Which tick treatment is suitable for cats?
Let's get this straight: If your cat is an outdoor cat, an effective tick treatment is definitely a good idea. This way, you protect not only your four-legged friend against ticks, →fleas or other parasites, but also yourself. After all, it's not uncommon for a cat roaming through bushes and tall grass to act as a taxi for creepy crawlies and brings the little ectoparasites—ticks, fleas, lice, and mites— into your home.
The following tick treatments have proven effective for cats over time:
Spot-on treatments
These are tick treatments that are applied monthly to the back of your cat's neck. The spot-on spreads through the sebaceous glands of the skin across the entire cat's coat and also enters the bloodstream. They often prevent not only infestations by ticks, fleas, and mites, but also by worms. In this case, only one treatment with a single product would be necessary.
You can apply spot-on treatments to your cat yourself. They are usually applied to the neck.
Chewable tablets or tick tablets for cats
Tick protection in the form of chewable tablets is very common for dogs. For cats, however, they are used less often. The reason is that the tablets usually only work against one group of parasites, either as pure dewormers or only against ectoparasites, such as ticks and fleas. Therefore, to protect against both major parasite groups, two treatments with two different products would be necessary.
Our tasty snacks are perfect for hiding tick tablets. For example, how about a delicious →cream snack? Put a bit of cream on your finger, insert the tablet, and the tablet is elegantly delivered into your cat.
Reward Right with Tasty Snacks
Tick sprays
If you're looking for a simple remedy exclusively against ectoparasites, a tick spray can be helpful. It is simply sprayed externally onto your cat's skin or coat and works immediately. There are even products that are safe for kittens and can therefore be used on pregnant or nursing mothers.
Tick collars for cats
There are collars that are infused with antiparasitic agents. These only prevent ectoparasites, such as ticks, fleas & co. In addition, your cat must wear the collar continuously so that the active ingredients are constantly on the skin and thus the protection is truly continuously ensured.
In general, when it comes to collars for cats, you should make sure they are not too tight. If your cat spends a lot of time outdoors, there is always a certain risk that it might get the collar caught somewhere and/or lose it.
Natural home remedies against ticks
In addition to chemical agents against ectoparasites, some natural remedies are also said to have anti-tick effects. These include, among others, coconut oil, brewer's yeast, various →essential oils and amber necklaces or ceramic collars.
However, the effectiveness of home remedies against ticks and worms is often not proven. You should also check whether your cat tolerates the ingredients well or has an allergic reaction. The correct dosage and application are also very important and should, if necessary, be discussed with your veterinarian. Some essential oils, such as tea tree oil, can lead to →poisoning if used incorrectly.
Outdoor cats in particular often pick up ticks while roaming in nature and bring them into the house.
Can ticks be dangerous for cats?
Are you wondering whether a tick treatment is even necessary for your cat? As small as ticks, fleas, and the like may be, they're nothing to take lightly. They transmit a variety of diseases, which can affect not only your cat but also be transmitted to you. If the parasites crawl from your cat onto you, your risk of infection increases as well.
Among the diseases dangerous to humans and animals that are often transmitted by ectoparasites are:
Anaplasma infections
Lyme disease
TBE (tick-borne encephalitis)
Babesiosis
Ehrlichiosis
So remember: better safe than sorry! Get advice from your veterinarian regarding effective tick protection. For some parasites like →giardia, prevention is difficult and only good hygiene—thoroughly cleaning all your cat's sleeping areas and bowls with hot water—can help reduce the risk of infection.
