How to prevent ticks and tick bites on cats

Ticks are a health concern for cats, and broad-spectrum parasite prevention is recommended to protect them from skin irritation, infections, anemia caused by heavy infestations, and tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Choosing the right tick prevention product for cats can be difficult due to the large number of options on the market and their varying degrees of safety and efficacy. If you have a cat, read on to learn:

• How pet parents can prevent their cat from getting ticks and tick bites
• Why it’s important to prevent tick bites in cats
• Which tick-prevention products are best for cats

Effective tick prevention involves choosing the right prevention product and limiting a cat’s exposure to ticks. This can be done by keeping cats indoors, ensuring other pets in the home that go outdoors are on year-round tick prevention, and using a safe, vet-recommended tick-control product for your cat. A veterinary professional can help determine the most appropriate flea and tick preventative based on your cat’s overall health and lifestyle, and the risk of ticks in your region.

One of the best ways to help prevent your cat from getting ticks is to limit exposure. You can limit your cat’s exposure to ticks by:

• Keeping your cat indoors
• Using tick prevention on dogs and other pets that go outdoors
• Cutting back long grass and brush in the yard
• Discouraging wildlife from entering the yard

Indoor cats, if your household doesn’t have other pets that go outside, are unlikely to get ticks. Ticks do not typically infest homes the way fleas do. In rare cases, a tick carried indoors on a dog or on a person’s clothing can fall off and survive long enough to crawl onto a cat.

Veterinarians and organizations such as the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommend that all cats, even indoor cats, be kept on a vet-recommended tick-control product. Choosing a safe and effective product can be complicated. There are many options on the market, including some that may not be safe or effective for cats, even if they’re labeled for use in cats.

Product safety, effectiveness, and suitability can vary based on many factors, such as a cat’s age, weight, health status, and overall risk of tick exposure. Product formulation (topical or oral) and price point are also significant considerations. It’s best to get veterinary guidance to determine the best prevention methods and products. Many products are broad-spectrum and provide protection from other parasites, such as cat fleas, ear mites, and heartworms.

Are ticks dangerous to cats?

Most tick bites are relatively harmless and do not spread disease. However, even after properly removing a tick, their bite usually leaves a crusty, inflamed sore that takes a couple of weeks to heal. It’s also possible for bites to get infected. Also, heavy tick infestations can lead to life-threatening anemia from blood loss, especially in small kittens.

Tick-borne diseases in cats, though generally rare in North America, can be more prevalent in areas with heavy tick populations and endemic diseases. Some of these illnesses can be serious or even life-threatening. One example is cytauxzoonosis, a rare but often fatal disease found in the southeastern and south-central US that’s caused by a parasite transmitted by the lone star tick. Other rare but reported tick-borne diseases in cats include:

• Babesiosis (piroplasmosis)
• Anaplasmosis
• Hepatozoonosis
• Lyme disease
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Tick paralysis

Overall, cats are relatively resistant to many of the tick-borne diseases affecting dogs, but the risk varies depending on geographic region, tick exposure, and the health of the individual cat.

Are ticks on a cat dangerous to humans?

Since tick bites can make cats sick, it’s natural to wonder if ticks on your cat could also pose a risk to your human family members. Several species of ticks can feed on both cats and humans, but they don’t typically move directly from one host to another. Once a tick attaches and begins feeding, it usually stays on that host until it’s full or removed. While it’s theoretically possible for a tick to detach from a cat and later bite a person, this is rare and not considered a common route of transmission for tick-borne diseases.

Most tick-borne diseases in humans are caused by bites from ticks encountered outdoors, but in rare cases, a cat may bring an infected tick indoors. Cats with a tick-borne illness do not spread the disease directly to their owners or other pets, and having a cat does not increase a person’s risk of contracting a tick-borne illness.

Choosing the best tick-prevention product for your cat isn’t as simple as picking the top-rated option online or following generic advice. Each cat is different, and the most appropriate product depends on a variety of factors, such as age, weight, overall health, lifestyle, and risk of exposure, as well as how your cat handles the product itself. Some cats take oral medications easily, while others resist them. Some don’t mind a topical application, while others object. Reactions can also vary, with a cat doing fine on one product yet having side effects with another. That’s why the best approach is to talk to a vet, who can help you select a product that’s safe, effective, and tailored to your cat’s and family’s needs.

Selecting from the various over-the-counter products is especially difficult because not all are safe or effective. Many tick products, even those labeled safe for cats, can be toxic. Tick-control products marketed as “natural” or “pesticide-free” aren’t usually recommended by veterinarians because they often lack proven effectiveness and some may contain ingredients that are dangerous or toxic to cats. The best choice for your cat is a veterinarian-recommended product with a proven record of safety and efficacy, tailored to their size, health status, lifestyle, and geographic location.

Never use flea and tick preventatives intended for dogs on cats, and be cautious in multi-pet households. Some ingredients that are safe and effective for dogs, like certain pyrethroids, are highly toxic to cats, even with indirect contact. Cats can have severe or even life-threatening reactions just by being near a recently treated dog. If you have both cats and dogs, consult your vet to ensure any prevention product you use is safe for all pets in your household.

Topical treatments

Topical or “spot-on” treatment options are readily available over the counter (OTC) and as prescription products. Topical solutions are typically applied every one to three months to the skin between the shoulder blades, where your cat can’t reach to groom it off. Many topical products also provide protection against fleas and other parasites, both external and internal. Some OTC topicals labeled for use on cats may not actually be safe, so always check with a vet before applying any pesticide to your cat.

Disadvantages to spot-on topical treatments include an oily residue after application, a strong smell until the treatment dries, and the possibility of skin irritation. Some topical flea and tick products for cats contain pesticide ingredients that can pose risks to children and other pets. Always follow product instructions and wait the recommended time before allowing children and other pets to have contact with your cat after application.

Most topical solutions don’t repel ticks but instead kill them within 24 hours of a bite. Finding ticks on your treated cat doesn’t mean the product isn’t working. Ticks often remain attached as they are dying from the preventative or even after they are dead. Tick-borne illnesses do not spread immediately after a tick bite, so killing a tick quickly helps prevent the spread of disease. Since you can still expect to find ticks on your cat even when using an effective topical product, it’s important to check your cat for ticks and immediately remove any attached ticks you find.

Oral medications

Unlike for dogs, there is currently only one oral flea and tick treatment available for cats: a prescription medication called Credelio (lotilaner). However, Credelio is primarily a flea preventative and is only effective against black-legged ticks. This product does not repel ticks but works by killing them quickly to prevent disease transmission. You may still find black-legged ticks on your cat even when using the product correctly, and other common species of ticks, such as lone star or brown dog ticks, are not killed or repelled by this medication. Even when using an effective tick preventative, it’s still recommended that you check your cat for ticks after any potential exposure.

Tick collars

Tick collars for cats can be a convenient alternative to topical spot-ons and oral medications. Currently, Seresto is the only flea and tick collar that’s generally recommended by veterinarians based on its proven safety and effectiveness for cats. While numerous other flea and tick collars are available without a prescription, many are potentially dangerous, even if they’re labeled for use in cats. Collars marketed as being “all-natural” or “pesticide free” may be safer but are also unlikely to work.

One disadvantage of collars is that they must be tight enough to have skin contact and may irritate cats with sensitive skin. They’re typically made with hard plastic, which can be uncomfortable and cause hair loss around your cat’s neck. Many tick collars are not safe for cats, even if they’re marketed for cats, so be sure to check with a vet professional before using one. In addition, some tick collars may not be suitable for households with small children, and it’s usually recommended that anyone who has touched a tick collar wash their hands afterwards.

Reducing exposure to ticks

“Keeping cats indoors and away from places where ticks naturally live is a great way to prevent tick bites,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on the Vetster platform. “If your cat only goes out in your yard and doesn’t roam, don’t underestimate the value of making your yard less inviting to ticks.” You can limit a cat’s exposure to ticks in your yard by:

• Cutting long grass
• Removing brush and leaf litter
• Discouraging wildlife

It’s highly recommended by experts, such as vets, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), that cats receive year-round tick prevention due to the prevalence of ticks in temperate and tropical climates worldwide. Even if you live in an area that doesn’t currently have large tick populations, that may change because the geographical range of ticks is increasing. Some areas have larger tick populations than others, and different tick species and tick-borne diseases are more prevalent in certain regions.

Tick preventatives can help prevent tick-borne illnesses, skin infection and irritation, and anemia due to blood loss. Talk to a veterinarian about your cat’s risk for ticks and which preventative is best for them. Online vets are available 24/7 on the Vetster platform to discuss tick prevention for cats and may be able to offer prescription products.*

• Veterinarians can prescribe medications via telehealth when a valid veterinary–client–patient relationship (VCPR) exists. A VCPR can be established remotely in some states and provinces, while in others, an in-person examination is required. Please note that vets are not obligated to write a prescription — this is done at their sole discretion.

Does my indoor cat need tick protection?

Outdoor cats are at higher risk for tick bites due to increased exposure to tick habitats. However, broad-spectrum parasite prevention is still recommended for indoor cats. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) advises that all cats — indoor and outdoor — receive year-round flea and tick prevention, as safe and effective products are available to help protect both pets and their families from tick-borne diseases.

What are the best tick-prevention products for cats?

The best flea and tick prevention for cats — whether that’s a topical solution, oral medication, or collar — depends on your cat’s lifestyle and health and on your personal preference. Prescription parasite control products offer the benefit of veterinary guidance tailored to your cat’s age, weight, health status, and risk of exposure. Even if you’re using over-the-counter options, getting professional oversight helps provide peace of mind that the selected product is safe, effective, and used appropriately. With all products, it’s important to use them exactly as directed. Using tick products inappropriately can decrease effectiveness and may be dangerous for your cat.

Can ticks make cats sick?

Tick bites can cause localized skin irritation and potential skin infections. In addition, heavy infestations can lead to anemia due to blood loss. Cats are generally resistant to tick-borne diseases but can still contract them. Though uncommon in cats, these diseases can be life-threatening. The risk of tick-borne illnesses varies by region depending on the prevalent species of ticks in your area.

Can tick-control products make cats sick?

Tick-prevention products formulated for dogs can be highly toxic to cats. In addition, some over-the-counter products marketed for cats are not actually safe to use on cats. The best way to minimize the risks is by getting veterinary guidance when choosing a tick product for your cat.