Tick problem in feral cats

[Hera]

My feral cat has picked up a tick. Does anyone know of an in feed treatment for getting rid of them

[Janey]

I’m not sure what would be best to use/whether there is something to add to food, your vet would probably be best to advise. I do know it’s possible to treat them through as my sister had a hut outside for a cat she couldn’t handle, and this cat had fleas bites, and the fleas were all over the hut. My sister was freaking out, so I asked my vet if she could advise, because I have cats myself. The vet gave me one of the flea treatments for her to use, I can’t remember now which it was, it may have been Stronghold or Frontline and she managed to drop it on the cats neck whilst it was eating. She also thoroughly cleaned the hut and the fleas went in no time. I suppose though it depends how near you can get to the cat for that method.

[Hera]

Thanks Janey. I have dosed her with Capstar tonight and hope that moves it.

[meriad]

apologies, a bit very late in reading and replying... if the capstar didn't work then I wouldn't worry about the odd tick too much as they usually fall off by themselves once they've gorged themselves; and given they don't carry any diseases which affect cats (that I know of) I'd just leave the feral be. Obviously if there are loads of ticks then something needs to be done

Needs to be said, it's different with dogs because of Lyme Disease http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_I ... isease.cfm

[randall]

Where I live in Italy, it is my understanding that the ticks found on cats can also carry Lyme disease. I use Frontline, but if you have already used another product, then don't try Frontline without further advice.

[meriad]

Yes, apparently they can carry Lyme disease here as well, but it doesn't seem to affect cats as it does dogs... which I find quite interesting and something I hope to remember and ask my vet about next time I'm there.

[Hera]

Thanks for all your replies. The tick is still on the cat but I think it is dead as its still small so I assume it will drop off at some point. It certainly isn't bothering her.

[randall]

Perhaps this is overly cautious, but I would not be happy to simply let a tick drop off a house pet, even if it appears dead. Ticks drop off "hosts" to lay eggs or seek a larger mammal host. That is not something you want in your house!

Even if the tick is dead, if it is carrying bacteria that causes disease, you don't want it around. You want to dispose of the tick while avoiding the bacteria. If you live near a store that sells accessories for camping, you can get a tick remover for very little money. Practically pennies. Or you can read online how to do it with tweezers and get all the parts out of your pet, leaving nothing behind, then cleaning the area.

It is not a good idea to use strong soaps or alcohol or other things to try to kill the tick if you are unsure if it might be alive. Just remove it completely and dispose of it completely and wash up after.

[meriad]

Randall, the problem is that this particular cat is a feral so can't be easily handled

Hera, how much will the cat tolerate - could you get close enough to apply a spot on solution?

[randall]

If the feral cat is an outdoors cat, then I think it is not a great problem. The tick, dead or alive, will just rejoin the local tick population when it falls off, without significantly increasing the outdoor tick risk that is already present in the area anyway. But I would keep the cat out of the house until the tick is gone so that the tick is not deposited inside the house.