How To Remove a Tick From a Cat

If you think you’ve found a tick on your cat’s skin, then you’ll want to take the proper steps to remove it. Having this pet health know-how is important, as removing only the body of the tick—leaving the tick’s head behind—can lead to discomfort or a risk of infection.

“In general, cats are much less likely to have attached ticks than dogs. This is because cats are fastidious groomers and often remove ticks themselves,” says Jamie Whittenburg, DVM, director of Kingsgate Animal Hospital in Lubbock, Texas.

Indoor cats are even less likely to have ticks, unless you live in a wooded area or location that experiences a “tick season,” aka a period when there’s a high number of ticks. However, cats can get ticks and fleas, and tending to them promptly is important for their comfort and safety.

Ticks can transmit illnesses like Lyme disease to both cats and humans, and the risk increases with increased time attached to the host, so it’s essential to find these bugs and remove them fast. Follow these steps.

Before making any big moves, first make sure that it’s a tick you’re dealing with. Dr. Whittenburg says that anytime you see a small, dark mass or lump on your cat’s body, it’s important to closely inspect it so you know what you’re dealing with.

“Ticks are small arachnids with eight legs and biting mouthparts. The head will be buried into the cat’s skin and the hind end of the tick should be freely moveable,” she says.

If in doubt, never pull out the tick yourself. Dr. Whittenburg says it’s common to mistake nipples, skin tags, and other skin masses for ticks. Pulling at them can be painful for your feline and cause injury. So, if you’re not 100% sure, take your cat to the vet.

Here’s what you’ll need to remove a tick from your cat’s body:

• Plastic or latex gloves
• A tick removing tool or pair of tweezers
• Feline-friendly antiseptic such as Douxo S3 wipes
• Treats to help distract your kitty and/or reward them for good behavior
• A friend to help hold your cat still
• Container with a lid and isopropyl alcohol
• Towel (optional)

If you don’t own a pair of tweezers or a proper tick removal tool, then you should purchase these items first before attempting to get rid of this pest. Other things people use, such as eating utensils or grooming tools, aren’t ideal for removing the whole tick and can lead to injury or infection.

We recommend adding a tick removal tool to your pet first-aid kit.

There are several types of tools you can use to remove a tick from a cat, including:

• Tweezers with a slanted edge
• Plastic tick scoops, like the Summit Tick Take Tool
• Metal tick keys or cards, like the TickCheck Wallet Sized Tick Removal Card
• Plastic tick twisters, such as the ZenPet Tick Tornado

We’re laying out the pros and cons of each type of tool to help you make your decision:

We’ll be straightforward with you: Your cat probably isn’t going to like this process one bit. Enlist a friend to help hold your cat still while you remove the tick.

“To hold the cat still and to reduce the chance of injury to both the cat and [pet parent], this should be a two-person job,” Dr. Whittenburg says. “It can be helpful to wrap the cat snugly in a towel to make them feel safe and to aid in them being still. Treats can also be offered to the cat to distract them.”

If your cat is anxious or struggles, stop and consult your veterinarian. Also, make sure that both parties are wearing plastic gloves, as ticks carry disease that can affect humans too.

Depending on the type of tool you’re using to remove the tick, the process of pulling a tick off your cat will vary.

How To Remove a Tick With Tweezers

1. Grasp the tick firmly but gently with the tweezers. Try to get as close to the surface of your cat’s skin as possible without pinching them.
2. Apply steady, gently pressure away from your cat. Do not squeeze too tightly, as this could cause the tick to release infected saliva into your cat’s body and potentially increase the risk of tick-borne disease.

How To Remove a Tick With a Tick Removal Tool

Follow the specific instrument instructions as they may vary on how to pull (straight or rotate) and remove the tick.

Generally speaking, you should first grasp the tick firmly but gently, as close to the surface of your cat’s skin as possible without pinching them.

Then, use steady pressure and either a straight upward or twisting upward motion to dislodge the tick.

No matter what tool you use, the ideal result is that the tick releases its mouthparts and comes away from your cat intact.

Your cat’s face, neck, and ears are all very delicate areas and prone to injury. There’s also a strong chance your cat won’t allow you anywhere near these sensitive spots, or they may jerk around quite a bit once you start digging for a tick. For that reason, Dr. Whittenburg recommends scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian to get rid of cat ticks in these spots.

She says there are also other times when you should consult a veterinarian versus removing the tick yourself:

• The tick is very small. (This makes it hard to grasp.)
• You’re dealing with a tick infestation, meaning there are multiple ticks versus just one.
• The tick is located near the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, or genitals.
• Your cat is in distress and/or won’t allow you to remove the tick.
• The tick’s head wasn’t removed, and it isn’t expelled within five days.

After removing the tick, carefully inspect the removed tick to make sure you pulled out the tick’s head along with its body. Look at the site of the bite on your cat’s skin, too, for any leftover tick parts. If you see them, make an appointment with your veterinarian for removal.

1. Properly dispose of the tick. Do not handle the tick with your bare hands. To kill ticks, you can put them in a sealed container with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). You may want to save the container with the tick as your vet may want to see it.
2. Clean the area. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the tick bite area using a feline-friendly antiseptic such as Douxo wipes. Alternatively, you can use soapy water and a clean cloth. Just make sure to rinse afterward to prevent soap residue, which can be irritating.
3. Monitor your cat for any signs of illness or infection for several weeks. Redness or swelling could indicate a skin infection or other health issue. Also keep an eye out for jaundice (yellowing in their eyes or ears), as well as behavior changes such as lethargy or reduced appetite. If you have any concerns, take your cat to the vet.

The above veterinarian-approved protocol on how to get rid of ticks is the best process for properly removing this problematic pest from your sweet feline. The vets we spoke to said other “home remedies,” like the ones below, aren’t remedies at all—they’re less effective and can even be harmful to cats:

• Covering the tick in petroleum jelly: This DIY technique is messy and not foolproof. “Creams and Vaseline on the tick will not cause it to release from the skin,” says Amber Karwacki, DVM, a veterinarian with Heart + Paw in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It also makes it more difficult to grasp onto the tick when you try to remove it with tweezers or a tick removal tool.
• Burning the tick with a match or cigarette: This is dangerous and has the potential to burn your cat’s fur or harm their body, Dr. Karwacki says.
• Covering the tick in nail polish: This isn’t necessary and can cause irritation on your cat’s skin.
• Digging the tick out: “Do not try to dig the tick out of the skin with anything sharp, as that can cause more harm than good,” Dr. Karwacki says.

The best way to keep ticks off of your furry friends is flea/tick prevention medications, which should be given year-round, even in places that get cold in the winter and even in indoor-only cats. Some of the products that vets recommend include:

• Oral medications like Credelio
• Topical treatments like Frontline Plus, Bravecto, and NexGard
• Flea collars like Seresto Tick Collar for Cats

Some of these medications can also kill ticks currently on your cat’s body, which may eliminate the need for removing the ticks with tweezers or a tool. Speak with your veterinarian about the best approach for your pet.

Along with medications, it’s also best to keep your cat indoors, as ticks tend to hang out in the great outdoors. This is particularly true in wooded areas or locations with tall grasses or overgrown vegetation. If your kitty loves basking in the wind and sun, consider installing a screened catio.