The warmer months mean beaches and BBQs but there’s one unfortunate arrival during this time that isn’t so welcome.  Paralysis ticks are terrible parasites that can  put our cat’s health at risk and in some cases, can even be fatal.  It’s important to know how to protect your cat during tick season as prevention is critical to  helping your cat avoid them.

Where Do Paralysis Ticks* Come From?

While more common in the warmer months, your pet can be affected by paralysis ticks all year round.  Paralysis ticks typically live in long grass, beaches, sand dunes, or bushland.  Although your cat may not be exploring  where ticks commonly live, your cat can easily pick up ticks from other animals.  You may also unwittingly bring them into your home where they can find their way onto your cat from your clothes or shoes.

What is Tick Paralysis?

When a tick attaches to your pet, it can cause paralysis when the toxin produced by the paralysis tick is transmitted to the pet in the tick’s saliva (when the paralysis tick feeds). The toxin directly affects the pet’s nervous system. Paralysis ticks are often un-noticed on your pet until they start to show clinical signs. Once your pet is showing signs, they can become paralysed in a matter of hours.  Tick paralysis can be fatal and needs immediate attention, so look for these early warning signs and call your vet ASAP!

Signs of Tick Paralysis

Keep an eye out for these signs of tick paralysis in your pet:

• Drooling
• Lethargy
• Wobbly legs
• Vomiting
• Ragged breathing and coughing
• Change in bark or meow
• Your pet may also collapse.

How to Spot a Tick

Ticks are very good at hiding and can be hard to spot — especially if your pet has a longer coat. Checking your pet’s fur regularly is a great habit, especially during the warmer months.  Simply run your hands through your pet’s coat to carefully feel for any lumps or bumps. Ensure you check all parts of your pet, including in and around tricky spots like the ears, between the toes and around the mouth.  These are the spots ticks often like to hide in.

Paralysis ticks appear different to other ticks. They have their legs close to the head and their body is often grey in colour — however, this is an unreliable identifying feature, as they can also be darker in colour.

You can also use a small comb to brush through your pet’s hair. Just be extra careful not to brush too hard — you don’t want to separate a tick’s head from its body if you come across one.

What’s the Best Way to Prevent Ticks?

It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your  cat’s environment. This includes things like performing regular tick searches and keeping your lawn and garden well maintained.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely prevent our cats from coming into contact with ticks, so the best way to protect them is by treating them regularly with a paralysis tick prevention product.

What About Other Parasites?

When it comes to cats and parasite protection, less is definitely more.  You have a special bond with your cat and treating for parasites can be stressful for you and your cat.  So it makes sense to use a product that not only covers all the main parasites but is the longest lasting treatment available which means less treatments and less stressful moments for you and your cat.