Natural support for cats during times of high insect and tick infestation

How to recognize a tick

Ticks belong to the arachnids and lead a parasitic existence. They make life difficult for their chosen victim by feeding on the blood and lymph fluid of their host. They pierce with their mouthparts and hold on to the cat in this way. Although ticks do not bite, this term is more commonly used. A tick has a triangular-flattened body and eight long legs. Depending on the species, these pests range in color from dark brown to reddish brown. The head is about the size of a pinhead. In cat fur, they are almost impossible to find. Only when they fill up with blood does the chance of spotting them increase. During feeding, the abdomen can swell to up to 200 percent of its size.

Are ticks dangerous for cats?

The danger does not lie in the tick bite itself. The longer it feeds, the greater the risk that it will transmit a dangerous disease to your cat, such as:

• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis
• Lyme disease
• Ehrlichiosis

Unlike dogs, cats roam much more through gardens and green spaces and quickly brush off ticks before they can “bite in” firmly. Additionally, cats groom their fur thoroughly, which helps repel ticks. Why cats are less often infected with transmissible diseases is still unclear. But they often bring ticks home. And these can also transfer to humans. Therefore, cat owners face an increased risk of disease.

The danger in the countryside

For indoor cats, you don’t need to worry about ticks. If your cat walks through the garden or you have a park or forest nearby, it will bring ticks home. Basically, the risk of ticks exists between February and November when it’s warmer. However, during a mild winter, you also have to expect these pests because they awaken from their winter dormancy at around 6 °C and start searching for food. The place of residence also has an influence. In some federal states, there are more of these unpleasant crawlers than in others.

This is what happens when you get a “tick bite”

The dense cat fur prevents the little bloodsuckers from reaching the skin immediately. A tick therefore wanders around on the cat for a while, looking for a suitable spot where the skin is thin and well supplied with blood. Ticks are usually found on the neck, near the ears, directly on the head, or under the cat's chin. The tick uses its mouthparts to scratch the skin and insert its proboscis into the wound. It attaches itself with barbs on its proboscis so that it does not fall off. The tick then begins to suck blood, lymph fluid, and cell fluid. Meanwhile, it secretes a substance that

• numbing,
• anti-inflammatory and
• has an anticoagulant effect.

There are also ticks without a long feeding tube. These stick to the cat using an adhesive substance. Undigested blood residues from the tick’s gut enter the wound during feeding, along with pathogens such as bacteria and viruses as well as other parasites. These can then lead to dangerous diseases. The advantage: ticks are slow. Males attach for a few days and take only what they need to survive. Females feed for several weeks on their host because they need the blood for egg production. Only after about three hours is there a risk of infection for your cat. The sooner the tick is removed, the lower the risk of transmitting pathogens. Our tip: stroke and brush your cat thoroughly after being outside and watch for bumps and other unusual spots. If you find a tick, remove it immediately.

Removing ticks from your cat correctly

To free your cat from the nasty parasite, you need a tick remover tool. Part the fur so you have a clear view of the tick. Make sure your cat stays calm. Since your cat is influenced by you, you should remain calm and patient. Now place the tool as close to the skin as possible. This prevents the head from getting stuck and causing inflammation later. Gently pull the tick out with the tick remover tool. The direction doesn’t matter. Is the tick’s head stuck? Don’t worry too much at first. Usually, the foreign body is enclosed in the scab and eventually falls off with it. However, you should regularly check the bite area.

If there are signs of inflammation, it is definitely necessary to see a doctor. However, it is better to make sure that you always remove the tick's head completely. As long as the head remains stuck in the skin, there is a risk of pathogens being transmitted.

Render ticks harmless

The tick is removed! But now it is not enough to drown it — for example, in the drain — or crush it between your fingers. Because these crawlers are very resilient. Using high-proof alcohol, intense heat (fire), or a hard object to crush it will finally finish off the tick.

These ticks infest cats.

The following tick species are commonly found on cats:

• Common wood tick (Ixodes ricinus)
• Brown dog tick (Dermacentor reticulatus)
• Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

The common wood tick

This tick species is the most widespread in Europe. The common wood tick is slightly larger than the brown dog tick and transmits the pathogens of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. It is not picky when it comes to its prey and bites cats, dogs, and humans. However, TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) is not an issue for cats. The wood tick is usually active between March and June as well as between September and November.

The colorful tick

Since the ornate tick becomes active at around 7 °C, your cat can fall prey to it from February to December. It has a whitish-marbled dorsal shield with an outer border and can transmit babesiosis and borreliosis. However, babesiosis in cats is rare in Europe.

The brown dog tick

Although it is called the brown dog tick, it also infests cats and humans besides dogs. This tick species is less common than those mentioned earlier, but it is present year-round. The parasite is about one to three millimeters in size and reddish-brown. The dog tick originally comes from the Mediterranean region and was long considered unable to survive in Germany. However, due to climate change and the many imported dogs, it is spreading here as well. The brown dog tick spends almost its entire life on the host’s body. Resting places serve as egg-laying sites. From there, the parasite is transferred to another animal. Additionally, these ticks are very mobile. They can roam through your living spaces and “overwinter” with you. Since it can survive up to a year without a blood meal, this tick is a true survivor. It transmits the dangerous pathogens of ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.

Quickly recognizing illnesses after a “tick bite”

Although cats suffer less often than dogs from transmissible diseases, you should still keep a watchful eye on your cat if it has been infested by bloodsuckers. We provide you with an overview of possible diseases. However, inflammations, abscesses, or blood poisoning occur more frequently, which originate from the bite and the skin injury itself.

Anaplasmosis

This disease is caused by Anaplasma, single-celled blood parasites that infect white blood cells. It usually progresses in several phases and can last for years. After an acute phase, the cat may seem to recover, until the immune system is weakened again and another outbreak occurs.

Babesiosis

In this disease, the red blood cells are destroyed by Babesia (the pathogen). This leads to life-threatening anemia and sometimes jaundice. The process begins already after 12 to 72 hours. If the infection is acute, the first symptoms appear after only 10 to 21 days. If it progresses slowly, it resembles human malaria.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease — or borreliosis for short — is caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia. The incubation period is quite long, ranging from two weeks to five months. The symptoms also remain nonspecific in the early stages, and your cat’s health gradually deteriorates. A clue to borreliosis is the so-called “migratory redness,” which, however, is difficult to see in dense cat fur and with dark skin pigmentation. The disease can become chronic. If your cat suffers from a severe form, neurological damage may remain. In very rare cases, the animal may die.

Ehrlichiosis

This “dog disease” is widespread in the Mediterranean region. However, it has now also been detected in Saarland. If your cat has contracted ehrlichiosis, it infects the monocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. Through this route, the pathogens reach the lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs. The onset of the disease occurs after one to two weeks and, if untreated, leads to chronic anemia.

These symptoms are warning signs!

Many of the early symptoms of the transmitted diseases are nonspecific. Therefore, it is all the more important that you pay attention to any changes in your cat:

• Recurring flare-ups (every two to three weeks)
• Fever
• Exhaustion, apathy
• Loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea
• Shortness of breath
• Bleeding
• “Wanderröte”: red ring around the puncture site
• Inflammations
• rapid loss of fitness and weight
• Movement disorders

When should you take your cat to the vet after a tick bite?

If you observe your cat closely after a tick bite, you will notice even the smallest changes in its behavior. Basically: consult your veterinarian as soon as you suspect an infection. If your cat shows one or more of the listed symptoms, don’t wait to see if they go away on their own. Some of these diseases are chronic and recur repeatedly. A quick diagnosis can save the life of your beloved pet! Unfortunately, there are no vaccinations for cats against the pathogens transmitted by ticks. Prevention is therefore all the more important. Discuss with your veterinarian the different options to protect your cat from these blood-sucking parasites. The risk is significantly reduced by good prevention.

Natural coat care for cats

Care products for preventing ticks do not have to contain chemicals. Nature has a remedy for almost everything. Below you will find natural home remedies that ticks do not like at all.

Even though natural substances are better tolerated, in isolated cases animals may react to them with intolerance. In this case, switch to a different care product.

Coat care “Fellwächter” AND “Fellwächter Plus”

Does your cat love roaming through tall grass? Our coat care products for times when ticks are prevalent are made from carefully selected ingredients that your cat can safely lick off as part of its grooming routine.

The “Fellwächter” has a pleasant scent and does not leave an oily film on the coat. This means you can cuddle with your furry friend immediately after application.

Fellwächter Plus can be described as a “charging station” for natural tick prevention. It contains millions of natural bio-deposits that are activated by friction. Simply spray it on your cat's sleeping and resting places. Your pet will receive tick prevention care while it sleeps.

With good coat care, your pets will become unattractive to ticks.

Ticks often go unnoticed, especially on long-haired cats. But even cats with short fur enjoy regular grooming, including a cuddle, because it strengthens the bond between humans and animals.

Brush your cat thoroughly after it has been outside. Not only does this groom its coat, but it also allows you to react quickly if you find a tick. But remember: even with active prevention, it can still happen that a tick ignores the grooming and “bites down.”