How to treat and prevent tick bites?

Norachan

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I think Button Moon has a tick on his ear, I noticed it yesterday morning.

It's about the size of a lentil and a rusty brown colour. I tried to brush it off, thinking it was a  grass seed, but he wouldn't let me. It was still there later in the afternoon. I Googled ticks, it's not the huge, fat, grey kind I've seen before but I can't think what else it could be. It doesn't seem to be getting any bigger but it's not moving either.

Later I noticed one on Lizzie's chin. I've looked at how to remove them with tweezers but there is no way Button would hold still for me to do that. I found a YouTube video about a guy who put Profender on a tick on his dog and the thing just dropped off and died. I tried that with Lizzie and about 30 minutes later was able to pull the tick off very easily. It was already dead.

So now I've been to buy some more Profender and I'm waiting for Button to come home so I can try it on him.

My questions are what are the health risks from tick bites? Lyme disease seems to be very rare in this part of the world and I can't find anything about SFTS in cats, although there have been a few human fatalities from it in some parts of Japan. What symptoms should I look out for?

Do flea and worm medications prevent tick bites? I'm only able to pill a few of the cats so ideally I'd like to use the drops that you apply to the back of the neck. Any recommendations for a good, safe tick control medicine?

Thanks for reading.
 

Columbine

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Frontline treats ticks as well as fleas. When we had indoor/outdoor cats in London they'd pick up ticks from time to time (this was in the days before spot on treatments had hit the market). They never got sick from them. For what it's worth, Collie lived wild one winter and came back with ticks too. She didn't get sick either.

We used to just knock ticks out with alcohol soaked paper towel/cotton wool. They'd just pass out after that and were easy to remove.
 
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Norachan

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Thanks @Columbine  I think I'm probably worrying too much, I Googled ticks and this long list of tick transmitted diseases came up. 


Do you know how long ticks take to drop off by themselves? Button is being very uncooperative, he can smell me coming with the vial of Profender and he's now sulking at the bottom of the garden.

I might have to wait until he's asleep. (Or get him drunk with alcohol soaked cotton wool.)

Does anyone know of a medication that treats ticks and worms in cats? Anyone tried Revolution?
 

Columbine

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Button Moon sounds like a cat after Cali's heart :lol: There was always much chasing and sulking involved whenever he needed treatment :rolleyes: Hope Button gives in soon :cross:
 
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Norachan

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Well, I finally managed to douse the tick in flea and tick medicine but it's still there and Button will not let me pull it off. How long before they drop off of their own accord? I know it's bothering me a lot more than it's bothering Button but I really want to get that nasty little thing. 



@LDG  

@ShadowsRescue  Do you get ticks on your feral cats? How do you deal with them?
 

nansiludie

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I use Frontline Plus on most of the colony during tick season, Advantage in the winter and early spring. If I see a tick on an easy to reach spot on a fairly friendly cat, I go ahead pet them, love them up, bring them something very good to eat, like canned fishy flavored cat food and carefully and quickly grab the tick off them. I grab it as close to the cats skin as I can and pull.  the entire tick comes out. I then put it in a plastic bag with purell in it. If the cat is not friendly, there's nothing I can do. Other than carefully treat with Frontline at the next flea treatment date.
 

betsygee

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I've never seen this before. Looks like it could be very useful.  Have you used it before, @detmut?   
 

detmut

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yes, i have used it before. not a lot, though. not a lot of ticks here. i live in a residential area. but if i go to a woodsy area with my brother and his dogs, i take it with me. i have used it once on a cat. works well. i decided to to get it since it is not a conventional pesticide. it work by dissolving the waxy covering of the exoskeleton. kills in a way similar to diatomaceous earth -- by dehydration 
 
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betsygee

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Interesting!  Thanks for the info.

@Norachan  I think they should fall off within 3-4 days.  We've occasionally had ticks on the cats here, but mine will let me hold them and I pull the nasty little things out.
 
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Norachan

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I got it. HA!

I can't tell you how satisfying that was.

 

shadowsrescue

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My ferals have never had a tick (knock on wood).  I have a terrible time using flea prevention.  I used to use a liquid that I could mix into their food, but it was discontinued.  I then moved to Revolution, but Shadow will not let him put it on him.  I have only done it successfully a few times.  He is short haired and just cannot stand the smell or feel of it.  I tried doing it every other month, but finally gave up since it traumatized him so much.  Stellar is long haired and doesn't even move when I put it on him.  Hampton I don't treat either as I can't get anywhere near him. 

We do have lots of ticks here.  My dog get them from time to time, but I have her on Frontline and that seems to help.

So glad you were able to get it off.
 
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