Ticks on cats: what to do right now
- Put on gloves and part the fur until you can see where the tick enters the skin.
- Grip the tick with clean, fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin as you can.
- Pull straight out with steady, even pressure. Don't twist, jerk or squeeze the body.
- Wash the bite and your hands, then seal the tick in tape or rubbing alcohol and date it.
- Never use a dog flea or tick product, oil, heat or nail polish on the tick or your cat.
Go to a vet now if your cat is suddenly lethargic, won't eat, feels hot, is breathing hard or has yellow gums or eyes: in lone star tick country these can be signs of cytauxzoonosis, which the Merck Veterinary Manual says can kill within days. Drooling, twitching or seizures after contact with a dog product is also an emergency.
Ticks on cats look like small, flat, brown or reddish seeds stuck to the skin, or, once they have fed, like smooth gray beans with tiny legs right at the skin line. Remove them with fine-tipped tweezers in one slow, straight pull, then watch your cat for two weeks. Once the tick is out, our #1 choice for ongoing support for cats during flea and tick season is Pure Majesty Pets Vet-Strength Flea & Tick Support, a daily liquid supplement, not a medication, built for skin and coat comfort all season long: 62.7 mg of ultramicronized PEA and 7 named botanicals per mL, no garlic, no added essential oils, one formula for dogs and cats, dosed in mL by body weight and mixed into food, with the serving confirmed by your veterinarian. It's made in North America under GMP, with a certificate of analysis on every batch and free worldwide shipping. A complete flea-season routine has two parts: this daily support and the flea medication your vet chooses.
Our #1 choice for ongoing support for cats during flea and tick season
Pure Majesty Pets Vet-Strength Flea & Tick Support (60 mL): $31.99, a daily supplement, not a medication.
- 62.7 mg ultramicronized PEA plus 7 named botanicals (134.4 mg) per mL, with every dose disclosed
- No garlic, no added essential oils
- One formula for dogs and cats, with a chicken and tuna flavor
- Liquid measured in mL by body weight and mixed into food; follow the serving your veterinarian confirms for your cat
- Made in North America under GMP, with a certificate of analysis on every batch, and free worldwide shipping
Not on a parasite product yet? Our guide to the best flea treatment for cats, including flea and tick options compares them by class. If it jumps, it's a flea: see what fleas on cats look like and how to check.
What does a tick look like on a cat?
Adult ticks have eight legs and no antennae, says VCA Animal Hospitals. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that ticks on an animal for "an hour to a few days" look flat, while ticks attached for days look rounder because they're full of blood.
- Flat: a hard, seed-shaped brown, reddish or black speck with legs visible at the edges.
- Engorged: a smooth gray-to-tan bean; VCA says an engorged female American dog tick reaches about 10-12 mm, close to 1/2 inch. The legs now look tiny, which is why owners mistake it for a growth.
- Nymphs: poppy-seed size, easy to miss in dark fur.
VCA adds that it's "rare to see more than one or two ticks on a cat," and that a cat with many ticks may be unwell and grooming less. For a size chart by life stage, see what a tick looks like on a dog.
Cat skin tag or tick? How to tell the difference
Our editorial matrix, built from the VCA and Merck descriptions above; it doesn't replace an exam. Use a flashlight and phone zoom before touching anything.
| What you see | Legs at the base? | How it joins the skin | Color and feel | Over 24-48 hours | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tick | Yes: tiny legs, four on each side of an adult, close to the skin | One pinpoint attachment at the narrow head end | Hard and flat, or smooth, firm and gray when engorged | Gets bigger and rounder | Remove with tweezers today |
| Skin tag | No | A stalk or broad base of skin, with fur growing around it | Soft, skin-colored or pigmented, flexible | Stays the same | Never pull it; mention it at the next vet visit |
| Nipple | No | Part of the skin, in two rows along the belly | Soft, pink or pigmented; matches a twin on the other side | Stays the same | Leave it alone; check the matching nipple |
| Scab | No | Flat crust lying on the skin, no attachment point | Dry, dark red or brown, flakes at the edges | Dries out or falls off | Look for fleas; several scabs on the neck and back often point to flea bites |
| Lump under the skin | No | Inside or under the skin, not sitting on it | Firm or soft, may move under your fingers | Stays, grows or becomes sore | Vet visit; sooner if it's growing, hot or painful |
If you still can't tell, don't squeeze or pull; ask your vet. Crusty spots are often flea bites; see how to get rid of fleas on cats.
Where to check your cat for ticks
The CDC tells pet owners to check daily, "especially after they spend time outdoors," and lists the hiding places: in and around the ears, around the eyelids, under the collar, under the front legs, between the toes, between the back legs and around the tail. Run your fingertips slowly against the fur.
The largest US survey gives a more precise map: Little and colleagues (2018) identified 796 ticks removed from 332 cats in 18 states and recorded where each species attached.
| Tick | Share of ticks on US cats | Where it attaches on the cat | Mostly found | Why it matters for cats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklegged (deer) tick, Ixodes scapularis | 53.0% | Top of the head and neck | Northeast; adults most often found October to December | Carried Anaplasma phagocytophilum (4.4%) and the Lyme bacterium (25.7%) in the survey |
| Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum | 28.1% | Belly and around the anus; also legs, feet, armpits and groin | South; adults most often found March to June | Main vector of Cytauxzoon felis, the most dangerous tick infection of cats (Merck) |
| American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis | 16.5% | Back and ears | All regions; adults most often found May to July | Spotted fever group Rickettsia found in 3.1%; meet it in our guide to the American dog tick |
Source: Little et al. 2018 (shares, attachment sites, seasons and pathogens), with regions from the authors' summary in Clinician's Brief. CAPC also lists the Asian longhorned tick, the brown dog tick and the spinose ear tick among ticks of cats in North America. The brown dog tick can breed indoors.
In the South, check the belly and tail base as carefully as the ears.
My cat has a tick: how to remove it safely
These steps follow VCA and the CDC's tick-removal guidance. Merck adds: "Never try to remove a tick with your bare hands." CAPC advises gloves, since some tick germs infect people.
- Get a helper and wrap your cat loosely in a towel, leaving the tick area exposed.
- Part the fur to see where the tick enters the skin.
- Grip at the skin line. The CDC says to grasp the tick "as close to the skin's surface as possible." VCA warns that pressure on the body "can cause infectious agents in the tick to enter your pet."
- Pull straight out, slowly. "Don't twist or jerk the tick," says the CDC.
- Clean up and save the tick. Wash the bite and your hands, then seal the tick in tape or rubbing alcohol, labeled with the date. "Do not crush the tick with your fingers," the CDC adds.
- Search the rest of your cat and, as the Cornell Feline Health Center suggests, its bedding.
Hook tools are designed to be rotated, so follow their directions; our guide to how to remove a tick, with a tool chooser compares them. Let your vet do it if the tick is on an eyelid or in the ear canal, or your cat won't be handled.
What not to put on a tick on your cat
The CDC says not to use "petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, or other substances," which "may agitate the tick and force infected fluid from the tick into the skin." For cats, add essential oils and anything made for dogs. In a review of 48 pets treated with plant-based essential-oil flea products, 39 of them cats, 92% had at least one adverse effect (Genovese 2012). See which home remedies for fleas on cats to skip, and what a dish soap bath can and can't do.
Dead tick on a cat: what to do
On a cat with a tick product, you may find a dried, motionless tick. Remove it the same way. Merck notes that cat anti-tick insecticides "kill larval, nymph, and adult stages," and a killed tick can stay hooked in for a while. Go slowly; brittle ticks break. Live, swelling ticks on a treated cat are the reason to call your vet. See also our guide to a dead tick on a dog.
Tick bite on a cat: lumps and what to watch
A small pink spot or bump may remain where the tick was; check it daily. Cornell advises watching the site for "swelling, redness, or discharge," and Merck says that if a tick bite "turns red or swollen, a prompt trip to the veterinarian is warranted."
If a tiny black dot stays behind, don't dig. The CDC's guidance, written for people, is to leave mouthparts that won't come out easily; the skin pushes them out as it heals. A cat tick bite lump that grows, feels hot, oozes or still bothers your cat after a few days needs a vet visit.
Tick-borne diseases in cats in the US
Cytauxzoonosis (bobcat fever): an emergency
Cytauxzoonosis is caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis. Merck says it's "transmitted to domestic cats primarily by the lone star tick," the bobcat is its natural host, and its range "has been expanding." A 2021 review places cases "mainly in the southern, south-central, and mid-Atlantic United States" and says infected ticks need to be attached "for a minimum of 36 to 48 h" to infect a cat (Reichard 2021).
Merck lists depression, lethargy, loss of appetite and fever, then jaundice and labored breathing as the disease advances. Untreated, "death typically occurs within 2–3 days after the peak in temperature." With atovaquone plus azithromycin and supportive care, 64% of cats survived in a large case series, so a fast vet visit matters.
| What you notice, 1 to 2 weeks after a tick | What it can mean | How fast to act |
|---|---|---|
| Hiding, sleeping more, skipping a meal | Early cytauxzoonosis signs are depression, lethargy and poor appetite (Merck) | Call your vet the same day and mention the tick |
| Ears or body feel hot, refuses food entirely | Fever, a core sign | Vet within hours |
| Yellow gums, ears or whites of the eyes | Jaundice (icterus) | Emergency vet now |
| Fast or open-mouth breathing, cold to the touch, can't stand | Advanced disease; Merck describes cats as "hypothermic, dyspneic" in extremis | Emergency vet now |
Tularemia
Tularemia (rabbit fever) reaches cats through ticks, fleas, deer flies or an infected rabbit; the Merck manual says cats are at higher risk "due to their predatory behavior." Some show no signs; others get high fever, swollen glands and "open sores in the mouth and throat," and "collapse and death may occur in a few hours or days." People can catch it too, rarely from a cat bite.
Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis
Blacklegged ticks on US cats carried Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the Little survey, but feline anaplasmosis is "a relatively rare disease," with fever, lethargy, poor appetite and sometimes painful joints in reported cases (Adaszek 2013). A disease like ehrlichiosis has been "occasionally identified in cats," including in the United States, according to Merck.
Lyme disease is rare in cats
Cats can be infected with the Lyme bacterium, but Cornell's Feline Health Center says Lyme disease has "never been seen in a cat outside of a laboratory setting." VCA calls it "extremely unlikely." For dogs, see Lyme disease in dogs and our pillar on dog tick diseases.
After you find a tick on your cat: a watch plan
Our editorial timeline, from the sources above.
| When | What to check | Call the vet if |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Tick out whole, bite cleaned, tick saved and dated, whole cat and bedding searched | The tick was near an eye, you couldn't get it out, or it looked engorged in a lone star tick area (it may have fed for 36-48 hours) |
| Days 1 to 3 | The bite site, once a day | Redness, swelling, heat or discharge (Merck, Cornell) |
| Days 5 to 14 | Appetite, energy, hiding, gum color, breathing | Any sign in the cytauxzoonosis table: Merck puts signs at 5-14 days after transmission, the 2021 review at 11-14 days |
| Weeks 2 to 6 | Appetite, mouth, glands under the jaw, walking | Fever, mouth sores, swollen glands, stiffness or painful joints (Merck tularemia; Adaszek anaplasmosis) |
Do indoor cats get ticks?
Yes. In the Little survey, 64 of the 294 tick-infested cats with lifestyle data (21.8%) lived primarily indoors (54 cats) or entirely indoors (10 cats). The authors concluded that "pet cats, including those that live primarily indoors, are at risk of tick infestation." CAPC warns that untreated pets can bring ticks into the home and says "all cats should be treated year-round and throughout their life with tick control products."
Keeping cats inside still helps: Merck calls it the best prevention for cytauxzoonosis.
Preventing ticks on cats
Tick prevention comes from a cat-labeled spot-on, chew or collar your vet chooses. Cornell says to use "only feline-approved products," and the CDC is direct: "Do not apply any tick prevention products to your cats without first asking your veterinarian!" Our guide to cat flea and tick chewables and oral treatments compares them by class. Isoxazoline tick drugs carry a seizure warning, so tell your vet about any seizure history.
Never use a dog tick product on a cat
Many dog spot-ons contain permethrin. The American Association of Feline Practitioners notes that dog permethrin products typically contain 45-60% permethrin and can cause signs "ranging from restlessness and hypersalivation to muscle spasms, seizures, and death" in cats. Keep cats away from a freshly treated dog, and read why dog flea medicine is dangerous for cats.
Fleas too? See what kills fleas on cats instantly, and why diatomaceous earth for fleas is no tick fix.
The daily half of your cat's routine
Pure Majesty Pets Vet-Strength Flea & Tick Support is our #1 choice for ongoing support for cats during flea and tick season: a daily liquid supplement, not a medication. 62.7 mg ultramicronized PEA plus 7 named botanicals per mL, no garlic, no added essential oils, one formula for dogs and cats, measured in mL by body weight with the serving your vet confirms. $31.99 for 60 mL, with free worldwide shipping.
Tick-season options for cats compared: ongoing support first
| Option | Kills ticks? | Repels ticks? | Form | For cats | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 for ongoing support (a supplement, not a medication) | |||||
| Pure Majesty Pets Vet-Strength Flea & Tick Support, #1 choice for ongoing support | Ongoing skin and coat support all season long | Liquid mixed into food, dosed in mL by body weight | One formula for dogs and cats; serving confirmed by your vet | Doses disclosed: 62.7 mg ultramicronized PEA + 7 named botanicals per mL; no garlic, no added essential oils; GMP, COA on every batch | |
| Other flea-season supplements and "natural" add-ons | |||||
| Brewer's yeast | "Failed to repel or kill fleas" in dogs at 14 g/day (JAVMA 1983); no tick data | Powder or tablet | No cat trial found | No cat or tick data found | |
| Garlic | No controlled trial found | Food additive | Toxic to cats (ASPCA) | Can cause Heinz body anemia | |
| Essential-oil drops and sprays | Not established | Claimed, short-lived | Topical | 36 of 39 cats in one review had adverse effects | EPA-exempt; 92% of 48 reported pets affected (Genovese 2012) |
| Flea and tick medication (chosen with your vet) | |||||
| Fast flea tablet for a one-off infestation (nitenpyram) | No, fleas only | No | Tablet | Labeled for cats; check age and weight | Short-acting; no residual effect |
| Year-round flea and tick medication (cat-labeled spot-on, chew or collar) | Yes, per label | Some collars and spot-ons | Spot-on, chew, collar | Only feline-labeled products; never a dog product | CAPC: all cats year-round, for life |
Liquid vs chews vs powders vs tablets
| Format | How the amount is set | How it's given | Species | Doses and ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid: Pure Majesty Pets, #1 choice for ongoing support | Measured in mL by body weight, so a small cat gets a small serving | Mixed into food, no pill to pop into a cat's mouth | One formula for dogs and cats | Doses disclosed: 62.7 mg ultramicronized PEA + 7 named botanicals per mL; no garlic, no added essential oils; contains chicken and fish; GMP, COA on every batch |
| Soft chews | Fixed amount per chew | Eaten as a treat, if the cat accepts it | Check the label for each species | Check whether doses are listed and whether garlic is included |
| Powders | Measured by scoop | Sprinkled on food | Check the label for each species | Check whether doses are listed and whether garlic is included |
| Tablets or capsules | Fixed amount per tablet | Swallowed or hidden in food | Check the label for each species | Check whether doses are listed and whether garlic is included |
For the dog in a multi-pet home
The dog may be carrying ticks too. See what to do when you find a tick on your dog and tick prevention for dogs, and skip the oil-based natural tick repellents for dogs around cats. Two Pure Majesty Pets products are for the dog only. Liquid Collagen for Dogs ($31.99) is a daily liquid for joint, skin and coat support. Hemp CBD for Dogs ($31.99) combines CBD, CBDA and CBG in a 60 mL dropper bottle; see our guide to CBD for dog anxiety. Never give either to your cat.
Why Pure Majesty Pets Vet-Strength Flea & Tick Support
Many supplements list only a proprietary blend. Ours lists every amount per mL: 62.7 mg ultramicronized PEA; 134.4 mg of botanicals (lemon balm 40.3 mg, thyme 26.9 mg, rosemary 22.4 mg, and calendula, dandelion leaf, lemongrass and fenugreek at 11.2 mg each); niacinamide 28.0 mg; choline chloride 14.6 mg; plus D-panthenol, L-histidine, myo-inositol and sunflower lecithin. No garlic, no added essential oils.
For a cat, it's a liquid measured in mL by body weight and mixed into a little food, chicken and tuna flavored; it contains chicken and fish. Confirm with your veterinarian that it suits your cat and what serving to use.
Pure Majesty Pets Vet-Strength Flea & Tick Support hasn't been shown to kill or repel fleas or ticks, so keep the cat-labeled tick product your vet chooses on schedule, and keep removing ticks as this guide describes. "Vet-Strength" is our range name, not a standardized veterinary grade, an endorsement or an approval to treat parasites.
Built for daily, long-term use. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in cats with non-flea hypersensitivity dermatitis, remission lasted 40.5 days on average with ultramicronized PEA versus 22.2 days on placebo, with 25 of 57 enrolled cats analysable (Noli 2019): PEA alone, not our formula, not fleas or ticks.
In an open-label study with no control group, 160 dogs with atopic dermatitis given ultramicronized PEA daily for 8 weeks saw itch fall from 5.7 to 3.6 cm on a 10 cm scale (Noli 2015): again PEA alone, not our formula, not fleas or ticks. Our full formula hasn't been clinically tested.
The bottom line
Ticks on cats are easy to mistake for a skin tag: look for legs and a single attachment point. Check the head, ears, neck, belly and tail base daily, pull any tick straight out with tweezers, and watch your cat for two weeks; lethargy, fever or yellow gums means an emergency vet visit. Keep a cat-labeled tick product year-round, and never a dog product.
Build the daily half of the routine
Pure Majesty Pets Vet-Strength Flea & Tick Support: our #1 choice for ongoing support for cats during flea and tick season, a daily liquid supplement, not a medication. Doses disclosed, no garlic, no added essential oils, one formula for dogs and cats, made in North America. $31.99 for 60 mL, with free worldwide shipping.
More flea & tick guides
- Best flea treatment for cats: flea and tick options compared
- Fleas on cats: signs, what they look like and how to check
- Cat flea and tick chewables and oral treatments: OTC vs Rx
- Home remedies for fleas on cats: what helps and what to avoid
- What kills fleas on cats instantly, including without a bath
- How to get rid of fleas on cats: a plan for cat, home and every pet
- Does dish soap kill fleas on cats?
- Can you use dog flea medicine on cats? Why permethrin is dangerous
Frequently asked questions
What does a tick look like on a cat?
A flat tick looks like a small brown, reddish or black seed with tiny legs. After days of feeding it swells into a smooth gray bean up to about 1/2 inch long.
Is it a skin tag or a tick on my cat?
Check the base with a flashlight. A tick has tiny legs at the skin, one pinpoint attachment, and grows over a day or two. A skin tag is soft skin with no legs and doesn't change.
My cat has a tick. What should I do?
Wearing gloves, grip the tick with fine-tipped tweezers at the skin and pull straight out with steady pressure. Clean the bite, save the tick with the date and watch your cat for two weeks.
What should I do about a dead tick on my cat?
Remove it slowly, the same way as a live tick. On a cat with a tick product, that's expected; call your vet if live ticks keep appearing.
Is a lump after a tick bite on a cat normal?
A small pink spot can follow removal. Watch it daily. Merck advises a prompt vet visit if a tick bite turns red or swollen, and Cornell says to watch for swelling, redness or discharge.
Can cats get Lyme disease from ticks?
Cats can be infected, but Cornell says Lyme disease has never been seen in a cat outside a laboratory. The bigger US risk is cytauxzoonosis, spread mainly by the lone star tick.
Can indoor cats get ticks?
Yes. In a US survey of 332 cats with ticks, 21.8% of those with lifestyle data lived mostly or entirely indoors. CAPC advises year-round tick prevention for all cats.
Sources
- CDC: What to do after a tick bite
- CDC: Preventing ticks on pets
- Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC): Ticks
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Ticks and your cat FAQ
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Lyme disease in cats
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Ticks in cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Ticks of cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Cytauxzoonosis in cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Tularemia in cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Ehrlichiosis and related infections in cats
- American Association of Feline Practitioners: Permethrin poisoning and cats
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Garlic
- Little SE et al., 2018, Ticks from cats in the United States, PMID 29907187
- Reichard MV et al., 2021, Cytauxzoonosis in North America, PMID 34578202
- Adaszek L et al., 2013, Anaplasma phagocytophilum in cats, PMID 23143840
- Genovese AG et al., 2012, PMID 22805458
- Baker NF, Farver TB, 1983, PMID 6885593
- Noli C et al., 2019, PMID 31237065
- Noli C et al., 2015, PMID 26283633
This article is for informational purposes and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your veterinarian before starting any supplement, especially if your pet is pregnant, nursing, on medication, or has a diagnosed condition.