Many people think that ticks can only bite a person or a dog, without posing a danger to the cat family. This is not true; according to statistics, cats suffer from tick bites and develop complications much less frequently, but the course of the disease, diagnosis and treatment are more difficult. Even domestic cats require special attention, since the parasite can enter the house through shoes or on human clothing.
Ticks are especially active from March to November; they can be found in grass or bushes, in city parks, and forests. Parasites pose a danger to walking animals, but even if the animal does not leave the house or apartment, the risk of finding a parasite in a cat is not so small.
What to do if your cat is bitten by a tick
If a cat is bitten by a tick, it is necessary to determine its type, of which there are more than 1000: dust ticks, ear ticks, scabies, etc. Ixodid ticks are considered the most dangerous for cats, as they are carriers of pathogens of many diseases.
It is necessary to examine the surface of the skin to determine the extent of its penetration. It is advisable if a specialist removes the parasite, since there is a risk of leaving part of the head under the skin. Also, when the insect moves strongly, the spread of infection increases.
Most often, bloodsuckers choose to bite the groin area, behind the hind legs, ears, stomach and armpit. An attached parasite is visible to the naked eye; immediately after detection, it is advisable to isolate the cat from children, take it to the veterinarian, or try to get rid of the insect yourself.
If a cat is bitten by a tick, then at this moment the animal does not experience pain or discomfort because upon penetration the parasite releases pain-relieving enzymes. Therefore, during the active months of parasite reproduction, you should regularly examine your cat; you can run a comb against the grain and feel the vulnerable spots.
How to keep your pet safe?
Check the coat after every walk. The simplest thing is to prevent the bite itself, because the tick crawls on the victim for quite a long time before biting. Along with the inspection, it is also better to comb the fur with a fine-toothed comb so that the tick remains on it if it is still crawling.
And don’t forget that you can only walk outside with protection: a collar, drops or spray against ticks and fleas. If your cat brings ticks home despite the presence of protection, change the product to a more effective one.
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Symptoms of a bite in cats
Symptoms of a tick bite in cats do not appear immediately after detection; the animal behaves calmly, has good appetite and sleep, and the cat does not feel pain, since the parasite uses pain-relieving enzymes during its introduction.
After it has been removed from the skin, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the pet. In case of infection and infection enters the bloodstream, the disease can begin to manifest itself only after a few weeks - the incubation period of infectious diseases.
Symptoms of a tick bite in a cat that should alert you:
- urine has turned pink;
- cough, heavy breathing;
- paleness of the nasal mucous membranes;
- vomiting, bowel dysfunction;
- signs of dehydration;
- sudden weight loss;
- loss of appetite or complete refusal;
- lethargy, lack of interest in the environment;
- heat.
If one or more symptoms occur, you should contact your veterinarian to preserve the health and life of your pet.
Symptoms of infection
If the dog owner has a picture of the disease and is familiar with the symptoms that characterize it, then emergency treatment can be started on time.
Symptoms may include:
- The earliest signs that should alert the owner are lethargy, a significant decrease in activity, loss of the dog’s inherent playfulness, failure to show joy, apathy, lack of desire to go for a walk, etc.;
- Lack of appetite, the dog only drinks, refusing even previously loved treats. Feeding the dog becomes a problem.
This is one of the main signs in the first days of infection; - Subsequently, on the third to fifth day, digestive symptoms become more alarming and obvious - vomiting appears, sometimes with mucus. At the same time, the dog has remained hungry for several days. Diarrhea is possible, the liquid masses of which have a bright yellow or greenish color. Symptoms of diarrhea are not necessary, but the color of the stool definitely changes;
- Stiffness of movement, reluctance to move, shortness of breath, as if every movement brings suffering. The dog tries to find a secluded place and not leave it. Such symptoms already indicate a progressive disease;
- The color of urine is a sign that necessarily accompanies the disease. The urine is much darker
, takes on the color of coffee or dark beer, sometimes even a dark brown color. Pyroplasmas in the blood destroy red blood cells, due to which the color of urine changes. This sign indicates irreversible processes that can lead to death; - Healthy dogs can tolerate the disease almost asymptomatically - the dog dies completely suddenly for its owners, without previously showing any special signs of illness. But the color of urine even in this case is unnatural, which owners should pay attention to;
- Fever;
- The mucous membranes of the eyes turn white.
Consequences of a bite
Are ticks dangerous for cats? The parasite's bite itself does not threaten the health of the pet; the danger lies in the pathogens that can get from it to the animal through the bite. The Ixodid tick can cause the development of diseases such as piroplasmosis, hemorrhagic fever, typhus and encephalitis, and borreliosis.
If treatment is not started on time, the infection can affect many body systems and internal organs of your furry friend.
If a cat is bitten by a tick, the consequences, symptoms and treatment depend on the type of infection. Some diseases only affect the cat’s immune system, it becomes lethargic and apathetic, but treatment in this case is 95% effective. Other diseases may not respond to treatment and lead to the death of the pet.
What not to do
List of prohibited actions:
- Do not suffocate the tick with vegetable oil - the film provokes the tick to increase the release of saliva under the skin;
- You can’t douse the tick with kerosene/alcohol - the parasite won’t die, but it won’t come off, and you’ll only waste time;
- you should not deepen the wound in attempts to get it out - this way you can introduce an additional infection under the skin;
- You can’t throw a lasso of thread over a tick—you won’t get it, but you’ll definitely tear off its head.
What to do at home if you are bitten
If the bloodsucker has not burrowed into the pet’s skin and it is found on the fur or in the place where the cat sleeps, then it is necessary to inspect the skin. Using a comb, you need to comb the animal against the fur, push it apart with your hands and inspect the skin. Favorite places for parasites to invade are the armpits, hind legs, stomach and groin. If a bite is detected, it is necessary to treat the wound or take it to a veterinary hospital; you should monitor the cat’s health for several weeks; if deterioration occurs, you should consult a doctor.
You can get rid of the parasite as follows:
- Wear gloves on your hands, and upon completion of all manipulations, carefully perform hygiene.
- To prevent the infection from spreading faster, do not lubricate the area around the tick with oil.
- You should not pull the parasite, this will lead to further penetration of the insect's head and the spread of infection.
- The tick must be removed completely without damaging it.
- You can remove the insect using thread or tweezers. You should grab the body of the parasite and pull it out gently and without sudden movements.
- If, however, part of the tick’s head remains in the skin, there is no need to worry too much, since the cat’s body can independently reject the remaining body. This often leads to the development of a small abscess, which can be prevented by contacting a veterinarian.
Treatment is prescribed only by a veterinarian based on the test results and existing symptoms; usually, antibiotic therapy cannot be avoided. You are allowed to treat the bite site yourself at home using antiseptic drugs, with the exception of iodine and brilliant green.
How to detect a tick?
Most are visible to the naked eye. Since their bite usually does not cause discomfort thanks to pain-relieving enzymes, you should check your pet regularly, especially if it is often outdoors. Running your hands under the cat's fur, you should carefully feel it. Examine the cat, parting the fur (you can blow it with a hairdryer against the fur, comb it with a comb). A tick that has not had time to drink looks like a stuck dark seed, while a tick that has sucked looks like a pea or a large mole.
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Ixodid ticks in cats
A tick bite that carries piroplasmosis or encephalitis does not pose a danger to a cat, but other more dangerous diseases can develop, such as theileriosis, tularemia and hemobartonellosis. Ixodid ticks are one of the most famous types of parasites, common in many climatic zones.
Symptoms and consequences have different characteristics - it all depends on the type of pathogen. Each disease has a distinctive clinical picture and incubation period:
- Hemobartonellosis. This infectious disease causes anemia only in cats; the disease is not dangerous for humans and dogs. The infection, spreading throughout the body, settles in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver and spleen. The incubation period ranges from several days to three weeks. The manifestation of symptoms depends on the animal’s immune defense; with weak immunity, the disease becomes severe. The disease manifests itself in decreased appetite, rapid heartbeat, lethargy and fading of the cat, the skin is pale or yellow, and the temperature is elevated. Only an urgent visit to the veterinarian can save the life of a pet.
- Tularemia. The pathogen enters the lymph nodes through the cat’s blood, developing a purulent inflammatory process. After some time, the lesions are opened, which leads to even greater blood infection. The disease affects the spleen, liver and lungs. Tularemia manifests itself in the form of lethargy of the animal, the skin becomes yellowish, small ulcerations form on the mucous surfaces, the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged, the animal experiences malaise and fever. If treatment is not started in time, the cat dies in a matter of time, one of the causes of death is necrosis of the tissues of the spleen, lungs and liver. This disease is dangerous to humans and is transmitted through contact.
- Theileriosis. The infection, entering the animal's blood, multiplies in the spleen, lungs, liver and lymph nodes, causing severe damage. The first symptoms appear 1–3 weeks after the tick bite: the cat becomes lethargic, the temperature rises, the skin is yellow, the cat looks thin and apathetic, and the appetite disappears. Upon examination, the veterinarian notes an increase in internal organs. The disease is difficult for cats to tolerate, and only timely treatment can save the animal’s life.
To prevent such consequences after an ixodid tick bite, it is necessary to carry out prevention, constant examination of the animal and timely treatment.
Kinds
Most often, the animal is affected by a microorganism called demodex. It cannot be seen without a microscope. It is shaped like a worm.
Demodicosis occurs in two varieties:
- localized;
- generalized.
With a localized form, a certain part of the skin is affected. In the case of a generalized form, the entire body is affected.
In this situation, after treatment, the cat should undergo a sterilization procedure, since the microorganism can be transmitted to offspring.
Can a tick fall off on its own from a cat?
Ticks and cats are a hot topic for the hot season, since it is in the summer that animals most often suffer from parasite bites. Having discovered a parasite attached to a pet, many people have a question: can the tick fall off on its own?
It is better not to wait until it detaches itself; it is necessary to remove the insect as soon as possible, since the longer the parasite is under the skin, the more infection will enter the blood. In some cases, when the tick is completely saturated with blood, it is able to fall off on its own.
Where do ticks spend the winter?
During the winter, ticks hibernate. Their comfortable time - warm and humid - gives way to cold weather. They choose deciduous forests, where they can burrow into the depths of fallen leaves until spring. However, spring for ticks can come much earlier than the calendar year.
As soon as the temperature rises to 0 ℃, the parasite awakens and goes in search of food. Therefore, if in your region the temperature does not drop below 0 ℃ and the snow does not linger on the ground, you cannot lose vigilance all year round!
The same is true if you and your pet walk near heating mains. There, ticks don’t experience winter at all, because it’s warm and damp all year round.
Be careful in winter! And when the weather warms up, don’t forget about prevention.
Can a cat die from a tick bite?
Are ticks dangerous for cats? The parasite itself does not pose a danger to the animal if it is not the causative agent of any disease.
Can a cat die from a tick bite? With timely treatment and treatment, the animal’s health is restored without complications. If urgent measures are not taken, the animal’s body weakens in a matter of time, exhaustion and disruption of the functioning of internal organs are observed, which leads to serious consequences, including death.
Risk factors
As mentioned above, what is unpleasant is not the presence of a subcutaneous mite as such - in itself it cannot harm a healthy person - but demodicosis, which is caused by a mite. If the body is weakened and there are additional risk factors, the tick can settle in the skin for a long time and cause considerable mental and physical damage to its “breadwinner”. Risk factors include:
- dysfunction of the sebaceous glands, changes in the composition of sebum, vascular changes;
- some skin diseases (rosacea, acne, seborrhea);
- long-term use of hormonal corticosteroid ointments;
- adolescence;
- pregnancy;
- stress.
Unfortunately, non-specialists react with unacceptable ease to the appearance of acne on the face and body. The appearance of such problems is attributed to age and ordinary acne, which sooner or later should disappear on their own. We have to disappoint you: demodicosis caused by subcutaneous mites will not go away on its own. The disease can travel from one area of the skin to another, existing for years and ruining the life of its “donor”.
IMPORTANT:
squeezing out acne when infected with a subcutaneous mite only leads to an exacerbation of the infection, since during this process the mites are pressed into healthy areas of the skin and infect them.
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Are ticks on a cat dangerous for humans?
If it has already been saturated with cat blood, then it poses no danger to the human body. It is worth remembering that the parasite cannot infect a cat with encephalitis, while this disease is very dangerous for humans.
Having discovered a tick on an animal, it is possible that there may be several such parasites on the pet, in which case there is a risk that the insect will move onto a person’s skin and bite him. Therefore, it is important to examine your pet for parasites while wearing protective gloves.
Prevention
Preventing ticks from infesting cats by preventing contact with their relatives is almost impossible. The only way out is to prevent tick attacks on cats by using flea collars, drops and water-soluble emulsions.
If there are unfavorable areas for ticks in your area, they should be avoided. Before letting your cat into your apartment, you need to thoroughly comb out the fur with a fine comb and inspect the belly, paws, chest and ears for ticks.
Given that mites have the ability to survive for some time outside the cat's body, owners must protect their animals from re-infestation.
It is better to burn low-value items in the apartment, treat the floors with an acaricidal spray and wash them thoroughly.
Regular deworming, vaccination, disinfestation, and adequate feeding will provide the cat with strong immunity, which will not allow ticks that have fallen on the cat to actively reproduce.
How does a dog become infected with piroplasmosis?
Tick on a dog's body
Piroplasmas have two types of hosts during their cyclic development. The first, as intermediate ones, are dogs, foxes, wolves, jackals and other canids, and the second, as final ones, are ixodid ticks, in whose body piroplasms reproduce and further transform.
Female carriers of the infection transmit it to the laid eggs, from where already infected larvae emerge. Therefore, both at the larval stage and in the future, such a tick, biting a healthy dog, will infect it with an infection.
Peak outbreaks of the disease in dogs coincide with the period of tick-borne activity, which, unlike the threat to humans, is more extended over time. Because larvae and nymphs practically do not bite humans, but a dog is a completely accessible victim for them. Just then the threatening symptoms of a tick bite appear in the dog.
Registration of cases of piroplasmosis occurs throughout the entire period of above-zero temperatures - from the very beginning of spring to the end of autumn, without stopping even in the middle of summer, when the larvae and nymphs begin to hunt. But widespread outbreaks traditionally occur in the middle - late spring and at the end of summer - mid-autumn.
A dog, running across the ground covered with vegetation, becomes an easy target for the bloodsuckers waiting there for prey. It is enough for them to simply cling to the fur, and then calmly, under its cover, search for several hours for a convenient place for suction and leisurely saturation, which for female parasites can last for several days.
Ticks on the grass
Therefore, it is better for a pet, even if it is treated with an anti-tick agent, after each walk through thickets of grass and bushes to do a thorough examination, palpating particularly vulnerable places on the body that are preferred by bloodsuckers:
- head and ear area;
- neck and chest;
- front and hind legs, groin area.
Unfortunately, not a single remedy, even the best one, will completely protect a dog from a tick attack, which is why dog owners must not let down their vigilance during the dangerous season - if treatment is not started in a timely manner, the death of the pet is inevitable.
Naturally, not every parasite found on it will cause symptoms of piroplasmosis in a dog after a tick bite, but visually, alas, no one can determine whether the tick we got is dangerous or sterile.
Therefore, just the mere fact of the presence of an attached bloodsucker on a pet should alert the responsible owner; ignorance and frivolity in such cases often leads to the loss of a four-legged friend.
