Ticks

gettingready

Does anyone know of any effective way to stop the little nasty things attaching themselves to cats/dogs?

Pulled 17 (!!!!) out of George ears (!!!) yeaterday. I though he had some kind of rash on his ears but at close inspection that turned out to be ticks. Tiney ones, smaller than pin head so freshely attached, still white so did not draw much blood yet to change the coloutr but ticks, Pulled all I could see yesterday, counted 17.

Today pulled another 4 from George's ears, 2 from Macius (ears too) and 4 from Zara's back.

Absolute nightmare.

They have been treated with Advantage few days ago but it obviously has no effect on ticks.

What does? I mean stop them from attaching in the first place - other than a complete house arrest for the cats?

Or at least what makes them die as soon as they attach themselves so I do not have to pull them nasty things out?

Thanks a lot

Dustykitten

Yuk, that sounds like a nightmare.

Only one of my mogs gets them and only occasionally, he likes to sleep in long grass so guess he gets them from there. The last one I noticed one evening and thought I'd remove it in the morning (I need somebody else to hold him and the rest of the house were asleep). Next morning at breakfast time it dropped off onto the floor. Not sure if the Frontline had caused this but I put the horror into a glass pot on the window sill and it was still alive 3 days later.

gettingready

Seresto collars are way out of my price rangfe - in case anyone was going to suggest those.... sigh..

I need some MSE option here.. Can not find anything suitable for prevention - only ticks removal thingys which I do not need as quite experienced in removing little !!!!!!s myself.

Need prevention or some sort of kill them fast....

scaredy_cat

http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/tick-repellent-for-dogs.html

this link talks about using essential oils to prevent ticks.

Fire_Fox

Some flea spot ons also kills ticks, does the one you use? I don't think anything can stop them attaching.

rising_from_the_ashes

I got one of these a while ago GR http://www.medicanimal.com/setSessionLocaleProductList/product?product_id=829&newLocale=en_GB&gclid=COrChP3ck7ICFU5_fAodSlsASA (says it lasts up to 6 months so quite cost effective)

I was going to post back about how it performed - but I'm afraid it's not on yet!

We weren't getting out with Maisie not being well so didn't want to "waste it" IYKWIM - however, we've started going to the woods again recently and I've already pulled a couple (EUGH!) off her and the sand flies are just building up ....... have dug it out and will be putting it on today! (will let you know how it goes).

I'm not sure you could use it on Zara tho as it says cats can't have close contact with it ..... mmmm

antw23uk

Where are they getting them from? Thats a lot of ticks! Can you not change where you are walking them?

Unless of course you are talking about your cats then i shall just go back to my early morning cuppa tea

Waterfalls

I hate ticks with a passion, but no spot on feline flea treatment will remove the ticks, only some will kill them for 2 weeks when the treatment will last for 4 and still require manual removal. Nothing is better than removing them manually im afraid, but its very important not to 'pull' the out the must be 'unscrewed' so the head is not left behind. make sure they are killed after removal. tick hooks are cheaply available.
Im not sure that Advantage treats ticks??

Lymes diease as some others are on the increase. The vet i work with has it and i wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy

krlyr

Frontline spray, maybe? Don't have cats myself but I'm sure I've heard of people wiping it over ears in cats and dogs prone to getting ticks in that area. Not sure how suitable it is to use near to Advantage treatments, but might be a bit more cost-effective if you're only applying small amounts to the ear areas rather than using it as your main treatment all over the cat.
I'd be careful with essential oils, many can be harmful to cats I think.

gettingready

but its very important not to 'pull' the out the must be 'unscrewed' so the head is not left behind.

Sorry but absolutely NOT - they have to be pulled out strait withiout any twisting. If you twist - THAT is when they "vomit" under pet's skin and cause infection.

Thanks everyone....

scrabbles_2

You need to be so, so careful with essential oils and cats - cats can't break some compounds in oils down in the same way most mammals can, so they are easily poisoned by even small amounts of these oils. A lot of the essential oils we humans commonly use are the same ones that are most toxic to cats. And a lot of dog tick treatments are toxic to cats too.

As well as the spot-ons that others have suggested all I can think is that most flea collars are supposed to repel ticks as well - I know they are a bit rubbish flea-wise but maybe they work better for ticks?

Otherwise I would ask my vet what they can suggest.