Ticks on cats: types, symptoms of infection, what to do if detected

Description of the parasite and its varieties

Ticks (Acari – lat.) belong to small arthropods of the arachnid subclass. Their main diet: decaying organic matter, plant juices and small fellows. Habitat: grass, leaves of bushes and trees, buds, skin of animals and birds, where they find food in the form of blood, lymph and epithelial particles.

Interesting!
Not all pet owners know that cats have ticks not only those that can cling to fur in the forest or on the street, but also subcutaneous ticks that live in the upper layers of the epidermis or in the ear canal. Therefore, it is necessary to talk about all the diversity of species, of which there are more than 1000 in the world.

The most common types of ticks on cats and kittens are:

ixodid or forest species, which can be carriers of infectious diseases dangerous to both people and animals;
subcutaneous or scabies, causing various diseases of the epidermis;
ear, settling in the ear canal of a cat or cat.

Varieties

The parasite that infects the skin of an animal is called demodex, and it cannot even be called a mite in the full sense of the word.
It would be more correct to say that this is a microscopic organism, resembling a worm in appearance, but it is impossible to see it with the naked eye, only with the help of a microscope. And if you look at a photo of a subcutaneous mite in cats, you can see how disgusting a parasite it is. There are two types of demodicosis: localized and generalized. In the first case, only one area of the body is affected (for example, ears, eyes, neck, etc.), while the second type of disease is more severe - several areas of the body are already affected. If a cat has suffered a generalized form of the disease, then it should be sterilized to avoid inheritance of demodicosis. In any case, at the slightest sign of a subcutaneous tick, it is recommended to immediately show your pet to a veterinarian.

Ways of infection by ticks

Blood-sucking parasites live on the ground and in grass, as well as on wild and domestic animals, so a cat can “catch” a tick in various ways:

while walking on the street, in a park or forest;
when communicating with a sick animal;
through contaminated objects: dishes, rugs, etc.;
from his own owner, who can bring the “bloodsucker” into the house on his clothes.

Even indoor cats that have never been outside can become infected with such parasites. Signs of a tick in a cat are manifested in changes in its behavior and general health, so the owner should periodically examine his pet for the presence of parasites in the fur, ears and other parts of the body.

Important!
The danger for an animal after an attack by “bloodsuckers” is that they not only cause trouble by clinging to the skin and sucking blood, but are also often carriers of infections, causing serious illnesses in pets.

Mite on a cat

For whom are ticks dangerous?

There are many varieties of subcutaneous mites, so absolutely all furry animals are at risk. There is also a species that “specializes” exclusively in humans. However, this does not mean that a person cannot become infected with a cat parasite, and a cat cannot pick up a human one. Although such an “exchange” occurs quite rarely.

It is generally accepted that a cat with demodicosis is safe for humans. This is partly true. The immune system of a healthy person is strong enough to fight off this type of parasite.

At risk are those people whose immunity is weakened, especially those infected with HIV.

Among cats at risk are the Burmese breed, as well as Siamese cats. However, any cat that comes into contact with an infected animal, or simply has access to free walks, can become a victim of demodicosis.

Good immunity of your pet and regular vaccination will help you avoid infection.

Subcutaneous mites

Demodex or hair mites live in small numbers in the upper layers of the skin and follicles at the base of the hair in areas of minimal pubescence: head, paws, neck, areas around the eyes. Parasites feed on dead particles of the epidermis and can exist for many years without causing any harm to the animal.

Demodex was originally called the eyelash or eye mite, which parasitized livestock, and then moved on to pets and humans. This name was given because the parasites affect not only the skin, but also settle on the eyelashes near the eyes.

Signs of the disease appear only during the period of decreased immunity in the pet in the form of the following symptoms:

the animal is nervous due to severe itching and constantly tries to scratch itself;
in the affected areas, the coat becomes thin, and baldness is possible;
Scratching until it bleeds, crusts, and blisters with pus appear on the skin.

Diseases caused by subcutaneous mites and their symptoms:

Demodicosis - affects the upper layers of the skin, causing constant itching and allergic reactions, degeneration and scars on the surface of the epidermis.
Cat scabies or notoedrosis - is manifested by the formation of ulcers on the skin and large fistulas that begin in the head area and then spread down the body, leading to severe itching and baldness. Ring mites can be transmitted to humans and other animals.
Cheyletiellosis (walking dandruff) - looks like profuse dandruff with a mass of microscopic mites, the movement of which creates the impression of movement (hence the name). Its signs are scaly nodules on the skin of the back and hair loss. The disease is contagious to humans.
Sarcoptic mange or pruritic scabies - appears first on the cat's face, then affecting the entire body, expressed in the formation of scabs and crusts, which is accompanied by unbearable itching. Sarcoptoid mites in cats are intradermal parasites; infection occurs through objects and through contact with sick animals.

Having determined the presence of subcutaneous mites by characteristic symptoms, treatment is carried out only after correct diagnosis and tests done in a veterinary clinic. Usually, scrapings of the affected epithelium are taken to accurately determine the type of parasite.

On a note!
Treatment depends on the severity of the disease: milder forms often self-heal by improving the pet’s immunity after establishing proper nutrition and careful care.

Preparations for the treatment of diseases caused by ticks
If the disease is advanced, the following procedures are used for treatment:

Baths with keratological shampoos.
They trim the hair in damaged areas, and then treat with acaricidal preparations: Fungin ointments and drops (cost of solution is 150-160 rubles, spray about 300 rubles), Iruksovetin (price 370-400 rubles), Saphroderm, Amitrazine.
Bacterial complications must be treated with a course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.
Vitamin preparations and supplements: Ligfol is a drug for stimulating regenerative processes in the body of animals, improving immunity, accelerating wound healing (price per 100 ml is about 1800 rubles).
To treat fungal infections, Ivermectin is prescribed subcutaneously. The price of the medicine and its analogues depends on the volume of liquid for injection and ranges from 200 to 1500 rubles.
It is imperative to treat all animals that have been in contact with the sick person.
The quarantine of a sick cat lasts 30 days.
The premises and care items are disinfected using an acaricidal drug (Delta Zone, etc.)

Diagnostics

The process of diagnosing subcutaneous mites in cats is quite complex; it can only be carried out by specialists in laboratory conditions.

Confirmation of the diagnosis is carried out as follows:

and the contents of the resulting tubercles is performed to make a diagnosis
Skin particles for analysis are taken by squeezing it on both sides so that the parasites can be squeezed out. Often, several subcutaneous mites can also be found in completely healthy pets. However, if such an amount was recorded in the presence of accompanying symptoms, then a repeat test will be required. Identified parasites are often placed in an artificially created habitat for them in order to be able to observe the process of their reproduction and the development of the created colony.
The pet's waste products, blood are analyzed, as well as a study of its condition using ultrasound methods. Such diagnostics are necessary to detect possible complications that may be caused by the activity of subcutaneous mites or the accidental entry of secondary microflora into the pet’s body.

Ear mites in a cat

Otodecosis or ear scabies is caused by the colonization of microscopic mites Notoedres cati in the ear canal of a cat. The main symptoms of the disease: the animal feels discomfort, anxiety, shakes its head and scratches its ears.

On a note!
When examining the ear canal, dried brown crusts are noticeable, which are the waste product of a large number of cat ear mites, and a characteristic odor is also felt.

If the disease is detected early, treatment for ticks in cats at home is as follows:

Mechanical cleaning and removal of crusts from the pet’s ears using disinfectant solutions: Furacilin, Camphor alcohol, diluted Hydrogen Peroxide.
Immunomodulatory drugs and vitamins.
Instillation of medicinal drops into the ear canal of a cat, followed by massaging to distribute them throughout the auricle: Tsipam (price 140-150 rubles), Otoferonol (90-110 rubles).
Some veterinarians prescribe a one-time injection for cats against ticks in the form of an injection of the drug Ivermek (the price depends on the packaging of the medicine - from 90 rubles), which has an anthelmintic and arachno-entomocidal effect, causing a rapid therapeutic effect. For cats, the dosage should be selected based on weight: 0.1 ml per 5 kg.
Treating the skin with Wilkinson's ointment (price about 40 rubles) on an acaricidal basis.

Preparations for the treatment of mites
The fight against ear mites is usually long-term and lasts about a month, but even if the main symptoms go away, the procedures should be continued for another week.

Important!
For the entire period of treatment, to facilitate care and to prevent scratching of the ears, you should put a special collar on the cat, which will help speed up the healing process.

When the disease is advanced, not only the concha and eardrum can be affected, but also the meninges, otitis media progresses with purulent discharge, which will have a negative effect on hearing and can cause the death of the animal.

Traditional methods of treating ear mites in cats are used at the initial stage of the disease in the absence of severe scratching. To cleanse the ear canals, you can use herbal infusions according to the following recipes:

green tea tincture is prepared from 2 tsp. large-leaf dry mass in a glass of boiling water, after cooling, instill 2-3 drops. in both ears for 30-45 days;
almond oil – used after cleansing: drop in and massage each ear;
ointment from 3 tbsp. l. vegetable oil and ½ clove of garlic is used to lubricate the cat's ear canals daily, but in rare cases this can cause allergies.

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Veterinary Directory of Animal Diseases For animal owners

Cat breeds
Sterilization of cats
Castration of cats
Cat at home
Cat vaccination
Treatment of cats for fleas, worms and ticks
Feeding the cat
Kittens
Cat health diagnostic service

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Ixodid tick: what it looks like and how to remove

Ixodid tick
These parasites are the most common in the warm season from spring to early autumn. The size of the forest tick is 3-4 mm, in appearance it looks like a small gray-brown spider, has a chitinous shell. When it gets on the fur, it does not immediately dig into the skin, but can crawl for 2-3 hours, choosing a suitable place for “lunch.” Therefore, a hungry gray or white tick can be seen between the hairs when it is searching and trying to catch it.

After suction and saturation with blood, the parasite sharply increases to 1.5 cm and acquires a red-brown or gray body color, as seen in the photo of a cat tick.

Animals can easily pick up parasites while walking in a park where there are various plants. Most often, “bloodsuckers” stick to those places that are inaccessible to the cat, which is why she cannot remove them on her own: on the neck, stomach, behind the ears, on the withers, in the groin and in the armpits.

On a note!
Maximum activity of ixodid ticks: spring and autumn, it is during this period that they are hungry and angry.

The tick's mouthparts contain a proboscis with which it pierces the skin and clings tightly to it, injecting anesthetic saliva. The cat does not feel the moment of the bite, and only after several hours, and sometimes days, can it be detected. The longer the parasite drinks blood, the more and the more difficult it is to remove.

The danger of ixodid tick bites for animals is their ability to carry severe viral infections that penetrate through saliva injected under the skin.

Dangerous infections and possible consequences:

Piroplasmosis – causes a decrease in red blood cells in the blood, which leads to intoxication of the sick pet’s body, which is manifested in increased temperature, lethargy, refusal to eat, and without timely treatment, death is possible.
Hemobartonellosis is a form of infectious anemia that causes chronic disease of internal organs.
Theileriosis or hemosporidiosis - affects the circulatory system, causing hemorrhages, which can lead to blockage of blood vessels and the death of the pet.
Tularemia - leads to lymph damage, intoxication and blood poisoning, which can be fatal.
Ticks also spread worm eggs, which enter the animal's body through saliva.

Preventive measures

In order to avoid symptoms and treatment of subcutaneous mites in cats in the future, it is necessary to take care of prevention in advance. First of all, regularly treat the animal with antiparasitic drugs (for fleas and ticks), check for worms and monitor the balance of the pet’s diet. A cat's diet should be rich in all necessary vitamins and microelements.

You should not allow your pet near animals whose health status is in doubt. It’s better to play it safe than to later discover demodicosis in your cat. Also try to maintain your pet’s immunity; your veterinarian will prescribe the necessary medications.

Although today there are many medicines for the treatment of subcutaneous mites, it is better not to deal with this disease. And not even because a lot of time passes from diagnosis to recovery. First of all, the cat suffers, for which demodicosis brings a lot of discomfort. And if you take preventative measures, your pet will always be healthy.

What to do if your cat has a tick

A tick on a cat
It is easiest to find a “bloodsucker” among a cat’s fur when the tick has attached itself to the skin and increased in size. It should then be removed as quickly as possible to try to avoid infection.

Rules for removing ticks from cats:

The owner should wear rubber gloves to avoid direct contact and be sure to wash their hands after the procedure.
You should not drip oil onto the parasite so as not to speed up the spread of infection.
You need to remove the ixodid tick from the cat entirely, for which you use special Tik Twister tweezers, which grab the parasite and then twist it out by rotating it clockwise.
Using the thread while twisting it may cause the pin to rupture or become damaged.
If the head of the parasite remains under the skin, then the wound must be treated with an antiseptic to avoid infection.
If you suspect an infection: the tick can be taken to a laboratory or clinic to be tested for infection by placing it in a glass container.
To destroy the removed parasite, they put it in a jar of alcohol, rather than crush it, because they are very tenacious, and even after being flushed down the toilet they can survive, thanks to the “air sac.”

Causes of red scabies

Subcutaneous mites in cats occur in all breeds. There are no restrictions by gender or age. However, it has been noted that Siamese and Burmese breeds are more often affected.

At risk:

Animals with weakened immunity due to genetic diseases, previous infections, infection with worms, fleas, and those who have been treated with antibiotics for a long time.
Pets up to 1-2 years old and over 5 years old.
Kittens are artificial or taken from their mother early.
Cats with skin diseases, wounds, abrasions.

No less influence on the immune system is exerted by nutrition, living conditions, and exposure to stress.

What to do after deletion

The likelihood of a pet becoming infected after a tick bite is much lower than in dogs. Symptoms of the onset of tick disease in cats can appear within 2-3 weeks, so it is necessary to closely monitor your pet and its condition during the incubation period.

Important!
Particular attention should be paid if ticks were found on a kitten, which may have a strong negative reaction from the body due to immature immunity.

Negative symptoms include: high body temperature in a cat, apathy, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea or vomiting, cough, shortness of breath, pink urine.

If signs indicating infection appear, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic, where, after diagnosis and tests, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment. Its effectiveness depends on early diagnosis, the severity of the disease, the condition of the cat’s body, and the effectiveness of the medications.

Actions to take if a tick is found on a cat

After a walk, you should carefully examine the animal , running your palm over the back and tummy against the fur, inspect the face, the areas behind the ears, and paws. If the cat tick has not yet had time to attach itself, you can see a dark brown insect moving quickly along the hairs.

Before choosing a place to bite, the tick crawls along the fur for up to 2-3 hours. After a bite, it resembles a seed or a subcutaneous “pea”. It depends on how long the bloodsucker is on the cat’s skin. Once you find a tick, you need to get rid of it immediately.

To do this, wearing rubber gloves, using special tweezers, you need to twist the bloodsucker clockwise. You can’t pull it sideways or up; you can damage or tear its body. If the head remains under the skin, you will need to treat the wound with an antiseptic to prevent infection. It is better to burn the extracted tick, as it is resilient: it can get out of both the trash can and the sewer.

When removing a tick, you need to wear gloves to prevent infection from getting on your hands through the wound.

Treat the bite site on the cat's body with green paint and monitor the condition of the skin so that there is no redness, swelling or itching - symptoms of the disease for which you should consult a veterinarian.

You should carefully monitor your pet after removing a cat tick for 2-3 weeks. This period is an incubation period. If you experience fever, indifference, diarrhea or vomiting, loss of appetite, weight, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic.

After examining the animal and establishing a diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe treatment appropriate to the disease. Early diagnosis, the stage of the disease, the condition of the body, the effectiveness of medications - all this together will affect the effectiveness of treatment.

Prevention and protection of cats from ticks

Means for protection against ticks
It is almost impossible to completely protect a pet that regularly walks outside. There are also no vaccinations against parasites, because they are not microbes. The only measure remains the use of insecticidal and acaricidal preparations for cats, which are added to sprays, drops, collars and shampoos for pets.

It is necessary to combat ticks in cats using various methods, trying to prevent their attack and reduce the risk of bites:

Put a special anti-tick and flea collar on your walking cat, which repels parasites with its smell.
The safest and most effective way is to use drops designed to kill ticks caught in cat fur. They are sold in ampoules and applied to the skin and protect the cat for 1-3 months: Frontline, Advantix, Stronghold, etc.

Although such products do not provide a 100% guarantee, their use in cats for the period from late spring to early autumn will avoid attacks by “bloodsuckers”, and therefore possible infection with infectious diseases.

How to protect your pet

It is possible to prevent a parasite attack altogether. There are special remedies for tick bites, such as:

Collars impregnated with a special substance. A simple method of protection - you put it on your pet and he doesn’t care about ticks. However, make sure that the cat does not eat the collar: the active substance is poisonous;
Drops are the most popular tick repellent. The medicine is applied between the shoulder blades once a month. If your cat doesn't have allergies, this is ideal;
Sprays for wool. The drug is sprayed on the cat and care is taken that the spray does not get into the eyes or mouth. The pet should not lick itself, so the product is difficult to use.

After every walk, be sure to examine your cat, even if you use such products.
Don't be afraid of ticks: if you detect the parasite in time and know what to do with it, there is nothing to worry about. Did you like the article? Share with your friends!

Folk remedies

It is recommended to use in cases where it is not possible to purchase a special drug. Folk remedies are not highly effective; they dry out the skin and cause allergies.

Lather the cat with soap containing birch tar. Wrap it in cling film, and after 5-10 minutes bathe the animal. Repeat the procedure several times with a break of 2-3 days.
Areas of skin with fallen hair are lubricated with kerosene. After 3 days the pet is bathed. If necessary, repeat the treatment again.
To speed up the restoration of the epidermis, use calendula tincture and chamomile decoction. Wipe 2-3 times a day.

If there is no therapeutic effect within 7 days, you need to show the cat to a veterinarian. If an allergy appears against the background of alternative treatment, stop treatment immediately.