Ticks in cats: symptoms and home treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Ticks in cats are extremely common. Often the owners mistakenly believe that only stray animals suffer from parasites on the coat and skin. Pets can also get infested, despite careful care. Even if the cat does not go out for walks, this does not exclude the possibility of infection. A person can bring parasites into the house on clothes or shoes. If you start the disease, then the invasion can lead to complications. Due to constant scratching, the skin becomes infected, and bacteria join the parasites. Therefore, every pet owner needs to be aware of the symptoms and treatment of ticks in cats.

Who are ticks

These parasites are of the Arthropod phylum. Subcutaneous mites in cats are extremely small and can only be seen with a microscope. Their habitat is soil, plants, bird plumage and animal hair. These arthropods are adapted exclusively to a parasitic way of life. They feedparticles of skin, fat, blood and lymph of cats and dogs. Ticks live under the skin and in hair follicles. There they lay their eggs.

Most often, parasites are localized in the head and neck, as well as on the paws and around the eyes. These places have a weak coat, which creates favorable conditions for penetration under the skin.

There are times when an animal is an asymptomatic tick carrier for many years. Symptoms in a cat occur only with a decrease in immunity and general weakness of the body.

Routes of infection

Most often, ticks are transmitted through contact of a he althy animal with a sick one. A cat can become infected not only from its relatives, but also from a dog. These two types of pets share parasites.

Tick-borne infestation is also transmitted through pet care items: a comb, a bed for sleeping and relaxing, a towel. Sometimes the person himself can accidentally bring ticks into the house on clothes or shoes. This often happens when people interact with street animals. Therefore, a pet owner should avoid direct contact with stray cats.

The risk of parasitic diseases increases with immune system failures, inflammatory pathologies and malnutrition.

Can a human get infected from a cat?

Some types of ticks in cats are not pathogenic to humans. Demodex is a non-dangerous species of parasites. People can also get demodicosis, but the cause of pathology in humans and pets is different types of this tick. A cat cannot infect its owner, just asand humans cannot infect animals with the subcutaneous parasite. Ear mites are also not dangerous to humans.

The causative agents of sarcoptic mange, notoedrosis and cheiletiosis can be transmitted from animals to humans. But these parasites cannot reproduce on human epidermis. Therefore, skin manifestations (itching, rashes) are mild and disappear even without treatment.

Varieties of tick infestation

Subcutaneous mites in cats cause several types of diseases. Manifestations of pathology depend on the location and type of pathogen. In veterinary medicine, the following types of tick infestation in cats are distinguished:

• demodectic mange;
• otodectosis;
• sarcoptic mange;
• notoedrosis;
• cheiletiosis.

In most cases, cats are diagnosed with demodicosis and otodectosis. These diseases are very common. Sarcoptic mange is more common in dogs. Notoedrosis and cheiletiosis usually affect pets with sharply reduced immunity.

Demodicosis

The causative agent of the disease is the demodex subcutaneous mite. It parasitizes in the epidermis and hair follicles. Demodicosis may present in a scaly form that is mild. But there is a pustular type of the disease, which is accompanied by severe and severe symptoms.

With a scaly form of pathology, the following signs are noted:

1. The pet's hair starts to fall out. Areas of baldness are formed in the neck, head, ears, as well as around the eyes, on the trunk and paws. Hair falls out in places where parasites are most concentrated.
2. The animal periodically has a smallitching. It does not occur due to tick bites, but as a result of an allergic reaction to parasite secretions.
3. The areas of baldness turn red, scales form on them.

Pet owners do not always associate these manifestations with parasites. In the meantime, the disease can become more severe. Therefore, you should immediately contact your veterinarian at the first symptoms of ticks in cats. Photos of manifestations of the scaly form of demodicosis can be seen below.

Without treatment, the disease develops into a severe pustular form, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. The skin is covered with pustules and crusts.
2. The animal suffers from severe itching.
3. Due to intoxication of the body, the cat loses weight, becomes lethargic and lethargic.

Only a specialist can determine this disease. Manifestations of demodicosis resemble those of ringworm or dermatitis, so differential diagnosis is necessary.

Otodectosis

This disease is otherwise known as ear scabies. It is caused by the parasite Otodectes cynotis. This is the most common tick infestation in cats. The causative agent is localized in the auricles. The following signs of pathology appear:

1. The cat's ears are very itchy, they are covered with scratches and scratches.
2. You may notice discharge in the form of small dark particles in your ears.
3. Crusts appear on the auricles.
4. The hair on the ears is noticeably balding.
5. When bacteria attach, purulentselection.

This disease can lead to blood poisoning and deafness. Therefore, it is important to identify it in time and start treating the tick in a cat. A photo of the sick animal can be seen below.

Sarcoptic mange

This disease is caused by a mite from the genus Sarcoptes. Otherwise, it is called scabies itch. For a long time, veterinarians believed that this disease was observed only in dogs. However, these days there are quite a few clinically confirmed cases of sarcoptic mange in cats. Most often, scabies itch occurs in young and debilitated animals.

The first sign of the disease is the formation of rashes with liquid contents. They have a reddish color and are covered with a yellow crust on top. The rash forms around the nose, ears, and eyes. Then the papules burst, their contents spread throughout the body, affecting new areas of the skin. The following signs of the disease appear:

• very itchy;
• hair loss;
• formation of scabs and abscesses on the skin.

These manifestations are accompanied by a strong deterioration in the well-being of the animal. The cat becomes lethargic, weak, refuses to eat. The tick can also be transmitted to humans. However, it cannot multiply on human skin. Therefore, people get sick easily. Itchy patches appear on the skin. After some time, they disappear on their own, even without treatment. However, care must be taken when dealing with a pet if it has the above symptoms of a tick in a cat. Photos of the manifestations of sarcoptic mange can be seen below.

Notoedrosis

The disease is caused by the parasite Notoedres cati. If any part of the animal's body is affected during sarcoptic mange, then with notoedrosis, the pathological process affects only the neck and head. This is a feature of this disease. Otherwise, the symptoms of notoedrosis are similar to those of sarcoptic mange:

1. Excruciating itching in the neck and head.
2. The animal is losing hair.
3. Skin becomes crusty.
4. If the disease is running, then pustules form on the skin.

This disease can also be transmitted to humans. However, the mite does not multiply on human skin, and the signs of pathology disappear on their own after about 30 days.

Heiletiosis

This disease is otherwise known as wandering dandruff. It is caused by ticks of the genus Cheyletiella. The skin lesion usually appears in the back area. You may notice dandruff flakes moving slowly through the coat. This symptom is associated with the movement of the parasite. Cheiletiosis causes slight hair loss and itching. The state of he alth of the cat is not disturbed. Often the disease occurs without severe symptoms.

Diagnosis

If there are signs of a tick in a domestic cat, then it is necessary to conduct a differential diagnosis with other skin pathologies. Signs of invasion may resemble those of a fungal infection or dermatitis. When complaining of itching and hair loss, the following tests are prescribed:

1. Scraping from the affected areas. The biomaterial is examined under a microscope and the presence of parasites is detected. With demodicosisit is important to establish the number of ticks. Demodex can be on the skin of he althy animals, and only with an increase in the number of parasites do pathological manifestations occur.
2. Fecal analysis. This study can be informative only for cheiletiosis. When licking the fur, the cat swallows the tick. The parasite is excreted undigested in the faeces and detected during analysis.

Medicated treatment

Treatment of ticks in cats is carried out with drugs that destroy parasites. Apply means "Neostomazan" and "Butox-50". These insecticidal solutions are designed to be applied to affected areas. They are able to fight any kind of scabies pathogens.

Drops from ticks for cats "Stronghold" and "Lawyer" give a good effect. They are applied to the withers once a day. Treatment continues for about 2-3 months. Insecticide sprays are also prescribed: Acaromectin, Cydem, Ivermectin, Perol.

Means "Amit" is indicated for sarcoptic mange and otodectosis. It comes in the form of drops. The medicine contains an anti-tick component and an antihistamine substance - diphenhydramine. The drug helps not only to fight parasites, but also eliminates itching.

In case of severe infestation, insecticidal agents are used in the form of injections. The following drugs are administered: Ivermek, Dektomax, Novomek, Otodectin, Cydectin.

During the course of therapyit is useful to bathe a cat with shampoos "Doctor" or "Elite". They contain substances that kill ticks. However, these remedies only protect against already existing parasites and cannot prevent re-infection.

It should be remembered that the use of insecticides alone is not enough to fully treat ticks in cats. It is necessary to relieve irritation and inflammation in the affected areas. To do this, use ointments with sea buckthorn, linseed or olive oil.

When tick infestation is also important to strengthen the body's defenses. For this purpose, immunomodulators are prescribed: "Gamavit", "Immunoparasitan", "Maxidin".

In order for the treatment to be more effective, the animal must eat well. The diet should include foods rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins. It is necessary to wash all pet care items with disinfectants. This will help prevent reinfection.

Folk recipes

Treatment of ticks in cats at home must be agreed with the veterinarian. It cannot completely replace medicines. Folk recipes are used as an addition to the main therapy. The following tools are recommended:

1. Green tea. This remedy helps with ear scabies. In a glass of boiling water, you need to brew 2 teaspoons of green tea leaves and leave for about 20 minutes. Tea leaves are instilled into each ear 2-3 drops daily for a month.
2. Ointment with garlic. You need to chop half the garliccloves and add to 2 tablespoons of butter. Then the ointment is infused for 24 hours in a cool place, and then passed through gauze. The resulting composition is treated with auricles 1 time per day. Care must be taken when treating ticks in a cat at home with garlic ointment. In some animals, this remedy can cause allergies. Therefore, you must first test the ointment on a small area of \u200b\u200bthe skin.
3. Decoction of chamomile and sage. Before treatment, the cat should be bathed with an antiparasitic shampoo. After washing, the affected skin is treated with decoctions of herbs. This helps relieve inflammation. You can also use a decoction of celandine or wormwood.
4. Calendula tincture. This tool can be purchased in pharmacy chains. Before treatment, the cat is washed with tar soap - it helps to remove ticks. After water procedures, areas of baldness are smeared with tincture. This treatment should be repeated every 3 days.

Prevention

To prevent tick infestation, it is necessary to protect the cat from contact with stray relatives and other infected animals. It is useful to apply antiparasitic drops "Stronghold" or "Lawyer" to the withers 2-3 times a year. If your pet goes out for a walk, then you should put on a special collar against fleas and ticks. It is important to remember that this device is impregnated with insecticide. If this substance enters the body, it can cause poisoning in a cat, so the collar must be used with caution.

Vaccines fromparasites do not exist. Such a vaccine cannot be created, since ticks are not viruses or bacteria. However, for the prevention of invasion, the drug "Immunoparasitan" can be administered to animals. It will help activate the body's defenses and avoid infection.

It is important to ensure that the cat's diet is complete and contains all the necessary nutrients. Tick infestation often occurs in weakened and emaciated animals. With good nutrition and proper care of the pet, the risk of infection with parasites will be minimized.