Tick - Remove Myself or Vets?

[ItMustBeBunnies]

My cat has picked up a tick on her eyelid (that light blob above her eye in the pic). I've put her latest dose of Advocate on her neck (she was due it anyway).

Should I get the tweezers and see if she will let me pull it out? I've read the pages on how to do this without squeezing it etc. or would I be better not risking leaving a bit buried inside and see if I can get her an appointment at the vets tomorrow? Due to work, I could only make the last half hour of opening time, so not sure if an appointment will be possible then or not.

Have you got a Pets at Home in your area? They have an in-house vet (Vets for Pets), open on Sundays, and I've always been able to get a same-day appointment.

I switched from my previous vet, and must say I'm very happy with them.. They are a bit hard sell though, so as long as you're aware of that, and stick to your guns. If DH goes on his own, he brings back a big bag of stuff the vet kindly "gave" him.

I have a problem with that Tick Twister video.
Half the users twist anti-clockwise, half clockwise. Is that right? I thought you were only supposed to twist one way!!

I just pull the feckers straight out like removing a plug.

The tick's mouthparts are symmetrical, so it doesn't matter which direction you twist in as long as you stick to one way. For right handed people, you will usually find it easier to twist clockwise. Remember to twist not pull - I always compare it to taking a corkscrew out of a cork. The natural curve of the mouthparts will ensure it does come out with a twist, but if you pull you are more likely to damage it. We remove ticks for free at my practice too!

When twisting how do you know when it's safe to finally lift away? Some people twisted 1 revolution others twisted many revolutions.

ps: are there any commonly sold tick removal tools to avoid?
Since I have a big stock of Stronghold to get thru, I may as well finally cave & get a sodding tool.
We picked ticks off of people in this household in last month, too. (cringe).

I'd absolutely recommend the little plastic twist tick removers - you generally get two sizes, a little one for small ticks and a bigger one if they're more swollen.

It doesnt' matter which way you twist, and they come away really easily, as Alice says above - don't pull at all. It doesn't hurt (I can tell you this from personal experience ). DDog used to get endless ticks on his face, eyebrows etc when he was younger, matter of moments to take them off.

The tick has gone!

It was still there when I came home from work and fed her. Just looked now and it has disappeared. The skin looks pretty smooth, so I think it has come off cleanly. I just don't know where it fell off .

I was surprised at the first appointment being Wednesday. Generally, I'm really happy with our vets, but I don't think that that was particularly good.

I'll be stocking up on tick removal devices and keeping my fingers crossed that we don't need them!

Thanks for all the advice, suggestions and support.