How to Remove a Tick From a Cat

Knowing how to remove a tick from your cat is important for their health—and also for yours.

Tick-borne diseases can spread to your cat as soon as 24 hours after the tick attaches. Some of these diseases can also affect humans.  So, if you find a tick on your cat, removing the tick promptly and properly is important.

Below we’re sharing everything you need to know about removing a tick from your cat and how to keep your cat safe from these parasites all year long.

Tools You’ll Need to Remove a Tick From a Cat

Before removing a tick from your cat, make sure you have the following items on hand:

• Pair of tweezers or tick-removing tool

• Latex gloves

• Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)

• Feline-friendly antiseptic containing chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine

• Jar or container with a lid

• Someone to help restrain your cat

• Treats

If you can’t remove the tick because you do not have one of these items, or if you are unable to handle your cat, bring your cat to the vet to have the tick safely removed.

How to Remove a Tick from a Cat

Follow these steps for pulling the tick off your cat by using tweezers or a tick-removing tool.

When Removing a Tick With a Pair of Tweezers

1. Fill a container with rubbing alcohol.

2. Gently restrain your cat and distract her with a treat.

3. Separate the fur and make sure that what you see is actually a tick and not a skin tag or other skin disorder. Ticks are dark brown or black and have eight legs. When full of blood, they may turn light brown, silver, or gray green.

4. Grasp the tick with the tweezers as close to your cat’s skin as possible. Try not to squeeze the tick. If the tick’s body is squeezed too hard, you may inadvertently push disease-causing microorganisms into your cat’s body.

5. Pull gently and firmly to remove the tick. Make sure you have removed the whole tick, including its head and mouthparts.

6. Drop the tick into the isopropyl alcohol.

7. Use a feline-friendly antiseptic on your cat’s skin where the tick bit.

If you can’t remove the tick or your cat won’t hold still, bring your cat to the vet to have the tick safely removed.

When Using a Tick-Removing Tool on Your Cat

1. Fill a container with isopropyl alcohol.

2. Gently restrain your cat and distract her with a treat.

3. Separate the fur and make sure that it’s actually a tick and not a skin tag or other skin disorder.

4. Hook the tool under the tick, close to your cat’s skin (like you would hook the head of a nail with a hammer to remove the nail).

5. Rotate the tool until the tick separates from your cat’s skin.

6. Lift the tick and put it into the isopropyl alcohol.

7. Use a feline-friendly antiseptic on the tick bite area on your cat’s skin.

How To Remove a Tick Head

If the tick’s head gets stuck in your cat’s skin, it should be treated in the same way as a splinter that is difficult to remove.

Don’t keep trying to remove the tick head, or you’re more likely to delay healing and create an infection. Contact your vet if you are unable to easily remove the head on your own.

Monitor the site for infection and take your cat to the veterinarian if there is significant swelling or discharge. It’s normal for there to temporarily be a small amount of redness and a scab where the tick was attached.

How to Kill the Tick Once Removed

It’s important to properly dispose of a tick, as they can still bite your cat (or you!) if they are still alive. Once you’ve placed the tick in isopropyl alcohol to kill it, it’s a good idea to flush it down the toilet or dispose of the closed container in the trash.

How to Prevent Tick Bites on Cats

There are many options when it comes to preventative flea and tick medications for your cat.

It’s important to use only products made specifically for cats. Some products marketed for dogs may contain ingredients that are not safe for cats. Never give your cat a flea/tick medication formulated for dogs.

Topical Tick Control for Cats

Topical flea and tick medication comes in a tube that you squeeze to dispense, usually in-between your cat’s shoulder blades, so they can’t lick it off.

The topical solution must be allowed to dry or be absorbed before your cat comes into contact with other pets and before petting your cat.

It’s important to wait until these topical medications dry so another pet in the house doesn’t lick the medication.

Commonly used forms of topical tick control in cats include:

Oral Tick Control for Cats

Flea and tick medication is also available in a chewable tablet form. You’ll want to ensure your cat can take a pill easily before starting them on this type of flea and tick medication.

Tick-Control Collar for Cats

Flea and tick collars like Seresto  Flea & Tick Collar for Cats, can be effective in repelling ticks. Care must be taken to ensure that the collar fits correctly and that your cat (or other animals in the household) do not chew on it.

Tick-Control Shampoos and Sprays for Cats

Shampoos and sprays can be helpful for getting rid of an active flea infestation or ticks, but they do not have the same long-lasting effects as some of the other options.

Use caution with shampoos and sprays because ingestion of these products may cause serious unwanted side effects, and cats may insist on grooming themselves after application. Please read all the product labels carefully before using.

The option you choose for your cat depends on many factors, including their age, size, health status, and how tolerant your cat is to chews, taking pills, or wearing a collar.

Keep in mind indoor cats should always be kept on flea and tick prevention, because ticks can be carried into your home on other pets or people. If you have questions about which form of tick prevention is best for your cat, contact your veterinarian.