Best way to keep ticks off of a cat?

June 10, 2007 10:52 PM

What's the best way to keep ticks off of an active, outdoorsy cat (brand recommendations welcome)? Also, is there anything we can spray around her perch to keep any ticks that do hitch a ride from jumping off in the house? (Am already experienced in removing them once we find them, but she seems to pick up the really tiny sort.)
posted by anaelith to pets & animals (11 comments total)

"TopSpot" Isn't that what it's called? Used to put it on my dog. It's pretty horrible stuff (from reading the warning on it) but it worked a charm.

We got it from our vet.
posted by From Bklyn at 1:02 AM on June 11, 2007

Yes, Top-Spot or one of the many competitors, is what you want. Flea and Tick coverage is the key. Have you ever had a flea infestation in your house? Now that is some fun, oh boy.
posted by caddis at 3:29 AM on June 11, 2007

Frontline for cats, weight-based.
posted by cahlers at 4:14 AM on June 11, 2007

FYI, The really tiny ticks are probably the Deer tick that is associated with Limes Disease. So when you are done checking kitty check yourselves.
posted by Gungho at 4:18 AM on June 11, 2007

I learned more than I ever wanted to know about ticks last summer when we dealt with hundreds of ticks on my two dogs.

If you don't remove the ticks, they will drop off when they are full and ready to enter the next stage of their life cycle. At the last stage they drop off and lay thousands of eggs. You really don't want that happening in your house (or in your pet's ear).

You may want to check with your veterinarian. My vet prescribed Frontline. Easy to apply (monthly for tick coverage with dogs) and seems to work - have only seen one tick so far this summer.

In addition to very frequent grooming/tick checks (be sure to check between the toes and in the ears and on yourself as well) I also used a bedding spray (Zodiac?) and vacuumed daily.

Those tiny ticks may be immature dog ticks (which can infest cats, but are far more likely to be found on rodents and dogs), but you should read up on deer ticks (pinhead size) and Lyme disease if you are in an area where these are prevalent. The CDC also offers a Tick Management Handbook (.pdf) which can be found here.
posted by zoel at 4:41 AM on June 11, 2007

We've had some baaaaaad tick seasons here in the past, and with as dry as this one's started--it's probably going to be bad too. I've used frontline, revolution (better than frontline!), advantix, etc etc. We have a local smallish dog store here (and a petco), and the smallish store carries a collar specifically for ticks that I used in addition to monthly treatments. It's really all I use now, as my dogs seem to not get fleas for whatever reason.

Anyway, not sure if there's a cat variant, but it's called something like "tick arrest", it's a gray collar that's really JUST for ticks---and it's awesome. One day lots of ticks, next day no ticks. 3 months later, no ticks. It can even get wet and whatnot. Sorry I'm not more help, but I'd ask your local petstore.
posted by TomMelee at 5:26 AM on June 11, 2007

My vet recommends Frontline or Advantage for your cat. There are some differences between the two medications -- I believe Advantage is recommended if your pet already HAS ticks and/or fleas because it kills the adult insects. Both kill the eggs and repel the insects from getting on your pet in the first place.

They apply topically, so it's easier than the earlier oral medications -- you just apply it in between the cat's shoulders, where they can't lick it. My cats tolerate getting dosed as well as can be expected.

I started using Frontline after one of my cats started coming home with a tick or two on a regular basis, and now it's not the slightest problem.
posted by briank at 5:50 AM on June 11, 2007

Revolution supposedly also protects against heartworm, which is another big worry for outdoor cats.

Hmmm, actually their site doesn't mention ticks at all for the cat product, though it does on the page for the dog product.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 6:30 AM on June 11, 2007

We had to de-flea both our cats twice in the last year (indoor cats, but the damn fleas are so bad they were tracked in on our shoes from outside). Advantage or Frontline is your best option. The other brands either don't work, are toxic to your cat, or both.

Ask a vet. He/she will tell you which one you want. I want to say we went with the Frontline Plus but I honestly can't remember. All I know is that it worked wonders - turns your cat into a walking flea bomb, without hurting your pet's health.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:36 AM on June 11, 2007

I’ve had good luck with Frontline Plus, bought on eBay. It won’t stop the occasional tick from hitching a ride into your house, but its good stuff.
posted by Huplescat at 8:04 AM on June 11, 2007

Thanks guys! We've been using Bio Spot Spot On, which seems to be similar to Frontline as far as ingredients go, but not as concentrated. (It is the stuff you dab on between the shoulders, and the box says that it's good against ticks.) Anyway, it doesn't really seem to work at all, so I think I'll try Frontline and a collar.

Another part of the problem is that she really "owns" my grandfather and spends most of her time with him, and he is too vain to wear the glasses that he needs. (Me: There is a tick on your cat! Why haven't you pulled it off yet? Him: What tick?)
posted by anaelith at 9:17 AM on June 11, 2007