Tick protection for cats: what really works
A moment in the grass, a stroll through the bushes – and suddenly there’s a stowaway in your cat’s fur: a tick. What to look for and how to remove it.
Ticks love cats. All it takes is a trip outdoors and, before you know it, one of the little critters has burrowed into the fur. “Tick bites are common in cats that go outside, especially if the cat roams around in bushes or tall grass,” says veterinarian Sonja Hermann.
The problem is that these tiny parasites can transmit dangerous diseases, with a seemingly harmless sting leading to expensive treatment in a serious case.
Read on to find out how to protect your furry friends from ticks, what pet owners need to watch out for after a bite, what costs may arise from complications – and how plans like Sanitas Premium can help ease the financial burden.
How do I find ticks in my cat’s fur?
Regular checks, especially during tick season from spring through to autumn, are an important way to detect ticks in your pet’s fur. To do this, we recommend a combination of feeling, combing and visual checks. Since cats groom themselves, parasites are often found in hidden places: on their head and ears, the throat and neck, the armpits, around the groin, and between the toes.
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Feel
Stroke your cat’s fur after every time it goes outside. Ticks that have fed feel like small, firm bumps. Also look for scabs, swelling, or small wounds – these may indicate a bite.
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Comb
A comb can be helpful, especially for long-haired cats, to work through the fur thoroughly.
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Look closely
You can use your mobile phone’s magnifying glass function to spot even the tiniest ticks. The “Invert” filter reverses the colours on the display so that dark ticks stand out more clearly against light skin or light fur.
My cat has a tick – what should I do?
If you find a tick, you should remove it quickly to minimise the risk of disease transmission. Hermann says, “You can easily do this yourself. It’s important to act as quickly as possible and not to squeeze the tick while removing it.”
The easiest way is to use special tick tweezers or a tick hook. To do this, grasp the tick close to the skin and pull slowly and steadily until it comes loose. Do not use oil, alcohol or glue.
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Time
The longer the tick remains attached, the higher the risk of pathogen transmission. Ideally, it should be removed as soon as it is discovered, preferably on the same day after your cat has been outside.
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Tool
To avoid squeezing the tick, you should never try to pull it out with your bare fingers. These medical aids are useful:
- Tick hook: Carefully slide the hook under the tick’s body, as close to the skin as possible. The parasite can then be removed with a gentle levering or pulling motion. It is important not to apply any pressure to the tick’s body.
- Tick tweezers: Place the tweezers as close to the skin as possible to grasp the tick by its mouthparts. Then pull it out slowly and evenly – straight or with a slight twisting motion, depending on the model.
- Fine-tipped tweezers: Tweezers are only suitable if they are very fine and pointed. Flat-nosed tweezers are not suitable.
- Tick card or tick spoon: These flat aids are particularly well-suited for smooth areas of skin. Place the card on the cat’s skin and slide it towards the tick. The card has a narrow notch into which the tick is guided and then pushed further in.
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How to proceed
No matter what tool you use, it is important to grasp the tick as close to its mouthparts as possible and remove it – without squeezing its body. Whether you pull or twist isn’t that important. What matters is a smooth, careful pull without jerking.
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Follow-up care
After removal, the puncture site should be thoroughly disinfected. Observe the bite area over the next few days. Do you notice redness, swelling or inflammation? Mild irritation is normal and should soon subside. If the area looks unusual, oozes pus or if your cat shows changes in behaviour, take it to the vet.
Are ticks dangerous for my cat?
Not every tick bite is a problem. But they can pose a health risk because ticks sometimes transmit pathogens. In rare cases, serious complications may arise, such as infections caused by transmitted bacteria and parasites (see below).
So be sure to apply tick protection to your cat before letting it go outside, check it for ticks afterwards, remove any ticks immediately and keep an eye on your cat.
Can the ticks on my cat spread to me or my children?
Many people worry, because since ticks aren’t host-specific, they can fall off a cat and find a new host – including humans. Especially if a tick is still hungry and hasn’t attached itself yet, it can transfer to us humans once it has been brought into the house.
However, if you vacuum regularly and thoroughly clean sleeping areas and covers, you can reduce the risk of getting a tick.
What are the possible consequences of a tick bite?
There’s no need to panic. The good news for cat owners is that cats appear to be less susceptible to tick-borne diseases than dogs.
Also, most tick bites in cats cause no problems. Important: the better informed you are, the sooner you will be able to recognise potential complications. The following complications may occur:
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Borreliosis (Lyme disease)
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that ticks can transmit when feeding on blood. “The pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi has been detected in cats. A link to the following symptoms is suspected, but has neither been confirmed nor ruled out. The data is clearer when it comes to dogs,” says Hermann.
Possible symptoms include:
- Fever
- Fatigue and weakness
- Lameness or joint pain
- Loss of appetite
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Babesiosis / Cytauxzoon felis
Babesiosis is a disease of the red blood cells. It is transmitted by ticks and can lead to anaemia. “However, babesiosis is not a factor among cats in Europe. Instead, a related parasite is present: Cytauxzoon felis. It causes symptoms similar to those of babesiosis in dogs.”
- Exhaustion
- Loss of appetite
- Very high temperature
- Jaundice
- Shortness of breath
- Anaemia
- Death within three weeks of infection (one week after the onset of symptoms)
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Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis affects certain blood cells and can trigger inflammatory reactions in the body. If detected early, it can usually be treated effectively.
Typical symptoms:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Lameness
- Swollen lymph nodes
When should I take my cat to the vet?
It is advisable to see a vet if the bite site is red, swollen or inflamed. If your cat appears ill after being bitten, for example, if it has a fever, is lethargic, loses its appetite or is limping, this should be checked promptly.
If parts of the tick remain embedded in the skin, a brief veterinary examination is also advisable.
Prevention: how can I protect my cat in the long run?
“The very best protection comes from antiparasitic medications prescribed by a vet,” says Sonja Hermann. “For example, there are various products designed to be applied directly to the skin (spot-ons); some also provide protection against fleas and other parasites. I recommend consulting your vet for personalised advice on the best protection.”
Important: Never use products intended for dogs on cats, as some antiparasitic medications for dogs are highly toxic to cats.
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Spot-on treatments
Spot-on treatments are applied to the skin as drops. Depending on the product, the active ingredients provide protection against ticks for two to twelve weeks. They are easy to use and are among the most commonly used methods of protection.
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Tick collars for cats
Tick collars release active ingredients designed to repel parasites. They usually provide protection for several months.
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Tick sprays for cats
Tick sprays are applied directly to the fur and can keep ticks away for a short time. They are particularly suitable for use outdoors. The effect usually lasts only a few hours.
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Tick prevention tablets for cats
The active ingredient enters the cat’s body through the bloodstream. If a tick bites, it is killed. This method is used less frequently with cats, in part because it is easier to apply something directly to a cat’s skin.
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Natural alternatives
Some cat owners rely on natural remedies such as coconut oil or herbal sprays. Their effectiveness against ticks has not been scientifically proven.
For this reason, Hermann also warns against relying on them: “I advise against using home remedies because they do not provide reliable protection and may even be harmful.”
Cost coverage: which costs are covered by pet insurance?
“Diseases that can be transmitted by tick bites are particularly dangerous. And treating these diseases can be very expensive under certain circumstances,” says Hermann.
Good to know: Sanitas pet insurance covers up to CHF 100 per year for prevention under its Premium category of insurance. This also includes flea and tick prevention. In the event of illness, Sanitas pet insurance covers 90% of the treatment costs in both categories of insurance.
Conclusion
Ticks are a part of everyday life for many outdoor cats, but you can significantly reduce the risk of your pet becoming seriously ill.
If you check your cat regularly, remove ticks quickly, and use effective protection, you’ve already done a lot to ensure that your furry friend can continue to explore the world outside safely for a long time to come.
Dr Sonja Hermann is a veterinarian and has been working at Sanitas since February 2026 as a claims specialist in veterinary services. There, she is responsible for processing and reviewing complex claims, coordinating and communicating with external partners such as veterinary practices, and overseeing quality assurance and knowledge management within Sanitas pet insurance.
