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Treating Cats to Stop Ticks

2016/5/3 17:23:03
  Ticks are a very unpleasant problem that can affect cats and can also be dangerous as they carry a number of diseases. There are various ways to prevent them getting hold on your cat as well as treatments to use if the worst does happen and here we are looking at some of the most popular methods. Alongside fleas, ticks are easily the most unpleasant things that commonly affect cats and removing them can be a real nightmare. Added to that is the fact that they often carry a range of diseases so the best course is to do whatever you can so that your cat doesn’t get them in the first place. Here are some of the most popular suggestions.

Treatments
One of the easiest types of treatments are those similar to common treatments for fleas, called spot-on treatments. These can be bought over the counter at a pet store as well as from a vet and often will control both pests in one medication. They work for around a month at a time.

Oral pills aren’t as common to treat ticks as they are for fleas and some vets use a medication for small dogs for medium or large cats. Never do this without talking to your vet first as these medications aren’t developed for cats and can have side effects. The main benefit of oral medication is that there is no concern about children coming into contact with it, something observed with spot-on treatments.

Some flea powders are also good for treating ticks, so check the label. Usually these are a fine powder that is rubbed into the skin in small amounts but caution is needed, as they can be an inhalant irritant for both you and your cat. Never use near the eyes or the face and application may need to be as often as once a week in peak tick times. Some of the products can also be used in areas where your cat spends a lot of time, such as where they sleep.

Sprays work well at killing ticks and do give some protection for a period afterwards. Many people use them between either baths or dips and can be used as a treatment when a high-risk exposure has occurred or a tick is discovered. Be careful of the effects on other animals in the house before using.

Bathing
Shampoos designed to kill ticks when coming into contact with them are an inexpensive method of getting rid of the problem, as long as you are safely able to bathe your cat. Normally, this treatment needs to be repeated twice a month to ensure that the protection is maintained.

A tick dip is a chemical that is added to water and then either poured over the back of the cat or applied with a sponge. There is no need to rinse the fur after application but these products can be strong so be careful of an adverse reaction from you or from your pet. They are not suitable for young cats under four months old.

Prevention
Collars can help to protect your cat against ticks but works most effectively on the neck and head area. The collar needs contact with the skin to work so needs to be close enough to do this without choking the cat. Collars can be risky if your cat is particularly active or spends a lot of time outside, as there is the risk they can be caught on something by the collar. Never use collars with a substance called Amitraz on cats.

Conclusion
Checking your cat after they spend a period of time out of the house is always the best idea. Look inside the ears, between legs and toes and around the neck area as the most common locations that ticks are found. If you can treat the tick before it starts feeding, it is easier to remove and there is less chance of them passing on some form of illness.