When there is a tick on a cat, it is important to remove it as soon as possible to prevent a serious illness. Before removing a tick, you should gather all of the necessary materials, including rubber gloves. While another individual is holding the cat, you can then use a pair of tweezers to gently pull the tick from your cat's skin. After it is removed, the tick should be killed with alcohol, and the cat's skin should be disinfected.
You will usually need a few basic supplies to remove a tick on a cat. Rubber gloves are essential, since it is inadvisable to touch a tick with your bare hands. You will also need pointed tweezers and alcohol. Antibiotic ointment can also help prevent an infection after the tick is removed. Hydrocortisone cream may help relieve the itching.
Removing a tick on a cat may require more than one person. You might want to enlist the help of a friend or family member. He can help hold the cat still and comfort it, while you remove the tick. If the tick is on the cat's head or neck, you may want to wrap the cat's body in a towel or blanket.
Before starting to remove a tick on a cat, you will want to grasp the parasite firmly with the tweezers. Grasping the mouthparts or head is preferable. These parts of the tick will typically be embedded in the cat's skin.
Once you have properly grasped a tick on a cat with tweezers, you can then pull it out. This should be done carefully to ensure that all parts of the head and mouth are removed. Pull firmly with a steady, even pressure. Avoid jerking or twisting the tweezers, since this can cause the head or mouth to break off. If these parts are left in the cat's skin, a serious infection may develop.
When a tick on a cat has been successfully removed, it should be killed. Do not try to squish it with your fingers. Instead, drop it into a small cup of alcohol.
The alcohol should also be used to cleanse the tick bite. It can be rubbed on the cat's skin with a clean cotton ball or gauze. Antibiotic ointment can be applied to the area afterward to prevent infection. Since a tick bite can cause intense itching, you may also want to apply hydrocortisone cream to the bite area as well.
After removing a tick on a cat, you should wash your hands with soap and hot water. Also, all supplies should be thoroughly sanitized. Tweezers, for example, should be wiped with or soaked in alcohol. These actions will help prevent the spread of certain tick-borne illnesses.