Ixodid ticks in cats and kittens

How does tick infection occur?

Exogenous parasites can live on land, in water, and on other animals. Therefore, the danger of infection exists every day. Even if your pet does not go outside for walks, you should not think that the cat is safe. How can a tick get on an animal? It's simple. You walked through the grass or past bushes, through a forest park or walked along an alley, and a small hungry tick got on your clothes. This is how you bring it home - on yourself.

Hungry ticks (photo below), especially if the peak of their activity has arrived, are very nimble.

They are also very small and are not afraid of anything. And only fire will stop the ixodid tick altogether.

Some people mistakenly believe that there is nothing dangerous about ticks sitting on a cat. However, it is not.

Firstly, the parasite can be a carrier of dangerous diseases.

Secondly, ticks in cats can get into the ears and under the skin, making the process of finding them extremely difficult. We must not forget that ticks can “spread” from a cat to other pets and even to people (ear mites are not dangerous for humans, but they happily “spread” to healthy cats).

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.

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.

Since favorable treatment outcomes for tick-borne infections are not always guaranteed, a particularly important role is played by protecting the cat from attacks by bloodsuckers. For this purpose, collars, sprays, and drops on the withers are used. It should be noted that not all manufacturers include in their formulations substances that are harmful specifically to ticks, so you should always carefully read the instructions for the product.

We suggest you read: Caring for a cat after anesthesia or surgery

Typically, tick repellents contain the following substances:

• fipronil;
• etofenprox;
• permethrin;
• selamectin;
• ivermectin;
• pyriproxyfen.

There are many products available for protection against ticks, with different application methods and in different price categories. Reliable manufacturers are considered:

• "Merial";
• "Leopard";
• "Hartz"
• Bayer.

Frontline spray deserves special attention; it can be used both in pregnant and lactating cats, and in kittens from 2 days of age.

Frontline spray is suitable for pregnant cats and kittens

Ear mites in cats

A pet can become infected with ear mites as a result of:

• communication with a sick animal;
• contact with contaminated objects, which may include dishes, hygiene items, and bed mats.

In addition, there is a high probability that ear mites could be brought into the house from the street by any family member. You can also “grab” a tick with you at the entrance, where stray infected cats often end up. Insects, parasites that often infect animals, also become carriers of ticks. A person need not be afraid of infection - contact with a sick cat is not dangerous for him.

Ear mites in cats - symptoms

Under the influence of the disease, the behavior and physical condition of the animal changes. The following signs indicate that a cat is infected with ear mites:

1. The pet behaves restlessly, constantly “shaking” its head, meowing often, clinging to the owner, tilting its head to the side.
2. To relieve the unbearable itching, the animal rubs its ears against the corners of furniture and various objects, often scratching them.
3. After some time, a purulent mass may emerge from the auricle.
4. The cat develops brown crusts inside and around the ear.

If untreated, tick symptoms in cats worsen, and the inflammation gradually affects the inner and middle ear, moving further to the meninges. This condition is indicated by such signs of ear mites in cats as:

• depressed state;
• increased body temperature;
• head curved towards the affected ear;
• seizures leading to the death of the animal.

You can prevent terrible consequences if, when the first symptoms of otodectosis appear in cats, you contact a veterinarian to prescribe treatment.

A cat has ear mites - treatment

Treatment of ear mites in cats cannot be undertaken without an accurate diagnosis, since symptoms similar to this infection are present in other diseases. The doctor will be able to check whether your suspicions regarding this disease are justified when he examines the animal’s ears using special instruments and, if necessary, conducts a microscopic examination of the ear discharge. After otodectosis is confirmed, the specialist will prescribe and carry out treatment procedures:

1. First, the ears will be cleaned by rinsing with antiseptic agents.
2. Then liquid medications are instilled using a syringe with a rubber tube (usually ear mite drops for cats, which, according to the instructions, are injected into both ears of the animal, even when only one is inflamed). In this case, it is necessary to adhere to the exact dosage of the drug, because it contains a strong poison, which in a large dose can aggravate the pet’s condition.
3. After the treatment procedure, you should massage the base of the cat’s ear.

Ixodid ticks

These insects often live in forested areas: on trees and shrubs. But it is possible that ixodid ticks live on grass and ground. Even if the forest is far away, the tick may end up in a desert area. For example, the wind brought a leaf or blade of grass on which the parasite was sitting.

Once the tick attaches, your cat or you become the victim. The parasite firmly attaches to the skin and begins to burrow into the skin. His head is inside the tissues, and his body is outside. And when it starts sucking blood, it increases tenfold!

Even if there is no pathogen inside the tick, the harm to health is considerable. Firstly, the tick secretes a secretion at the site of the “bite” that causes severe inflammation and itching. The animal will begin to itch, worry, and may pick off the sucking parasite with its paw. The bloodsucker's jaws will remain closed inside the skin, so even if it is torn off, its head will remain in the animal. This often leads to suppuration, and sometimes sepsis occurs.

Sarcoptic mange in cats

Sarcoptic mange (pruritic mange) is a disease of cats caused by pruritic mites of the genus Sarcoptes.

Most often in cats, the muzzle, wings of the nose, forehead are affected, and then the whole body is affected. Mites living deep in the skin cause severe itching. Cats affected by sarcoptic mange cannot sleep and eat peacefully; they quickly experience nervous and physical exhaustion. Cats affected by sarcoptic mange can be easily identified by unpleasant-looking scabs, scabs and large bald patches.

The primary symptoms of the disease are similar to food allergies (food allergies in animals), localized on the face, quickly affecting the entire body, the cat’s body becomes almost naked, the entire skin is covered with scabs, in place of the fallen scabs, erosions and ulcers form in the cat, and unbearable itching is observed . The disease is not contagious to humans, but can cause a short-term allergic reaction.

Injured skin is highly susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, and blood poisoning can also occur. Therefore, without timely help, a heavily infected animal dies.

Diagnosis. The diagnosis of sarcoptic mange by veterinarians is made based on the symptoms of the disease and microscopy of mites in an in-depth skin scraping.

Differential diagnosis. Sarcoptic mange is differentiated from demodicosis and otodectosis.

Treatment. Treatment of a cat with sarcoptic mange begins with cleaning the affected area in order to apply medications. When cutting off affected areas, it is important not to miss a single area of ​​inflammation, otherwise it will become a source of new spread of the tick. Before applying external medications, it is necessary to soften the crusts with shampoo, a solution of furacillin or perhydrol.

The following drugs are used to treat mites with sarcoptic mange: demos, amitrazine, amitforte, ivermec - gel, drops on the withers.

When applying drops to the withers area, which have a long-term acaricidal effect (up to a month), we additionally act on helminths (worms in cats), fleas (fleas in cats), lice, lice. The following are used as acaricidal preparations for application to the cat's withers: Strongyl, Dironet, Alvocat, helminthal K, IN-AP complex.

In cases where sarcoptic mange in a cat is advanced and there is a complication of secondary microflora, the following medications are additionally used: antimicrobials, antimycotics, immunostimulants.

How to properly remove a tick from a cat?

It is extremely important to properly remove a tick from a cat. Ideally, you need to arm yourself with special tweezers, because you can crush the reptile with tweezers.

Grab the tick at the neck and gently turn it counterclockwise until it opens its jaws and falls off. No oils, creams or hot needles in the torso! Yes, sometimes this leads to the parasite unclenching its jaws, but more often it, on the contrary, closes them even more tightly and then dies. And only then can it be removed surgically.

Do not pull, tear, tug, wrap with thread, handle with bare hands, or use tweezers.

There are many prohibitions, but in reality everything is not so complicated. If you suspect that you cannot cope on your own, then seek help from a veterinarian. He knows how to properly remove ticks (photo) from cats.

Don't throw away the ticks! They are very tenacious. Collect them in a glass bottle (for example, left over from penicillin or some other drugs, a jar of baby food will do).

Ideally, you should take the extracted parasite to the center of sanitation and epidemiology or to a veterinary laboratory so that it can be studied. If the causative agent of piroplasmosis is found in it (and this is also a parasite that “settles” in red blood cells, destroying them), then it is necessary to begin treatment of the cat affected by the tick as soon as possible. In addition to piroplasmosis, a tick can “give” your pet diseases such as theileriosis, tularemia or hemobartonellosis.

Subcutaneous mites in cats

The subcutaneous mite often affects dogs, but cats also suffer from this parasite. This reptile is called Demodex.

It is worth noting that a person can also become infected with demodicosis through contact with a sick animal! Alopecia, acne, and inflamed red areas appear on the skin. The cat itches, “cries”, worries. Therefore, it is necessary to be extremely careful in “communicating” with stray or “suspicious-looking” animals.

Try not to let your pet go for a walk alone, do not let him “get acquainted” with other animals so that your cat does not become infected.

The incubation period of demodicosis can last for years!

But as soon as the cat’s immunity weakens, this parasite will make itself felt. Most often, these mites (photo) in cats affect the areas around the eyes, ears, and neck. The hair falls out, severe itching begins, the skin turns red and becomes inflamed. It is very difficult to cure a cat from these mites.

In addition to demodicosis, notoedrosis may occur - this disease is caused by scabies mites, which are also localized under the skin. Of course, the symptoms will be similar to the clinical signs of scabies:

• itching;
• hair loss;
• anxiety.

You should be extremely careful, it is better to contact your veterinarian for help.

Diseases of cats caused by 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:

1. Demodicosis - affects the upper layers of the skin, causing constant itching and allergic reactions, degeneration and scars on the surface of the epidermis.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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

1. Baths with keratological shampoos.
2. 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.
3. Bacterial complications must be treated with a course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.
4. 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).
5. 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.
6. It is imperative to treat all animals that have been in contact with the sick person.
7. The quarantine of a sick cat lasts 30 days.
8. The premises and care items are disinfected using an acaricidal drug (Delta Zone, etc.)

We invite you to read: A cat or cat does not eat anything or drink water for several days (3 or more): reasons for refusing to eat and drink, what to do if a kitten is suffering

Notoedrosis (pruritic scabies) – Notoedrosis is a chronic invasive disease of cats, clinically accompanied by dermatitis in the scalp, itching, scratching and hair loss.

Etiology. The causative agent of Notoedrosis in cats is the sarcoptic mite Notoedrosis cati. Its morphology is somewhat similar to mites of the genus Sarcoptes. The body of sexually mature ticks is round in shape and dirty gray in color. It has a body length of 0.14-0.45 mm. The proboscis is horseshoe-shaped, the anus is located on the dorsal side, and in females there is also a copulatory opening.

The legs of the tick are short, thick, and cone-shaped. Male ticks have bell-shaped suckers on conical rods (ambulacras) on the 4th pair of legs. In females, the 3rd and 4th pair of legs do not have bell-shaped suckers. Itches parasitize and multiply in passages that they gnaw in the deep parts of the stratum corneum of the skin, directly bordering the malpighian layer.

Developmental biology, epizootological data, pathogenesis, clinical picture, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention are described in our article - Notoedrosis (pruritic scabies) in cats.

Feline demodicosis is a chronic parasitic skin disease in cats caused by the microscopic worm-like mite Demodex cati.

Etiology. The causative agent of demodicosis, being itself an endoparasite, is localized in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. It is half a millimeter long and has a transparent body with poorly defined boundaries between the cephalothorax and abdomen. It has short legs with hooks at the ends. The oral apparatus is equipped with a gnawing type proboscis.

When a cat is infected with demodicosis, the parasite first penetrates the skin. At the site where the tick gnaws through the skin, it leaves a pronounced concentric spot. Having penetrated the skin, mites begin to feed on skin cells, and the mites multiply intensively. For more information about demodicosis in cats, see our article – Demodicosis in cats.

Otodectosis or ear scabies is a chronic invasive disease of cats caused by parasitic otodectosis mites on the inner surface of the ears and in the external auditory canal.

For more information about the disease, see our article – Otodectosis in cats.

Treating cats for ticks at home

Many owners wonder how to treat a tick on a cat at home, but a competent veterinarian will answer that it is not the tick that needs to be treated, but the animal itself. The main thing is not to resort to self-medication and be patient. It is already clear that depending on the type of tick and other circumstances, the parasite can infect your cat. And it is obvious that it is impossible to treat such diseases at home. In the case of subcutaneous parasites, even specialized treatment of a cat for ticks can take more than one month or even a year. And follow safety precautions so as not to suffer from the parasite yourself.

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.

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.

Anti-tick drops for cats

Medicine in the form of drops is very common, as it is one of the safest and most affordable. It is used not only to combat infection, but also to prevent otodectosis.

The course of treatment begins with the use of an emulsion, the fundamental component of which is Fipronil, Fenthion or Permethrin. The product must be rubbed into the skin of the withers and make sure that the animal cannot lick it off until it is completely absorbed.

To treat ear mites in cats, the following brands of drops are usually used:

1. Celandine (the active ingredients of the drug are Fipronil and Permethrin).
2. Biafar (differs from other drops by the presence of a natural component based on margose, which destroys insects).
3. Leopard (the main component is Permethrin) is low toxic for cats, which explains its popularity.
4. Frontline (the active ingredient of the drug is Fipronil) is effective against ear mites and their carriers, fleas.

Anti-tick collar for cats

But not only drops have the same effect on ticks and fleas: the most popular is a special collar against parasites. And this is explained by its undeniable advantages:

• simplicity and ease of use;
• safety for the cat;
• efficiency of application.

A high-quality flea and tick collar for cats is the best choice for the treatment and prevention of otodecosis. When choosing a product, pay attention to its characteristics:

1. A quality product is always sealed in a foil bag.
2. The collar should be intended only for cats (also separately for kittens and for pregnant or lactating pets).
3. The material should not contain: Permethrin, Amitraz and organic phosphates.

Prevention

There is no vaccination against ticks! The salvation will be the special collars described above, drops on the withers. Ideally, you should refrain from walking through the forested area during the period of greatest tick activity (April-June, August-October). If there are disadvantaged places in your city, then do not go near them.

Before letting your pet into the house, carefully comb out the entire skin with a fine comb, inspect the belly, chest, paws, and ears. If you have combed out ticks, do not leave them on your doorstep. Otherwise they will stick to someone. On shoes or clothes they will enter someone's home (and maybe yours again).

To prevent your pet from getting ticks, try to avoid contact with other animals. At the slightest suspicion of infection, contact your veterinarian. He will take skin scrapings from the affected areas (in the case of subcutaneous mites) or take a whole skin parasite for examination. Only after a final diagnosis has been made, treatment will be prescribed.

How to remove a tick

It is imperative to remove ear mites. To do this, you need to do regular ear cleaning. For this purpose, ear sticks and hydrogen peroxide are used. It is necessary to moisten the sticks with peroxide and carefully but carefully clean the cat’s ear canals, being careful not to damage them. Place paper nearby on which to place the accumulations removed from the ears. In advanced cases, cleaning requires a large number of cotton swabs.

It is better to wrap the cat in a blanket, as it will resist strongly. If you do such procedures regularly, the animal’s condition will soon improve significantly. After cleaning, you need to wipe your ear with hydrogen peroxide and apply ear drops against ticks of the “Bars” type.

There is also an excellent remedy - drops on the withers against ear mites. They enter the animal's blood and destroy ticks from the inside. This treatment should be done once every few months.

You can find out more information by reading the article “What to do if your cat has a tick.”

If a tick settles on the skin and fur of an animal, it begins to suffer from itching, losing weight, fur and appetite.