The warmer months are just a hop and a skip away. People will spend more time outdoors, usually with their pets, and as the hotter months approach, so does the start of tick season.
Ticks like to propagate and multiply during the warmer months of the year. For humans, tick bites aren’t easily felt. This is because ticks’ saliva, usually has an anesthetic and their sting is hard to feel. For dogs and cats, ticks love to thrive in their fur and coat.
Ticks can cause severe diseases in humans and animals. Ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease. Other diseases that can be transferred by ticks are anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Getting rid of ticks in cats is not an easy task. And especially for cats, removing ticks will require longer and closer contact with your pet. Before the situation gets worse, take on steps to prevent ticks from biting you or your cat.
Here are ways to prevent ticks from biting your cat.
1. Using Insect Repellents
Insect repellants which are sprayed on your cat’s fur is the best means to keep ticks off from stinging her. These repellants can also come with a spot-on form and can keep ticks away for a month.
Insect repellants are also good to use by pet owners if they are going to spend a lot of time outdoors. Pet owners are advised to put near the groin and butt crack area to keep ticks from biting in that area.
2. Oral Medications
Consult your vet about giving oral medicines to your cats to drive away ticks. These pills that are given to cats are the same kinds prescribed for small dogs, but seek the advice of your vet before giving them to your cat. Giving pills once a month to cats seem to be more convenient than spot on treatments, especially if there are children in the house.
3. Shampoos
Anti-tick and flea shampoos are great for pet cats. Petco and Petsmart are great sellers of products that get rid of ticks and protect your cat’s fur for a long time. Bathing your cat as often as possible and using shampoo will depend on how your cat responds to baths. If your cat loves to be bathed, then anti tick shampoos are the least expensive way to keep ticks away.
4. Dips
For older cats, anti-tick dips can also be applied. Dips are highly concentrated and must be diluted in water before application by a sponge or poured all over your cat’s back. The chemicals that constitute dips are strong, so consult your vet before using this method. Kittens and puppies should not be using dips.
5. Tick Collars
Collars that are soaked in anti-tick chemicals are used to protect the cat’s head and neck. The collar must come in contact with the skin of your cat, and making sure that there are only two fingers that can fit in between the collar and her neck.
Make sure that the collar is not too long because your cat might start to chew on it. Check for any red spots around the collar. This means that your cat is allergic to the collar and must be removed right away.
Read the label carefully before purchasing a collar for your cat. If the collar is treated with Amitraz, then the collar is unsafe for your cat.
6. Keep the House and Lawn Tick Free
For your pets to be free from ticks, the house and the lawn should be too. First, make sure that our trees, bushes and lawn are trimmed. Second, use anti tick sprays for the home and make sure that these sprays are safe for humans and animals. Best to consult your vet about treatments which are harmful to pets.
If you think that the problem is getting worse, best to hire a professional exterminator.
7. Keep Your Cats Indoors
Cats are rarely fond of staying outside. But once in a while they will go outside. If it can be helped, keep your cats inside the house as they may come in contact with ticks. Regular checking of the paws, ears, neck and between the legs is necessary. Make it a habit to look at these areas especially during tick peak season.
Ticks and fleas in cats can be managed well if you take on steps to ensure that your dwelling areas do not attract ticks to breed. Pets which are well groomed are also safe from ticks. Grooming professionals at Pet Smart provide the best services and offer good advice on how to keep your pets away from ticks.
How much would a flea dip cost for my cat.