Ticks on cats are becoming increasingly common and the tick has (literally) gained a greater foothold in Norwegian nature in recent years. This is due to, among other things, an increased incidence of deer, overgrowth of vegetation and climate change. In this article, we give our best tips on how to treat and prevent tick bites in your cat!
What exactly is a tick?
The tick is a type of arachnid, a blood-sucking mite that primarily lives in forests and tall grass. It can carry various disease-causing bacteria and viruses, which can develop into a danger to both cats and humans. The tick may have ingested infectious agents by sucking blood from, for example, mice and thus passing on diseases to the next host. An active tick often sits on a blade of grass and waits for a suitable victim to pass by. This makes adventurous cats that travel off-piste particularly vulnerable to tick bites, but the small parasites can also attach themselves to other animals and humans.
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Where do you find ticks?
Ticks are found in most parts of the world and to date, more than 900 species have actually been identified! The many tick species have different geographical distributions. In Norway, the wood tick (Ixodes ricinus) is the most widespread, especially in the south and on the west coast. The wood tick also goes by other names, including male tick, skaubjønn or tege.
When is tick season in Norway?
Ticks become active in early spring when the temperature is milder than 4–5 degrees and the snow disappears. The season for ticks is therefore usually considered from March to November but can vary based on temperature changes and where in the country you are.
Tick-borne diseases in cats
The most common tick-borne disease in cats is Lyme disease (LB) caused by the Borrelia bacterium. Ticks can also carry infectious agents that can cause other diseases such as babesiosis ("blood pee"), anaplasmosis ("seven-dog") and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Considering that the number of ticks has increased over the past few decades, the incidence of disease cases has also increased.
Symptoms of tick bite disease
The symptoms of tick-borne diseases in cats can vary, with the most common symptoms including decreased general condition, fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, stomach and intestinal disorders, joint inflammation and stiffness.
Exactly when a cat will start showing symptoms can vary. With anaplasma it can take up to two weeks while with Lyme disease it takes considerably longer. The disease often takes several months to break out and it can take up to 5 months after the bite for symptoms to appear.
Where on the cat does the tick attach?
When your cat comes inside after being outside for a walk, it's a good idea to go through its fur and check for ticks. The most common places where ticks attach are in the groin, behind the ears, on the neck or in the armpits.
Ticks often take a while to find a place to attach themselves and can remain embedded in the fur. We therefore recommend combing your cat's fur regularly so that you can remove the tick before it has time to attach itself.
How to remove ticks on a cat
Although very few tick bites on cats result in illness, there is still a risk if your furry friend is bitten. It is important to remove the tick as soon as possible to reduce the risk of transmission. You can do this yourself by following these steps:
Feel free to use one tick remover and grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull upwards with steady pressure until it releases, trying to get the whole tick. Dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet or burning it to ensure it does not survive and find a new host.
Prevent tick bites
Tick agent for cats
In addition to daily examination and combing of the fur, you can give your cat a preventive tick remedy. Tick remedy for cats requires a prescription and you can get this from us. In Vestfold there is a lot of forest and unfortunately a lot of ticks and we therefore recommend that all cat owners use a preventive tick remedy. Book an appointment here for a prescription for tick repellent for cats!
The most common treatment for cats is a tick repellent applied directly to the fur. This takes full effect after about 2 days and lasts for 3–5 weeks. Not suitable for kittens younger than 8 weeks.
The cat can also use a tick collar. This works within 2 days and is effective for 8 months, but is not suitable for kittens younger than 10 weeks.
It is important not to use the dog's tick repellant on cats. Read carefully on the packaging which animal the tick agent is intended for.
