Safe Tick Prevention for Cats

The increased incidence in ticks in our area and the risk of Lyme disease which is spread by ticks is causing pet owners a lot of concern.  Lyme disease is not likely to occur in indoor cats with no exposure to ticks.  In fact, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, it has never been seen in a cat outside a laboratory setting.

Even though the risk for Lyme transmission is low, it is still possible for cats, especially those who go outside to have ticks attach.

Extreme care must be used when considering parasite control for cats.  Many common tick preventives contain chemicals that are safe when used on dogs, but are extremely toxic to cats.

NEVER use a tick preventive, a flea preventive, or a combination product labeled for dogs on a cat.

If you have both a dog and a cat, read the packaging of your dog-s flea treatments carefully.  Some products that are safe to use on dogs can still harm your cat if the cat has a lot of direct contact with the dog such as sleeping together or grooming the dog.  When in doubt, please contact us, or another veterinarian before using flea and tick control on your cat.

There are some older products labeled for cats still on the market, especially at dollar and discount stores that can cause serious reactions in cats.  It is much better to be safe than sorry.

Cats exposed to these products can have serious neurological episodes, seizures and can even die.  Every flea and tick season we see people lose cats from using the wrong product on their pets.

Cats are not small dogs.  They have a unique physiology and metabolize medications and pest control products differently from dogs.

If your cat is at risk of tick infestation, and you aren’t sure what products on the market are safe to use please call the office at 824-4108 and set up an appointment.  We have safe and effective prescription options available for both fleas and ticks.

If your cat has been exposed to a product designed for dogs, or shows any unusual symptoms such as vomiting, tremors, drooling, or trouble walking after using an over-the-counter pest control product labeled for cats, seek veterinary help immediately, either here at Southtowns Animal Hospital or at a 24-hour facility.