Tick on Cat

[sfreeman8]

Don't know what to do. There is a feral cat that we've tried getting close to for 2 years. it's finally happening. Since hubby is in the garage every day, she now sits by him every day and even 'allows' him to pet her, but not overly loving yet.  She won't allow him to pick her up or hold her. She's such a free spirit.

 The other day, while petting her around the ears, he felt a tick. She won't hold still to get it off with the tick "scissors" we had for our dog so he can't get it off her. She 'allowed' me to pet her the other day, too, and when I did, I felt a tick (but hopefully was a burr) on her tail. I'm not up there every day so I was really surprised when she came to me, too. I think the cane used to scare her. Maybe it's because I gave her space while she was with my hubby, but I did talk to her a lot, too.

Anyone have any ideas on how we can get rid of her ticks without destroying the 2 years of trust we have built with her?  It has taken soooo long for her to build trust, more so than the other ferals we "adopted."

[UGetPaid]

My sister works at an animal rescue shelter in PA.  I will forward this to her to see is she has any ideas.

[UGetPaid]

This is the response I got:


There’s no easy way to do that- either the remover will be bitten or the cat will be further fearful or both.  It may be easier to get a topical flea/tick product to squirt on the cat monthly and just let these ones fall off after they have fed.

Feral cats just don’t like to be touched in general- if the cat has not yet been TNR (Trapped Neutered Released) then they may want to see if they can do that and the ticks can be removed while the cat is in surgery.
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Either way, I don't know if there is an option which will maintain the current trust level obtained.

[sfreeman8]

Thanks for trying. I've thought about the liquid products. She might hold still for that, but I definitely don't want to destroy the trust we had built up in the past 2 years. As of now, hubby has put some grease on the tick. Sometimes that does work, but it's a very slow process (and messy).

I won't do the TNR route because our local rescue doesn't release. They lie, steal pets, and euthanize a lot of rescues, whether they can be saved or not. I've had a lot of fights with them and other people have had the same thing happen to them.

We will keep building trust and sooner or later, she may become an insider. She did come down onto the porch last night and laid there in front of the door for a while. That's a big change.

[ccandpam]

They have come out with a flea and tick pill (You can only get it at the vet). You could crush it up in her food. That way you know she has taken all of it. This is a once a month treatment. I wish you luck and God Bless you.

[dogsleash]

my advice advantick  fle and tick on teh back of teh neck should do the trick.

[countrygirl12]

Eventually the tick will fall off on it's on.

[aflyingmonkey]

Get some Diatomaceous Earth (food grade) and pour it around your yard.  It will get rid of the ticks in your yard.

If you can discretely put it on the cat when you pet him/her that would be beneficial.  Even if she ingests it, by licking, that would be beneficial. 

I thank people like you for caring about the little kitty

I

[nadinastarr]

I agree with aflyingmonkey. That should do the trick. The only other method I can think of you might try, which she will not like, is soaking a cotton ball in lemon juice and holding it on the ticks for a little bit. It should dislodge at that point.

[autumnsparklemom]

I agree with Ugetpaid. Try some of the topical stuff.