What Do Ticks Look Like on Cats?

If you’ve ever wondered what ticks look like on cats, you’re not alone. Ticks on cats are easy to miss, especially in long-haired breeds or cats that roam outdoors. A tick on a cat typically looks like a small, dark bump attached firmly to the skin, and it can range in size from a tiny poppy seed to a swollen pea, depending on how long it has been feeding. Because ticks can transmit disease and cause other health problems in cats, knowing how to find them and what to do next is critical.

 

 

Do Cats Get Ticks?

Yes, cats can absolutely get ticks, and it’s more common than many people think. While cats are considered somewhat resistant to certain tick-borne illnesses compared to dogs, they are still vulnerable to ticks and the complications that come with them. Indoor-outdoor cats, cats in rural or suburban areas near wooded habitats, and cats that spend time on decks or in gardens are most at risk. Even indoor-only cats can encounter ticks brought inside on clothing or other pets.

What Do Ticks Look Like on Cats?

Identifying a tick on a cat depends on the tick’s life stage and how long it has been attached. Here’s what to look for:

Unfed Ticks

An unfed tick on a cat is very small, often just 1 to 2 millimeters. It typically appears flat, oval-shaped, and dark brown or black in color. These ticks can be extremely difficult to spot, especially on darker-coated cats or through thick fur. They feel like a tiny hard seed when you run your fingers through your cat’s coat.

Partially Fed Ticks

A tick that has been attached for 12 to 24 hours will start to enlarge as it takes in blood. At this stage, ticks on cats may appear slightly rounded and can take on a grayish or tan color. They’re easier to feel than an unfed tick because they have more volume.

Fully Engorged Ticks

An engorged tick on a cat is unmistakable. After several days of feeding, a tick swells to the size of a small pea or grape, turning gray, tan, or even greenish-white. These large ticks on cats can look alarming, sometimes people mistake them for a skin tag or cyst. The tick’s head remains embedded in the skin while its bloated body protrudes outward.

Where to Look for Ticks on Cats

Ticks on cats gravitate toward warm, sheltered areas where the skin is thin. Common tick locations on cats include:

• Around and inside the ears
• On the neck and under the collar
• Between the toes and around the paw pads
• In the groin area
• Under the front legs (armpits)
• Around the base of the tail
• On the face and around the chin

To check your cat for ticks, use your fingertips to slowly part the fur and feel for any small bumps on the skin. Work systematically from the head to the tail, paying extra attention to the areas listed above.

Can Ticks Make Cats Sick?

Yes, ticks can transmit several diseases and cause other health problems in cats. While Lyme disease is rare in cats, ticks can cause other concerns:

• Cytauxzoonosis: A severe and often fatal tick-borne disease in cats caused by the protozoan Cytauxzoon felis. It’s most prevalent in the south-central United States but has been reported in Pennsylvania. Signs include high fever, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and jaundice.
• Tick paralysis: Some species of ticks produce a neurotoxin in their saliva that can cause progressive paralysis in cats. Symptoms typically resolve once the tick is removed.
• Anemia: Heavy tick infestations can cause significant blood loss, particularly in kittens or debilitated cats.
• Haemobartonellosis (feline infectious anemia): A blood parasite transmitted by ticks that destroys red blood cells and can cause serious anemia in cats.

What to Do If You Find a Tick on Your Cat

If you find a tick on your cat, it’s important to remove it promptly and correctly. The longer a tick stays attached, the greater the risk of disease transmission. When removing a tick from a cat, use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or a dedicated tick removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, and pull upward with steady, even pressure.

Avoid twisting, squeezing, or crushing the tick’s body. After removal, clean the area with antiseptic and wash your hands. Do not use petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat to remove a tick. These methods can cause the tick to release more saliva into the wound, which increases disease risk.

When to See a Vet After Finding a Tick on Your Cat

You should contact your primary veterinarian if:

• You are not comfortable removing the tick yourself
• The tick’s mouthparts break off and remain in the skin
• Your cat develops a rash, swelling, or irritation at the bite site
• Your cat shows signs of illness such as fever, lethargy, limping, or loss of appetite in the days or weeks following a tick bite
• You suspect your cat has been heavily infested with ticks

How to Protect Your Cat from Ticks

Preventing ticks on cats is much easier than treating tick-borne illness. Talk to your veterinarian about cat-safe tick prevention products, since many tick treatments formulated for dogs are toxic to cats. Options your vet may recommend include topical preventives applied to the skin or tick-repelling collars specifically labeled for cats. Never use dog tick products on cats, as they can cause severe neurological reactions.

Additional prevention measures include checking your cat for ticks after any time spent outdoors, keeping your yard trimmed and leaf litter managed, and limiting your cat’s access to heavily wooded or grassy areas during peak tick season, which in Pennsylvania typically runs from early spring through late fall.

Tick Concerns in Cats: Don’t Wait to Get Help

If you’re not sure what you’ve found on your cat, or if your cat seems unwell after a tick exposure, it’s always better to call your primary veterinarian than to wait. Tick-borne illness in cats can progress quickly, and the signs are easy to mistake for other conditions.

Hershey Animal Emergency Center in Hershey, PA is available to help when your regular vet isn’t open. Our team can examine your cat, remove ticks safely, and advise on next steps for monitoring and treatment. If your cat has had a tick on it and doesn’t seem right, give us a call at (717) 298-7883. We’re here to help.