Ticks are small, blood-sucking parasites about 1/8” to 1/2” in length, round in shape and dark brown in color. There are eight legs on an adult tick and only six on larvae or seed ticks. The life cycle of the tick follows four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

Tick infestations are more common in dogs than in cats. Nevertheless, they can occur on cats and it's important that you regularly check your cat for signs of ticks, particularly if she spends a good deal of time outside. They may appear on your cat's fur as a small, dark speck or, if engorged, as a small growth. Certain ticks, such as the American dog tick and the brown dog tick, carry and can transmit various diseases including Ehrlichia, Lyme Disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It's important that you seek veterinary care if you suspect that your cat has contracted any of these diseases as they can be very serious and life threatening.

Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis, which is the most common disease transmitted by brown ticks, include appetite loss, anemia, bleeding, depression, fever, lethargy, and stiffness and swelling in the limbs and joints. Lyme Disease is a serious, potentially chronic disease for both humans and animals and is most commonly transmitted by deer ticks. Symptoms may include the following: fever, lameness, lethargy, and weight loss. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever occurs most commonly in outdoor pets and may involve the following symptoms: breathing difficulty, fever, swelling of face or extremities, and possible neurologic and vascular irregularities.

If you do find a tick on your cat, promptly remove the tick using tweezers by grasping close to the skin and gently pulling. Special collars or topical products should be used to prevent new ticks. If your cat shows any signs of tick diseases, have her seen by your veterinarian immediately.