Cat - tick question

[Tilted]

It seems a fair number of people on these boards are quite knowledgeable when it comes to pet health issues.

I have a male cat who likes to explore in the woods during the day and come in to his comfy home to sleep at night. He uses Revolution, but every once in a while I find a tick on him and use tweezers to pull it off. A couple of days ago I found one on his chest, and it had gotten about half way into his skin. He had a big, kind of hard knot (maybe a little less than a half inch around) where the tick was. I tried to pull the tick out, but I don't think I got all of it.

Do you think this is anything to be concerned about? I could take him to the Vet, but he doesn't much like that, and I'd rather not if I don't need to. His behavior appears normal - he doesn't act like he's sick in any way.

Anyway, as of now I'm just gonna wait a couple of days to see if the knot goes away, unless someone thinks there is any real reason for concern.

Thanks

 

[Cowgirl]

Sometimes when ticks bite they leave an inflamed bump. Definitely make sure you got all of the tick out, because you don't want it to get infected. Clean it thoroughly and keep an eye on it. If it gets worse or doesn't go down, I'd take him to the vet. You can also put some antibiotic ointment on the area.

 

[Tilted]

Sometimes when ticks bite they leave an inflamed bump. Definitely make sure you got all of the tick out, because you don't want it to get infected. Clean it thoroughly and keep an eye on it. If it gets worse or doesn't go down, I'd take him to the vet. You can also put some antibiotic ointment on the area.

Just clean it with soap and water, or use alcohol/peroxide? And, by antiotic ointment, do you mean a human medication, like Neosporin?

 

[Cowgirl]

Just clean it with soap and water, or use alcohol/peroxide? And, by antiotic ointment, do you mean a human medication, like Neosporin?

I'd get the rest of the tick out (if it's not already), and wash well with soap and water. You can do peroxide once, but don't use it more than once because it damages new tissue. You can use Neosporin. I use the regular triple antibiotic ointment.

 

[Tilted]

I'd get the rest of the tick out (if it's not already), and wash well with soap and water. You can do peroxide once, but don't use it more than once because it damages new tissue. You can use Neosporin. I use the regular triple antibiotic ointment.

Thanks. I think I got all of the tick out and cleaned the area. It's actually gone down quite a bit today.

 

[ShellBell]

I heard putting clear nail polish will suffocate it. never tired it though

 

[Cowgirl]

I heard putting clear nail polish will suffocate it. never tired it though

I think you're getting that confused with chiggers, but that doesn't work. You don't want to suffocate a tick, you want to pull it out.

I have heard that you can put dish soap on a cotton ball and rub on the tick and it'll make them pull out, but I've never tried it. I prefer to just pull them out with tweezers.