How to Remove a Tick from a Cat

Ticks are small parasites that are not only a nuisance, but can transfer diseases to your cat that can make him very sick. If you see a tick on your cat, it is very important to know how to safely remove the tick from your cat’s skin; proper removal of the tick will help prevent disease in your cat as well as you. Tick removal can be a tricky process, especially if your cat is squirmy, so take your time and make sure that you do it right the first time.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Gathering the Proper Tools

  1. You can use either fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. If you are not sure what type of instrument to use, contact your veterinarian or a local pet store for advice. You can purchase a tick-removal instrument from your veterinarian or pet store.
    • There are many different tick-removal tools that you can buy. Most of these, such as tick hooks and spring loaded tweezers are simple, inexpensive, and make gripping the tick easier.
  2. Touching a tick with your hands can expose you to tick-borne disease, so you will need to protect your hands with gloves when you remove the tick. [1] If you have a latex allergy, you can use nitrile gloves.
    • Latex or nitrile gloves can be purchased at your local pharmacy or grocery store.
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  3. After you remove the tick, placing it in a container with rubbing alcohol will kill it. [2] The rubbing alcohol can also be used to clean the area of skin where you removed the tick. [3]
    • Cotton balls will be useful when applying the rubbing alcohol to the skin after tick removal.
  4. The area of skin where you removed the tick will probably be irritated for several weeks. The antibiotic ointment will help prevent infection and the hydrocortisone ointment will soothe the irritation. [4]
    • The human antibiotic and hydrocortisone ointments may be too strong for cats, so ask your veterinarian about cat-appropriate ointments to use.
    • If you do not have them already, purchase Q-tips so that you can apply the ointment to your cat’s skin without using your fingers.
    • Once you have gathered all of your tools, place them in a well-lit area where you will remove the tick. Having everything organized beforehand will help the tick-removal process go more smoothly.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Safely Removing the Tick

  1. If the tick is on your cat’s skin for a long time, it can make him sick. Symptoms can become more serious the longer the tick is attached to the skin. If your cat is showing signs of tick poisoning, take him to your veterinarian immediately for treatment. [5]
    • Many tick-borne diseases are transferred once the tick has been attached for 24 hours. If you can, remove the tick within 24 hours of it attaching in order to reduce the risk of infection.
    • Haemobartonellosis is a fairly common tick-borne disease in cats that can cause such signs as lethargy, loss of appetite, and abnormal breathing. This disease is life-threatening, so take your cat to your veterinarian right away if you observe these signs. [6]
    • There are other tick-borne diseases (Tularemia, Cytauxzoonosis) in cats that are less common, but can make your cat very sick. [7]
  2. You should never touch a tick directly with your hands. Gloves will protect you from tick-borne disease and will keep your hands clean during the tick-removal process. [8]
  3. Make sure that you are in a well-lit area, since ticks are not always easy to find on the skin. [9] Part the fur with your hands to get a closer look at your cat's skin. [10] Keep in mind that ticks like to attach in dark and hidden areas of the skin, so pay special attention to your cat’s toes, ears, armpits, and groin area. [11]
    • Ticks will typically look dark on the skin. Once they attach to the skin, they won’t move around much, so you won’t have to worry about the tick running away from you when your hands get close to it. Ticks will also become larger as they feed, making them easier to see. [12] [13]
    • Check your cat's skin for ticks on a regular basis, especially in the summer and if your cat is indoor/outdoor. [14] It is also a good idea to regularly check your cat for ticks if you live in area where ticks are prevalent. [15]
  4. Part the skin where the tick is located and grab the tick with your tick-removal instrument. It is very important to grab the tick in the right place. Grab the tick where the head and neck attach to each other, as close to the skin and possible. [16]
    • It is easier to have someone else hold the cat and while you remove the tick. [17] If someone else is not available to assist you, consider taking your cat to your veterinarian so that they can remove the tick.
    • Although tempting, do not squeeze the tick. If you squeeze too tightly, you may cause the tick to release even more toxin and disease into your cat’s system. [18]
  5. Do this by slowly and firmly pulling the tick straight up and out of the skin. Do not twist the tweezers as you remove the tick, as this could cause the body of the tick to detach from the head, leaving the head embedded in the skin. [19] [20]
    • If you accidentally twist the tweezers and the tick’s head remains embedded in the skin, consider taking your cat to your veterinarian if you cannot remove the head on your own. Do not leave the head embedded in the skin. [21]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

After Removing the Tick

  1. The rubbing alcohol will kill the tick. Do not flush the tick down the toilet, because this will not kill the tick. [22]
  2. Gently apply rubbing alcohol to the area, followed by cat-safe triple antibiotic ointment to the skin. This will help prevent infection at the area of skin where you removed the tick. [23] [24] Because rubbing alcohol can be very irritating to the skin, dampen a cotton ball with alcohol and gently dab the skin with the cotton ball.
    • Do not use your finger to apply the ointment, even though it is still gloved. Place a small amount of the ointment on one end of a Q-tip and gently rub the ointment on the area of affected skin.
  3. After you remove one of your gloves, grab the other glove at the wrist to avoid touching the area of the glove that touched your cat’s skin. Even though your hands did not directly touch the tick, it is still a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly. [25]
  4. Even if the skin where you removed the tick is not infected, it will likely be irritated for up to several weeks after tick removal. [26] If the skin looks red and irritated, use a Q-tip to apply a small amount of cat-safe hydrocortisone ointment to the affected area. [27]
    • If the skin continues to look extremely red and irritated after several days, take your cat to the vet. This could be a sign of more serious infection.
    • You should also take your cat to the vet if your cat is showing signs of tick poisoning, even after you’ve removed the tick.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I remove a tick from the top of my cat's head?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Use exactly the same method described in the article. The main problem is keeping the cat still. It may help to have a friend hold the cat so you have both hands free to remove the tick. It can be helpful to wet the fur first, so that it parts and allows you to better see the tick.
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      Tips

      • Do not follow any of the myths about removing a tick, including using petroleum jelly, freezing the tick, burning the tick with a match, and putting nail polish on the tick. These methods will not work and should not be used under any circumstances. [28]
        Thanks
        Helpful 7 Not Helpful 2
      • Keep your cat on a monthly tick preventative, even if he doesn’t go outside very often. [29] Your veterinarian can recommend which type of preventative to administer to your cat.
        Thanks
        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
      • Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world, but is uncommon in cats. In fact, if a cat has Lyme disease, it may not even show symptoms. If your cat is showing some of the common symptoms of Lyme disease (lameness that shifts from one leg to the other, swollen lymph nodes near the tick bite, difficulty breathing), your cat will need to be treated by your veterinarian. [30]
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/parasites/does-my-cat-have-ticks-removing-ticks-on-cats
      2. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/parasites/does-my-cat-have-ticks-removing-ticks-on-cats
      3. ↑ http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-remove-a-tick-from-your-cat
      4. ↑ http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-remove-a-tick-from-your-cat
      5. ↑ http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/Ticks.cfm
      6. ↑ http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/Ticks.cfm
      7. ↑ http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/Ticks.cfm
      8. ↑ http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/Ticks.cfm
      9. ↑ http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-remove-a-tick-from-your-cat
      1. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/parasites/does-my-cat-have-ticks-removing-ticks-on-cats
      2. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/parasites/does-my-cat-have-ticks-removing-ticks-on-cats
      3. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/parasites/does-my-cat-have-ticks-removing-ticks-on-cats
      4. ↑ http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/ticks
      5. ↑ http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/Ticks.cfm
      6. ↑ http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/ticks
      7. ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/how-to-properly-remove-ticks-common-myths-and-foolproof-methods
      8. ↑ http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-remove-a-tick-from-your-cat
      9. ↑ http://www.cat-world.com.au/paralysis-ticks-in-cats
      10. ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/how-to-properly-remove-ticks-common-myths-and-foolproof-methods
      11. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/parasites/does-my-cat-have-ticks-removing-ticks-on-cats
      12. ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/how-to-properly-remove-ticks-common-myths-and-foolproof-methods
      13. ↑ http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/ticks
      14. ↑ http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-remove-a-tick-from-your-cat
      15. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/parasites/does-my-cat-have-ticks-removing-ticks-on-cats
      16. ↑ http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/Ticks.cfm
      17. ↑ http://www.cat-world.com.au/paralysis-ticks-in-cats
      18. ↑ http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-remove-a-tick-from-your-cat
      19. ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/how-to-properly-remove-ticks-common-myths-and-foolproof-methods
      20. ↑ http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/Ticks.cfm
      21. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_ct_lyme_disease#

      About this article

      Article Summary X

      To remove a tick from a cat, start by putting on some gloves and putting some rubbing alcohol in a plastic bag so you can kill the tick once it is removed. Then, gently part the fur on your cat where you see the tick and use tweezers or a tick removal instrument to grab the tick as close to its head as possible. Do not squeeze the tick, but instead just pull it straight out and place it in the bag you prepared. If your cat seems sick or the tick's head is still embedded, take your cat to the vet for follow up care. For tips from our Veterinarian reviewer on what to do after removing the tick, keep reading.

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Christina T.

        Feb 4

        "I did it! I never removed a tick from any of my cats before. My brother usually does it. I was petting one of the ..." more
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