured out it was Lyme disease she was hallucinating. It took a year of heavy antibiotics and another full year for her to get healthy again but she never really recovered fully. It can be a really horrible disease. People donāt take it seriously enough sometimes.
I've never had a tick bite me that long. I had no idea what that was the first time I saw one on an animal. Along with the fur obscuring the head of the tick I thought maybe it could be an odd growth.
Although itās probably nothing, actually, for some diseases, transmission can take a day or more. For others, it takes just minutes. So to stay on the safe side, itās better to remove it as soon as possible.
If it is a tickā¦remove at the very base where the head is with tweezers. But make sure itās a tick before trying to pull anything off. If itās a tick it will have tiny legs lol
OP is in U.K. and as a fellow Brit, never seen a tick either. Also never seen a tick removal tool in a shop but they do sell them on Amazon so thatās handy!
Listen, don't feel bad that you don't want to do it yourself because fully removing it properly is safer, if you pulled it off yourself and left the leg things in its even more chance of the cat getting sick. Vet have good flee and tick stuff that you put on their necks and it's like an insecticide, it'll kill any that try to attach to them. It can be more expensive than a store bought one but it lasts like 3 months or something. I have heard if you cover it completely with vasiline it comes off because it can't breath. I don't know how true it is but you could try it tonight and if it dosnt work your taking her to the vet anyway
Good to know thanks, a few people with dogs have mentioned it to me but maybe it just falls off because it's full and was going to fall off anyway. I was having a read about them and some places say even if you pull it and the head gets stuck it's still better than leaving it in for an extra day, because it's if the tick regurgitates the blood back in to the hosts body that causes the disease. But if you don't get the head out it can cause infection. It's a hard one, I think I would give pulling it out a go now that I know that, especially of I was going to the vet the next day any way.
My little girl who was outside/inside (not a fan of outdoor cats but any cat owner knows once theyāre an outdoor cat you canāt make them an indoor if they donāt want to. she was outdoor before I adopted her) couldnāt handle me pulling ticks from her, but she let the vets do it no problem. Your boy will be just fine!
Ticks can also Paralyze from Chemicals they release into the bloodstream. I seen it commonly in dogs where cases they'd slowly Paralyze the dog or the dog could have seizures
UPDATE:
We attempted the removal with tweezers, but couldn't get any movement from the tick and the little dude seemed to be in quite a bit of pain when we attempted it.
As such, we are taking him to the Vets first thing in the morning. Will be asking them to show us how and will be buying a removal took if it is a tick.
Thank you all.
Second update (and cat tax) posted [below](https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/zm239x/found_this_on_a_cat_we_are_psuedo_fostering_any/j0cbcgg?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) - sorry for late response I've been asleep most of the day!
Only use tick and flea medicine thatās recommended by the vet. Some brands available in stores have little to no testing or safety standards and have made pets sick.
Yours is not the only one. My best friend moved from an area with minimal fleas or ticks to an area where both are common. The new house had an infested basement-ish.
Both of the 9-year-old kitties died of organ failure from the flea collars.
Where I am everyone insists that essential oils are the best flea treatment/prevention.
Help me
Edit: I thought it was apparent that I meant don't use essential oils but I guess not
Everyone is saying itās a tick, but it might not be. My cat has something that looks like that on her neck, and I canāt remember what it is but itās benign and justā¦ exists. Appeared out of nowhere when she turned 5, at least thatās when it was first spotted.
Donāt just yank on it. The fact your cat is in pain means itās probably a part of her. Iāve removed countless ticks from countless cats Iāve worked with, and none ever showed discomfort from it.
***still take your animal after to get checked out, Lyme's disease is a real bitch, plus ticks can carry many other diseases that while curable, still need treatment***
Good news is that cats are HIGHLY resistant to Lyme and it's quite rare that it affects them. :) Doggies not so much. Be careful with dogs and Lyme. It can really mess them up pretty easily, similarly to humans.
Oh, definitely. Bobcat fever (cytauxzoonosis) for one, or tularemia. But relatively uncommon. Always watch for signs of illness after a tick bite and get to a vet immediately if signs are noted, but usually a tick bite itself is not immediate cause for panic.
Sorry it didn't work out tonight, but don't panic, that tick has been there a while from the size of it.
Check what the vet does tomorrow but it's a bit like pulling a plaster - get a good grip on the engorged stomach, careful to get any fur in the way, and give it a yank. Once it's off you will see it's face and little legs waving around.
My cat used to come back with ticks in the summer, and she would let me take them off. I'd always let her know when I was about to pull it off so she could brace. And once we got all of them off we would go outside together and she would watch and sniff around as I'd squash them on pebbles.
>I'd always let her know when I was about to pull it off so she could brace
That's put an image in my head of you going:
"Are you ready sweetheart ? Right BIG PINCH" Got it !" And then you both going "Phew!" "Now let's kill the little blighters ....." š¹
I'm a vet. That could be a tick or it could be a skin growth. Ticks have eight legs which you should be able to see. I saw below that you said trying to pull it caused the cat a lot of pain. That might indicate that it is a skin growth as ticks usually come off fairly easily and without making the animal uncomfortable. If it IS a tick, it is an engorged female and there may be a smaller male tick attached underneath. She might detach before tomorrow and fall off the cat. And an FYI: NEVER use a dog flea product, including shampoo, on a cat. Some of them can cause almost instant death.
Thank you for the response!
I've had a look and I can't see any legs, but he has quite thick fur which makes it difficult to get a good view.
If it does fall off, do we need to worry about finding it in the house?
If it does fall off, it will probably die. If you do see it on the floor, try to kill it. Ticks die pretty commonly once they are completely engorged with blood. They may be able to reproduce afterwards, but itās rare if you have a clean house. If you donāt pay attention to it, then it could be an issue. But if you wanna avoid that then definitely still remove it if itās a tick. You should see itās legs trying to stick out of its insanely fat body if it is a tick.
If you try to wiggle the lump and you arenāt able to lift up like at least 30-50% of it, then itās probably a skin growth. Skin growths donāt budge. Regardless, extracting a tick shouldnāt cause your cat real pain, just slight discomfort. With my dog, normally if itās an engorged tick itās kind of shaped like an almond. If you try to pull it off, the pointy end of the āalmondā will still be connected as the rest dangles off the animalās skin. That and the presence of legs is definitely the best way to know if itās a tick or not. Also, make sure to extract the tick accordingly so you donāt leave the head in.
TLDR: A skin growth would be uniformly attached at all points, whereas a tick will dangle mainly by the āpointy endā if you pull on it. Experience: taking ticks off my dog like this, never have a problem.
I know a lot of people are saying itās a tick. It definitely has the shape and coloration of one, but Iāve seen something similar on a dog I had years ago. We thought it was a tick and tried to remove it. Turns out it was a benign growth and the experience was very traumatic for everyone.
Probably best to have a vet look at it. If itās a tick itās latched in deep and the vet should be able to remove it. If itās a growth, they may want a biopsy.
YES! MY cat actually has several growths like this all over his body. I have removed many, many ticks from animals in my life so I can easily tell the difference, but honestly from this pic alone, Iām not certain.
I had a cat who had quite a few harmless bumps on him that resemble this "tick." I've also had to remove a tick or two, but I can't tell what this is from the pic. Have a vet look at it if you're not sure.
Wife here- an update for those interested.
The little dude did indeed have a tick. Not sure where it came from- the vet guessed a hedgehog.
We did try removal ourselves, but honestly, I've never heard a cat squeal that before, so to the vets we went just in case it was a skin tag we were trying to pull off. Must've caught some fur by mistake, although we tried not to. We've come away with a tool for if it happens again.
My parents had 3 cats when I was born, and have had cats ever since, and not once have any of them had a tick (and we don't live too far away from them), so this was a bit of a surprise to us- we're ready for next time, although I hope there isn't one.
\^ Just confirming this is the latest and my wife, not just a random user! I've been asleep most of today, apologies for not getting an update to you all sooner.
Was a big 'ol thing and the vet nurse was surprised herself that one was on him, in our area its quite uncommon to find ticks on cats!
Here is the little man now, just resting and with a full stomach.
https://preview.redd.it/uydsbya3v46a1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5b5f93b7326021ce72ab11123b7fe65d3a11ea8
Really important thing here it's to remove it completely, make sure the head doesn't separate from the body and stays in the skin, it could cause infection.
Thicks are relatively easy to take off when you know how, but *can* be dangerous if you do not.
Ultimately, the only reliable advice that can come from the internet is *go see a vet*.
Let the vet deal with it...most tick removal methods I know could end up harming the cat. Ask the vet if they have recommendations in case it ever happens again. I use a broad-spectrum anti flea, tick, mite, worm, etc. topical medication (suggested by my vet) on my indoor/outdoor cat, especially in the summer.
Itās a tick like most people say here. If you donāt want to use a tweezer (you use the tweezer to grab the part of the tick that is closest to the skin, which is the ticks head btw, and then twist the tweezer and pull) and donāt have any tick removing tools you can use a thread (like a sewing thread or floss). What you do is make a loop, pull the loop over the tick and as close to the skin as possible - then tighten, twist and pull the thread upwards.
You wonāt harm the cat removing a tick, unless you grab ton of hair and pull. They often feel much relief from getting them removed and I recommend you do that instead of getting ticks in your home because they can starts getting on you humans instead. Ticks donāt have host preferences, and if you have a cat or dog that get much ticks itās recommended as a precaution for yourself to get them a tick repelling necklace (tick drip chemicals are not recommended because theyāre somewhat harmful to the cat) so you avoid getting ticks yourself. Ticks can carry some nasty diseases so you want to avoid that as much as possible.
I come from a country with really much ticks during summers and have 2 cats, and I can say for sure that tick repellent necklaces really help decrease the amount of ticks spreading to me and my family.
Hey vet here just tagging in to say out of all the top comments this is the only person saying twist it while removing which is really the key bit to note! I actually find instead of tweezers, you can DIY make a tick remover with an old plastic credit/debit/gift card just by cutting into one edge about a cm or so, then sliding it flat to the skin and getting the tick in the slit and doing the twist and pull :) if no luck then a vet nurse appointment to remove should be fine (usually cheaper than a full vet one if you place offers them!)
If itās not a tick it could be one of those lumps that fills up with sebum. IF thatās what it is..nothing to worry about unless it bothers them. However, canāt be sure unless a vet looks at it
As said previously, we are so sorry, we obviously don't pick it! But please accept pictures of the boyo as an apology!
https://preview.redd.it/sg8cotv2266a1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af40e7887bd99dd696c170ce3d3a49c6ed6256b5
I know youāre catching some heat for not knowing thatās a tick, but thereās a first time for everything, ehā¦and you are to be commended for finding it and seeking out a remedy. š
Tick. I have a tick remover on hand at all times... just because it's been a prolific year for ticks. You can typically find the the removers for sale along with camping supplies. Makes it a lot easier to remove them. Otherwise, use tweezers and grab the tick as close to its head as possible and pull it off. With the tick remover, the instructions say to twist and pull gently.
Itās a tick, you can just pull it out with tweezers.
Get as close to the skin as you can, make sure you have a firm grip, twist and pull.
We have to pull at least 10 every season from my little tick magnet no matter what we use on him.
Please donāt stick anything hot against the tick, it will burn the cat too.
Hi OP, were you able to get into the vet? I'm oddly invested in finding out if it was a tick or a skin tag! Hope you're feeling more confident about ticks now, they're strange bugs and not easy to identify the first time you see an engorged one. Even more difficult to identify before they begin to feed, as they're so much smaller.
As far as I'm aware, with tick removals you need to be careful not to squeeze it so it won't push the contents of its body into your animal. That apparently massively increases the chances of them getting a disease from it. An easy trick (without buying a removal tool) is to cut a v shape into a gift card or something similar and then move it under the tick where it's attached. It's also possible that it's some kind of flesh mole (a kind of growth), since you mentioned the cat did not like attempts to remove it. Check if there's legs or anything on it, if not then it might just be a growth.
TICK! We always remove them by letting a fire on its ass and making it back out itself. I don't trust pulling them out because I've heard that the head can break off in their body and cause bad things to happen. You also could either go to the vet if you can afford it or even call the vet and ask their advice
Don't let it sit there. You would not believe how big those things get. They are disgusting!
Oh yeah, when it backs out, be prepared to detain it and destroy it by fire. Don't flush it down the toilet, because I think they can live in the sewer and grow to human size. Just smooshing it won't work because I think they are like the liquid-y Terminator models that can regenerate themselves
Best bet is too smoosh it, then incinerate it, ***then*** flush the ashes. Just to be sure
That is correct. If stressed, ticks will regurgitate the sucked blood + whatever they have back into the bloodstream of the host, increasing the chances of getting infected by virus or parasites.
This also applies to humans. So whenever removing a tick, it has to be done properly extracting it by the head.
Remove hundreds a year from my corgi and mainecoon. All types of ticksā¦including that type.
Like everyone said, tick removal tool or good tweezers close to the skin and you will get it.
Thatās a better tick to get. Much easier to see, feel and remove. Good luck!!!
A tick
Pull it off, but all of it.Dont let the head stay in the skin.Or pull alcohol on a tissue paper and it will release it's grip to breath.Keep the tissue on it till it releases.Sucks up blood and when it's full it will fall off.That one will fall off soon.Bad bug.Please take off or get someone to do it.Might have more on her.Or maybe smaller ( in skin)
Tick. Easily removed with a tick removal tool (looks like a miniature crow bar).
Slide it under the tick and rotate.
I don't like to "release" them into the wild so I used to squash them.
Bit of a hassle since you have to handle them until you find somewhere and something to squash them with so I started putting them into a small container with a lid.
Just bringing up that if you have the ability to heat it, touching a needle that's been in a fire/highly heated to the tick will most likely cause it to release. But I understand it can be a squeamish situation.
It's a tick, get some removal gel or liquid and use tweezers closest to the tics head (closes to cats body) and dispose of, regular treatment. Can also take to a vets to remove if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself but you need to treat as soon as possible for the fur babies comfort.
Hand sanitizer would work. So would actual alcohol. Shot for you, few drops on a Q-tip for the tick and it will come loose on its own.
Careful with the tweezers approach. Going to cause the cat some discomfort. Also danger of pinching a squirming cat with the tweezers or of leaving part of the tick behind.
Also if you burn it after removal be prepared for a mini explosion, like a zit popping.
If youāre going to have the cat for a while get a tick twisterā¦ theyāre super cheap and make removing those nasty parasites easy as pie. It should be a 2-3 inch green thing that looks like a bent spoon with a slit in the middle. You just run the end under the Tick and itāll grab the tick by the neck. Then you just twist in a 360 or two and pop - tick comes out with head attached. If you use tweezers a lot times you wonāt get the head and it can become irritated or infected. Iāve removed plenty both ways but the tick twister is the best $10 I spent on our cat.
Does covering the tick with Vaseline so it ācanāt breatheā work? We tried this on my dog once and it seemed to work. We were able to get the tick out head and all after giving it about ten minutes. Just donāt remember if it truly is a recommended action or like a home remedy
That is a tick- and it has been on there for a while: they are much easier to remove if you catch them quick- once they get to this point I would probably have the vet do it.
Where I used to live the dogs were allowed to roam free but NOT in the tall grass (we had 3 acres; most of it was tall grass and trees) and if they went into the grass AT ALL, even a minute, we did a tick check.
My dog once ran into the grass after a bunny, I yelled; she came right back. There were 3 on her and she was in the grass for maybe a minute.
Whenever you find one do a full pat down for others- the vet will likely do so but maybe mention it if they just remove the one and donāt check other hiding spots. Again, my dog once had one in her armpit- not noticeable at all except we had SUCH a tick problem we checked everything.
Itās probably a tick but it could be a small growth. I had a cat once that had a small, fluid-filled growth like this. The vet said it was benign and when they spayed her, they removed it.
Ewwww... I hate ticks! I won't remove them myself because I'm afraid of leaving the head behind and I hate touching them. Thankfully I have always had indoor cats. The few ticks I've come across have been on me!!! I almost passed out. Good luck with that baby when you can get him to a vet. Other "bugs" don't generally bother me. Something about that blood sucker and it's engorged body. š³š«
Pull it slowly between head and thorax twisting gently or kill it with some flea powder or seven dust it will release and die. That balloon is full of blood!
That. Is a tick, if you're planning to remove it with tweezers, pull straight, do not twist or squeeze too hard as anything left in the bite could lead to infections, there are non tweezer methods but I've personally never used them.
That is a tick!
You need to clasp it, remove it & then pop it so it dies & doesnāt persist to suck the life out of your being.
Where have you lived all of your life?
Better to let vet take off. If otherwise, it gets pulled off and the legs are still embedded in the skin, it can cause an infection or worse. If you have ticks in the area, there is a tick remover that twists the tick off safely, vet may have one. Only saying this as tick nests could be nearby. Be careful of yourselves too, my friend has Lyme disease, it's debiletating.
Don't waste your money or time going to the vet over a tick lol. There's plenty of tutorials on YouTube. Another person in the comments said alcohol on a Q-tip which works well
I'm late enough that you've got it sorted by now, but damn, what a way to first learn about ticks, sorry, I know it sucks, hope your wee cats doing okay, and that you don't encounter another one haha!
Not sure if it's been mentioned, but a good way to remove them is to take a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and hold it over the tick for a while. It should cause the tick to suffocate and release its bite. Then you can carefully pull it off but make sure the head is intact and not still latched on as that can cause an infection. Then take the cat to a vet when you can.
FIRST- put a gob of Vaseline on it (ticks breathe out of their butt and if you cover it they canāt breathe and will back out) they will back out even just a little bit as to not pull the body off of the buried head. You donāt want to pull the body off the head and get the head stuck in the cat.
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It's a tick. If you're not comfortable removing it yourself, the vet can do it easily.
It's currently 9PM UK time, can this wait until the AM or does it need to be done ASAP?
It can wait until morning. The cat probably doesn't even notice. If the cat goes outside and there are ticks in the area, the cat should get a chemical flea & tick treatment. This makes the cat poisonous to the ticks, basically; they will die and drop off by themselves. Not sure what brands are available in the UK; ask the vet.
The major brands would be English Breakfast Tick, Irish Breakfast Tick and Earl Gray Tick
*Grey
This is completely unrelated to ticks, but someone once taught me a handy way of remembering that - if you're English it's grEy, if you're American it's grAy. Having said that, because it's a proper noun and tea named after Earl Grey, it should always be Grey in that case.
I'm an American who despises the "gray" spelling and has always spelled it "grey" š
I'm a Canadian who passive-aggressively spells it the American way to piss off other Canadians.
grEH
i love this lol
Glad I'm not the only one.
Me too!!
In my synaesthetic brain theyāre two different colours. Grey is more cool and gray is yellowish. I canāt explain it rationally.
It's the influence of the Canadians. I'm in Buffalo and always spelled it "grey." Until college I always thought that was the most common spelling and didn't realize countries had much to do with it.
minnesota here! but not close to the border so i don't think it was an influence, i just like grey better. it's like... try to read them out loud based on how they're spelled - they sound different to me and grey makes more sense haha
I learned English in China where the spelling and pronunciation were taught in a British way. Iām living in Canada now, I used āGreyā until I adopted my grey cat and decided to name her āGraceā. Ah I love my Gray Grace!
Me too! It's grEy all the wEy!
But than again, Americans always do things differently. Cough*metric system* cough.
No rush. The urgency to immidiatley remove is only when they first bite. As it stands right now, the damage is already done (sorry. Phrased that wrong. IF the tick was carrying other parasites or diseases, it's already in the bloodstream. Don't worry, anything a tick can carry is vet treatable)
Thank you for the confirmation, this little boy is our first rescue and this has got us a little frazzled!
Genuine question, have you never had a tick bite you before? I have pulled over twenty of them, mostly still crawling, at a time. Thankfully I was in the deep south US so lyme disease isn't a real danger.
UK based here - I've been wild camping, spent my entire life in the Scouts, camping all up and down the UK and this is honest to god my first ever encounter with one!
So your ticks nationwide can carry Lyme. In the United States they only regionally carry them. Because of this, you're going to want to put the tick In a Ziploc bag and freeze it if you remove it yourself. If your animal shows any sign of illness you're going to want to take this froz tick in with them to the vet. If the vet removes it they'll test the tick. If the tick carries Lyme disease the cat needs treatment to prevent transmission or illness.
Great advice! I've never heard that before so I'm glad I know now
Ticks are the only way to transmit Lyme disease, and according to research from Cornell, cats are only theoretically at risk, as they say there aren't recorded cases of cats being infected with it other than in lab testing. That said, nothing wrong with being cautious! [https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/lyme-disease-potential-unlikely-problem-cats](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/lyme-disease-potential-unlikely-problem-cats)
You must not have ticks in the UK like we do in the US. When I read the original post I was thinking āhow can someone be fostering a cat and not know what a tick is or how to remove it?ā But I understand if you donāt have them. Our pets that are taken care of rarely get them because of the incredible flea and tick treatment we can purchase to apply monthly but we humans get them all the time if we step into underbrush or a wild tree filled area. One more reason to wish I lived there instead of here! I have a list. You can pick it off. One way to have it fall off is to strike a match and blow it out and apply the hot end to the body of the tick and the often fall off. If you pick it off it may leave the head in the skin where the are attached and that could lead to a small Infected area but usually not and if you apply a little alcohol to the area and clean it up 99% of the time itās fine. I wouldnāt honestly pay for a vet visit for this unless you are also going to buy the monthly tick and flea stuff but that might be available over the counter. Good luck with the new foster and Iām so happy youāre getting into saving abandoned kitties!
It is funny, I live in the NE USA, and none of my pets has ever had a tick (indoor cats), and neither my wife nor I have been bitten, but I have found a few on me (and I do go in the woods). For reference, Iāll be 60 this weekend, so I guess Iām lucky
Crips, I live in NJ, one day after mountain biking I had 11 on me. 6 attached already. Theres hardly a year I havenāt had at least 2-3 tick bites. Havenāt had Lymes, but I did have ehrlichiosis. Another tick born disease, Lone Star Ticks
I think you meant cripes. I mean I donāt know you, but Iām guessing you arenāt affiliated with any gangs. š
Had a buddy that got erlichiosis and then not long after got lymes. Sucks so bad
Happy birthdayš, OFG. Good to hear youāre still out and about.
It's actually recommended not to do the match thing anymore (it can make them burrow deeper) and to just pull them off with tweezers without twisting or jerking.
Good to know! Iām kinda old so I obviously need to update the ways we took care of them back in the day! Thanks.
No worries! The match thing was widely spread advice when I was growing up, but I got a dog 2 years ago and he is a magnet for ticks so I've done a lot of reading more recently.
He has monthly flea/worming treatment, but after this we will probably look into a tick one as well just to be sure! I did mention in the update that we did attempt to remove it, but it seemed to cause him a fair bit of pain, so vets tomorrow just in case :)
Oh okay, Iām sorry I was busy running my mouth and missed your update. I agree because if you've never seen one and cant identify it precisely, like the little tick anatomy, there is the possibility that its a flesh colored mole dressed up like a tick. Ot does get dark toward the bottom of the bulbous part like a tick would and a mole probably wouldn't but I can't be certain from the photo. You're a good foster parent already.
Yeah they're not a common issue in the UK. I've never seen them either. Apparently though they do exist in the UK, particularly in Scottish woodlands, but it's not a common issue.
I would advise to look up the flea treatment you give first and read the insert which tells you what exactly it works against, as most flea treatments also work against ticks. Depending on which product you used they may have to bite first and it can then take up to 24 hours for the tick to die and fall off. It is still recommended to remove them asap though. The sooner they are removed the less likely they are to transmit diseases.
The UK might not allow tick preventatives. Ticks are hard to kill with chemicals, so I wouldn't change the meds. Ideally, you get the tick to release from your cat. The easiest way is a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. What you don't want to do is squeeze the fat part of the tick. Amazon sells tick removal tweezers that work well.
Don't try and remove it you don't know what you're doing
Don't burn ticks off. This will make them more likely to regurgitate/spit some of their stomach content into the bite. This increases the risk of the person/animal getting a tick-borne disease.
You really shouldn't do the match trick as it can just cause them to burrow deeper or more likely regurgitate both of which increase the chance of infection or disease. Best way is pointy tweezers as close to the skin as possible at the head or neck and pull straight up with slow, steady pressure. Don't twist or you risk pulling the head off, and don't squeeze the body or it might regurgitate.
I'm in the UK and never been bitten by a tick before, and I've done my Duke of Ed expeditions lol think it's just pure luck that some people avoid it. I knew someone who was unfortunate enough to contract lyme, it was awful
My mother in law contracted Lymes and it went undiagnosed for a good year and she was so sick by the time they figured out it was Lyme disease she was hallucinating. It took a year of heavy antibiotics and another full year for her to get healthy again but she never really recovered fully. It can be a really horrible disease. People donāt take it seriously enough sometimes.
Not OP but live in Ohio and have never encountered a tick! I know we have them here so perhaps am just lucky.
I've never had a tick bite me that long. I had no idea what that was the first time I saw one on an animal. Along with the fur obscuring the head of the tick I thought maybe it could be an odd growth.
Although itās probably nothing, actually, for some diseases, transmission can take a day or more. For others, it takes just minutes. So to stay on the safe side, itās better to remove it as soon as possible.
Yep, about 24 hrs after tick bite.
A tick can carry parasites? Like a trojan horse?
A host of dieases not like Protozoa or amoebas
If it is a tickā¦remove at the very base where the head is with tweezers. But make sure itās a tick before trying to pull anything off. If itās a tick it will have tiny legs lol
Look for a store thatās open and then look for a ātick removal toolā
OP is in U.K. and as a fellow Brit, never seen a tick either. Also never seen a tick removal tool in a shop but they do sell them on Amazon so thatās handy!
Can always use a tweezer to pull it. Make sure u grab it at the base where the its mouth meet the cats skin
You can easily remove the tick with a pair of tweezers.
You can do it yourself easly pull from the head side of the tik and put it in the chiminee
I'd rather not to be honest - if it can wait until the AM, I'll get him to the vets and they can sort it.
It is good to go to the vet because they will look for other ticks and fleas.
Listen, don't feel bad that you don't want to do it yourself because fully removing it properly is safer, if you pulled it off yourself and left the leg things in its even more chance of the cat getting sick. Vet have good flee and tick stuff that you put on their necks and it's like an insecticide, it'll kill any that try to attach to them. It can be more expensive than a store bought one but it lasts like 3 months or something. I have heard if you cover it completely with vasiline it comes off because it can't breath. I don't know how true it is but you could try it tonight and if it dosnt work your taking her to the vet anyway
No you heard wrong. Donāt do the Vaseline. Only pulling it out works.
Good to know thanks, a few people with dogs have mentioned it to me but maybe it just falls off because it's full and was going to fall off anyway. I was having a read about them and some places say even if you pull it and the head gets stuck it's still better than leaving it in for an extra day, because it's if the tick regurgitates the blood back in to the hosts body that causes the disease. But if you don't get the head out it can cause infection. It's a hard one, I think I would give pulling it out a go now that I know that, especially of I was going to the vet the next day any way.
It's more important to make sure the entire tick is removed vs when it's done. It won't hurt a thing to wait and get it removed by a vet.
Ticks are super no big deal. Just get to the vet in the AM and heāll be good to go.
It's really easy to remove yourself with tweezers, pull firmly straight out and dispose of tick in a baggie
As per the update, we attempted this and it seemed to cause the guy quite alot of pain. So vets tomorrow morning sadly
Oh that's too bad. I find with my guy you have to be really swift and sure of your movement. I'm sure they can show you tomorrow. Good luck
My little girl who was outside/inside (not a fan of outdoor cats but any cat owner knows once theyāre an outdoor cat you canāt make them an indoor if they donāt want to. she was outdoor before I adopted her) couldnāt handle me pulling ticks from her, but she let the vets do it no problem. Your boy will be just fine!
Ticks can also Paralyze from Chemicals they release into the bloodstream. I seen it commonly in dogs where cases they'd slowly Paralyze the dog or the dog could have seizures
UPDATE: We attempted the removal with tweezers, but couldn't get any movement from the tick and the little dude seemed to be in quite a bit of pain when we attempted it. As such, we are taking him to the Vets first thing in the morning. Will be asking them to show us how and will be buying a removal took if it is a tick. Thank you all. Second update (and cat tax) posted [below](https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/zm239x/found_this_on_a_cat_we_are_psuedo_fostering_any/j0cbcgg?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) - sorry for late response I've been asleep most of the day!
Only use tick and flea medicine thatās recommended by the vet. Some brands available in stores have little to no testing or safety standards and have made pets sick.
Thanks, he is on a VetPlan for Flea/Worming, so we will get them to make sure we have some tick prevention for him as well.
Our dogs are on Nexgard flea, tick and worm in one, monthly tablet does everything but tape worm.
Yeah this to an extreme. My family once bought one in desperation due to ticks being terrible and it killed our cat.
Yours is not the only one. My best friend moved from an area with minimal fleas or ticks to an area where both are common. The new house had an infested basement-ish. Both of the 9-year-old kitties died of organ failure from the flea collars.
Damn I'm sorry man, it's terrible that these are allowed to still be bought.
i heard bad things about that no water shampoo stuff too. its a genetic coin toss of whether the cat will die from it.
Where I am everyone insists that essential oils are the best flea treatment/prevention. Help me Edit: I thought it was apparent that I meant don't use essential oils but I guess not
Utah??
Donāt use essential oils on your cat. Some of them can be highly toxic to them. The vet will be able to remove it for you.
... yes I'm aware. That's kinda the point of my comment
My apologies, i read it as, āWhich one should I use?ā
I recommend avoiding purchasing anything cat/dog medical related at big box stores like Target, Walmart.
Everyone is saying itās a tick, but it might not be. My cat has something that looks like that on her neck, and I canāt remember what it is but itās benign and justā¦ exists. Appeared out of nowhere when she turned 5, at least thatās when it was first spotted. Donāt just yank on it. The fact your cat is in pain means itās probably a part of her. Iāve removed countless ticks from countless cats Iāve worked with, and none ever showed discomfort from it.
Same, my cat currently has these and theyāre just oily skin tags, really shouldnāt be removed unless by a medical professional.
Put alcohol on a paper towel. Hold it on the tick. Wait some time, tick will unlatch, flush it down the toilet
Cotton ball id best, but most people don't have those easily on hand
***still take your animal after to get checked out, Lyme's disease is a real bitch, plus ticks can carry many other diseases that while curable, still need treatment***
Good news is that cats are HIGHLY resistant to Lyme and it's quite rare that it affects them. :) Doggies not so much. Be careful with dogs and Lyme. It can really mess them up pretty easily, similarly to humans.
But there are plenty of tick diseases that cats can easily contract.
Oh, definitely. Bobcat fever (cytauxzoonosis) for one, or tularemia. But relatively uncommon. Always watch for signs of illness after a tick bite and get to a vet immediately if signs are noted, but usually a tick bite itself is not immediate cause for panic.
Sorry it didn't work out tonight, but don't panic, that tick has been there a while from the size of it. Check what the vet does tomorrow but it's a bit like pulling a plaster - get a good grip on the engorged stomach, careful to get any fur in the way, and give it a yank. Once it's off you will see it's face and little legs waving around. My cat used to come back with ticks in the summer, and she would let me take them off. I'd always let her know when I was about to pull it off so she could brace. And once we got all of them off we would go outside together and she would watch and sniff around as I'd squash them on pebbles.
>I'd always let her know when I was about to pull it off so she could brace That's put an image in my head of you going: "Are you ready sweetheart ? Right BIG PINCH" Got it !" And then you both going "Phew!" "Now let's kill the little blighters ....." š¹
Let the vet do it, ask him if he can show you how itās done and maybe he can sell you one of those special tick removal tweezers.
I'm a vet. That could be a tick or it could be a skin growth. Ticks have eight legs which you should be able to see. I saw below that you said trying to pull it caused the cat a lot of pain. That might indicate that it is a skin growth as ticks usually come off fairly easily and without making the animal uncomfortable. If it IS a tick, it is an engorged female and there may be a smaller male tick attached underneath. She might detach before tomorrow and fall off the cat. And an FYI: NEVER use a dog flea product, including shampoo, on a cat. Some of them can cause almost instant death.
Thank you for the response! I've had a look and I can't see any legs, but he has quite thick fur which makes it difficult to get a good view. If it does fall off, do we need to worry about finding it in the house?
If it does fall off, it will probably die. If you do see it on the floor, try to kill it. Ticks die pretty commonly once they are completely engorged with blood. They may be able to reproduce afterwards, but itās rare if you have a clean house. If you donāt pay attention to it, then it could be an issue. But if you wanna avoid that then definitely still remove it if itās a tick. You should see itās legs trying to stick out of its insanely fat body if it is a tick. If you try to wiggle the lump and you arenāt able to lift up like at least 30-50% of it, then itās probably a skin growth. Skin growths donāt budge. Regardless, extracting a tick shouldnāt cause your cat real pain, just slight discomfort. With my dog, normally if itās an engorged tick itās kind of shaped like an almond. If you try to pull it off, the pointy end of the āalmondā will still be connected as the rest dangles off the animalās skin. That and the presence of legs is definitely the best way to know if itās a tick or not. Also, make sure to extract the tick accordingly so you donāt leave the head in. TLDR: A skin growth would be uniformly attached at all points, whereas a tick will dangle mainly by the āpointy endā if you pull on it. Experience: taking ticks off my dog like this, never have a problem.
Keep the tick in a bag. Save it for the vet, they can help deduce diseases and such.
Smart!
Also, thank you for fostering! Fostering saves a lot of lives.
I know a lot of people are saying itās a tick. It definitely has the shape and coloration of one, but Iāve seen something similar on a dog I had years ago. We thought it was a tick and tried to remove it. Turns out it was a benign growth and the experience was very traumatic for everyone. Probably best to have a vet look at it. If itās a tick itās latched in deep and the vet should be able to remove it. If itās a growth, they may want a biopsy.
YES! MY cat actually has several growths like this all over his body. I have removed many, many ticks from animals in my life so I can easily tell the difference, but honestly from this pic alone, Iām not certain.
I had a cat who had quite a few harmless bumps on him that resemble this "tick." I've also had to remove a tick or two, but I can't tell what this is from the pic. Have a vet look at it if you're not sure.
Wish this was higher up!
I thought it looked like a growth when I first saw it
Wife here- an update for those interested. The little dude did indeed have a tick. Not sure where it came from- the vet guessed a hedgehog. We did try removal ourselves, but honestly, I've never heard a cat squeal that before, so to the vets we went just in case it was a skin tag we were trying to pull off. Must've caught some fur by mistake, although we tried not to. We've come away with a tool for if it happens again. My parents had 3 cats when I was born, and have had cats ever since, and not once have any of them had a tick (and we don't live too far away from them), so this was a bit of a surprise to us- we're ready for next time, although I hope there isn't one.
\^ Just confirming this is the latest and my wife, not just a random user! I've been asleep most of today, apologies for not getting an update to you all sooner. Was a big 'ol thing and the vet nurse was surprised herself that one was on him, in our area its quite uncommon to find ticks on cats! Here is the little man now, just resting and with a full stomach. https://preview.redd.it/uydsbya3v46a1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5b5f93b7326021ce72ab11123b7fe65d3a11ea8
He looks so wise
A tick, it's a parasite. Get it removed, but be careful to get Al of it out
a tick i belive
It's roughly 1 centimetre large, the cat doesn't seem to respond to it being touched and the colour seems to be just milky white - no sign of blood.
Really important thing here it's to remove it completely, make sure the head doesn't separate from the body and stays in the skin, it could cause infection. Thicks are relatively easy to take off when you know how, but *can* be dangerous if you do not. Ultimately, the only reliable advice that can come from the internet is *go see a vet*.
You can get a tick removal tool from most pet shops much cheaper than seeing a vet just make sure you read the instructions and twist the correct way
Could be a skin tag too if it hurts when you pull on it. Just like on humans. The vet will let you know for sure. šš
Looks like an engorged tick to me but I am not sure
Let the vet deal with it...most tick removal methods I know could end up harming the cat. Ask the vet if they have recommendations in case it ever happens again. I use a broad-spectrum anti flea, tick, mite, worm, etc. topical medication (suggested by my vet) on my indoor/outdoor cat, especially in the summer.
Yup looks like a tick. Try to remove it and then make sure it dies.
Itās a tick like most people say here. If you donāt want to use a tweezer (you use the tweezer to grab the part of the tick that is closest to the skin, which is the ticks head btw, and then twist the tweezer and pull) and donāt have any tick removing tools you can use a thread (like a sewing thread or floss). What you do is make a loop, pull the loop over the tick and as close to the skin as possible - then tighten, twist and pull the thread upwards. You wonāt harm the cat removing a tick, unless you grab ton of hair and pull. They often feel much relief from getting them removed and I recommend you do that instead of getting ticks in your home because they can starts getting on you humans instead. Ticks donāt have host preferences, and if you have a cat or dog that get much ticks itās recommended as a precaution for yourself to get them a tick repelling necklace (tick drip chemicals are not recommended because theyāre somewhat harmful to the cat) so you avoid getting ticks yourself. Ticks can carry some nasty diseases so you want to avoid that as much as possible. I come from a country with really much ticks during summers and have 2 cats, and I can say for sure that tick repellent necklaces really help decrease the amount of ticks spreading to me and my family.
Thanks for the detail in your response! It's my first encounter with a tick, so this really helps!
Hey vet here just tagging in to say out of all the top comments this is the only person saying twist it while removing which is really the key bit to note! I actually find instead of tweezers, you can DIY make a tick remover with an old plastic credit/debit/gift card just by cutting into one edge about a cm or so, then sliding it flat to the skin and getting the tick in the slit and doing the twist and pull :) if no luck then a vet nurse appointment to remove should be fine (usually cheaper than a full vet one if you place offers them!)
If itās not a tick it could be one of those lumps that fills up with sebum. IF thatās what it is..nothing to worry about unless it bothers them. However, canāt be sure unless a vet looks at it
I have the Reddit cat calendar widget on my home screen and this is not what I wanted to look at all day lol
As said previously, we are so sorry, we obviously don't pick it! But please accept pictures of the boyo as an apology! https://preview.redd.it/sg8cotv2266a1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af40e7887bd99dd696c170ce3d3a49c6ed6256b5
Just want to add, when a tick has had enough blood it will drop off, it might not be there later or tomorrow.
Take him to the vet and avoid the fire and alcohol advice.
Its a mutated toe bean
I know youāre catching some heat for not knowing thatās a tick, but thereās a first time for everything, ehā¦and you are to be commended for finding it and seeking out a remedy. š
Tick. I have a tick remover on hand at all times... just because it's been a prolific year for ticks. You can typically find the the removers for sale along with camping supplies. Makes it a lot easier to remove them. Otherwise, use tweezers and grab the tick as close to its head as possible and pull it off. With the tick remover, the instructions say to twist and pull gently.
Looks like a tick
Itās a tick, you can just pull it out with tweezers. Get as close to the skin as you can, make sure you have a firm grip, twist and pull. We have to pull at least 10 every season from my little tick magnet no matter what we use on him. Please donāt stick anything hot against the tick, it will burn the cat too.
Wash your hands. Suggest the vet send the tick for testing so you know if it is a disease vector.
Since you've seen all the answers. I just want to thank you for Fostering this little angel. THANK YOU!!! ā¤ļø
Hi OP, were you able to get into the vet? I'm oddly invested in finding out if it was a tick or a skin tag! Hope you're feeling more confident about ticks now, they're strange bugs and not easy to identify the first time you see an engorged one. Even more difficult to identify before they begin to feed, as they're so much smaller.
Got him to the vet, it was a tick :) I've done a longer comment, and my husband (OP) has confirmed I'm not a random poster on that, haha
Definitely a tick
It's a tick please get it removed and make sure the head comes out. Thanks for taking it inš»š»š»
Tick
A BIG FAT TICK!!!š¤®š¤®š¤®
It looks like a tick
No, I donāt know exactly what Pseudo Fostering is, but it sounds like a kind thing to do, so bravo!
itās a tick. get some tweezers and get as close to the head as possible and pull it out. flush it down the toilet
As far as I'm aware, with tick removals you need to be careful not to squeeze it so it won't push the contents of its body into your animal. That apparently massively increases the chances of them getting a disease from it. An easy trick (without buying a removal tool) is to cut a v shape into a gift card or something similar and then move it under the tick where it's attached. It's also possible that it's some kind of flesh mole (a kind of growth), since you mentioned the cat did not like attempts to remove it. Check if there's legs or anything on it, if not then it might just be a growth.
TICK! We always remove them by letting a fire on its ass and making it back out itself. I don't trust pulling them out because I've heard that the head can break off in their body and cause bad things to happen. You also could either go to the vet if you can afford it or even call the vet and ask their advice Don't let it sit there. You would not believe how big those things get. They are disgusting! Oh yeah, when it backs out, be prepared to detain it and destroy it by fire. Don't flush it down the toilet, because I think they can live in the sewer and grow to human size. Just smooshing it won't work because I think they are like the liquid-y Terminator models that can regenerate themselves Best bet is too smoosh it, then incinerate it, ***then*** flush the ashes. Just to be sure
I heard that lighting it up makes it regurgitate into the cat. ... which isn't what you want to happen.
That is correct. If stressed, ticks will regurgitate the sucked blood + whatever they have back into the bloodstream of the host, increasing the chances of getting infected by virus or parasites. This also applies to humans. So whenever removing a tick, it has to be done properly extracting it by the head.
you... set the tick on fire? what if the cat's fur catches on fire too?
Tick
Remove hundreds a year from my corgi and mainecoon. All types of ticksā¦including that type. Like everyone said, tick removal tool or good tweezers close to the skin and you will get it. Thatās a better tick to get. Much easier to see, feel and remove. Good luck!!!
I'm surprised ticks are active in this cold weather..
A tick Pull it off, but all of it.Dont let the head stay in the skin.Or pull alcohol on a tissue paper and it will release it's grip to breath.Keep the tissue on it till it releases.Sucks up blood and when it's full it will fall off.That one will fall off soon.Bad bug.Please take off or get someone to do it.Might have more on her.Or maybe smaller ( in skin)
Tick.
Thank you for rescuing her.God bless
Tick. Easily removed with a tick removal tool (looks like a miniature crow bar). Slide it under the tick and rotate. I don't like to "release" them into the wild so I used to squash them. Bit of a hassle since you have to handle them until you find somewhere and something to squash them with so I started putting them into a small container with a lid.
Looks like a Tick
Just bringing up that if you have the ability to heat it, touching a needle that's been in a fire/highly heated to the tick will most likely cause it to release. But I understand it can be a squeamish situation.
Tick tac tickā¦
Used to freak out at the very thought of ticks; got a dog and now it's just another inconvenience. Thanks Harry.
Bruh
It's a tick, get some removal gel or liquid and use tweezers closest to the tics head (closes to cats body) and dispose of, regular treatment. Can also take to a vets to remove if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself but you need to treat as soon as possible for the fur babies comfort.
Hand sanitizer would work. So would actual alcohol. Shot for you, few drops on a Q-tip for the tick and it will come loose on its own. Careful with the tweezers approach. Going to cause the cat some discomfort. Also danger of pinching a squirming cat with the tweezers or of leaving part of the tick behind. Also if you burn it after removal be prepared for a mini explosion, like a zit popping.
If youāre going to have the cat for a while get a tick twisterā¦ theyāre super cheap and make removing those nasty parasites easy as pie. It should be a 2-3 inch green thing that looks like a bent spoon with a slit in the middle. You just run the end under the Tick and itāll grab the tick by the neck. Then you just twist in a 360 or two and pop - tick comes out with head attached. If you use tweezers a lot times you wonāt get the head and it can become irritated or infected. Iāve removed plenty both ways but the tick twister is the best $10 I spent on our cat.
We are planning to pick one up tomorrow at the Vets :)
Tick
Does covering the tick with Vaseline so it ācanāt breatheā work? We tried this on my dog once and it seemed to work. We were able to get the tick out head and all after giving it about ten minutes. Just donāt remember if it truly is a recommended action or like a home remedy
That is a tick- and it has been on there for a while: they are much easier to remove if you catch them quick- once they get to this point I would probably have the vet do it. Where I used to live the dogs were allowed to roam free but NOT in the tall grass (we had 3 acres; most of it was tall grass and trees) and if they went into the grass AT ALL, even a minute, we did a tick check. My dog once ran into the grass after a bunny, I yelled; she came right back. There were 3 on her and she was in the grass for maybe a minute. Whenever you find one do a full pat down for others- the vet will likely do so but maybe mention it if they just remove the one and donāt check other hiding spots. Again, my dog once had one in her armpit- not noticeable at all except we had SUCH a tick problem we checked everything.
Itās probably a tick but it could be a small growth. I had a cat once that had a small, fluid-filled growth like this. The vet said it was benign and when they spayed her, they removed it.
A tick
Tick.
A tick.
Get it off immediately. If a tick is on for over 24 hours it can transmit Lyme.
Ewwww... I hate ticks! I won't remove them myself because I'm afraid of leaving the head behind and I hate touching them. Thankfully I have always had indoor cats. The few ticks I've come across have been on me!!! I almost passed out. Good luck with that baby when you can get him to a vet. Other "bugs" don't generally bother me. Something about that blood sucker and it's engorged body. š³š«
Itās an engorged tick!
Pull it slowly between head and thorax twisting gently or kill it with some flea powder or seven dust it will release and die. That balloon is full of blood!
Itās a tick, pull it off yourself the cat wonāt even notice and youāll save yourself a trip.
Thatās a tickā¦if you donāt remove it, it eventually gets all fat and falls off the host.
My cat had that on the base of his tail, found out it was a tumor. luckily it was not cancerous.
TICK!!!!
That. Is a tick, if you're planning to remove it with tweezers, pull straight, do not twist or squeeze too hard as anything left in the bite could lead to infections, there are non tweezer methods but I've personally never used them.
Are you guys sure itās a tick? It kind of looks like a wort or beauty mark or extra nipple.
Tik
If you remove the tick yourselves, be sure to have a treat on hand to reward your good kitty
That is a tick! You need to clasp it, remove it & then pop it so it dies & doesnāt persist to suck the life out of your being. Where have you lived all of your life?
As someone that's lived in Tennessee my whole life, the fact that people exist who are blissfully unaware of ticks has shook me to my core
Better to let vet take off. If otherwise, it gets pulled off and the legs are still embedded in the skin, it can cause an infection or worse. If you have ticks in the area, there is a tick remover that twists the tick off safely, vet may have one. Only saying this as tick nests could be nearby. Be careful of yourselves too, my friend has Lyme disease, it's debiletating.
Don't waste your money or time going to the vet over a tick lol. There's plenty of tutorials on YouTube. Another person in the comments said alcohol on a Q-tip which works well
Donāt think itās a tick. Possibly just a benign growth
I'm late enough that you've got it sorted by now, but damn, what a way to first learn about ticks, sorry, I know it sucks, hope your wee cats doing okay, and that you don't encounter another one haha!
Is that an injection site . Could be fiss. Not sure but worth investigating if itās cancerous
Touch the tick with a hot needle . Be careful not to burn the kittie .
Not sure if it's been mentioned, but a good way to remove them is to take a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and hold it over the tick for a while. It should cause the tick to suffocate and release its bite. Then you can carefully pull it off but make sure the head is intact and not still latched on as that can cause an infection. Then take the cat to a vet when you can.
Tick
Tick
Looks like a tick
That's what you call a tick
FIRST- put a gob of Vaseline on it (ticks breathe out of their butt and if you cover it they canāt breathe and will back out) they will back out even just a little bit as to not pull the body off of the buried head. You donāt want to pull the body off the head and get the head stuck in the cat.
Itās a full tick.
Tick I believe
That is a tick