Ticks!

[Flymetothetoon]

I've had cats for 17 years and NEVER had an issue with ticks. Maine Coon boy went awol for 48 hours early last week and now he had several.
Advice from Pets at Home was Frontline spot on but it doesn't appear to have killed them.
If I take him to the vet is there something stronger they can use?

I know there are implements you can buy to remove ticks but I'm not confident about doing it correctly plus the fact he is huge so not easy to keep still.

I lnow you said you aren't confident to use a removal tool - but just get a tick twister from any pet shop. Costs only a few pounds and they are dead easy to use.

they aren't hard to remove. Does he never relax & sleep? I've seen people pull ticks off of bigger animals with bare fingers. With tool I've pulled 3 in one night off of DCat. Just do it.

Same here. Couldn't face it either. Took kitty-cat to the vet and they removed the tick situation. Poor kitten very unhappy about it but definitely get rid of the ticks asap! They can make your cat very unwell. Complete and proper removal is very important.

(there are youtube videos showing how to remove but you need proper tools and alcohol rub)

Any recommendations for the easiest tool to use? They are grim and make me feel a bit sick so I think I'd rather pay the vet!

what is alcohol rub supposed to do?

@lljkk

they aren't hard to remove. Does he never relax & sleep? I've seen people pull ticks off of bigger animals with bare fingers. With tool I've pulled 3 in one night off of DCat. Just do it.

Of course but the moment he is touched he wakes and starts trilling and doing cute curly cat moves!

The o’Tom is the best one to use. Cheap and easy. I don’t twist just lever it off as though you were getting a nail out of a floorboard with a claw head hammer. Get a bit of sellotape handy to fold around and trap the tick in and then you can put it in the bin. You can get tick spot on. I think I use advantage. You’ll need to buy it from vet.

Thanks @SwanShaped I will google that tick remover. I already use Advantage spot on for flea control but it doesn't mention tick control on the packaging hence Pets at Home suggesting Frontline.

Do the vets prescribe something stronger?

Nothing over the counter works ime..
We got a big tick off ddog. It was a 3 person job though!!

Yeah there’s one that also does ticks, it specifically mentions ticks on the box. But you have to get it from the vet. Maybe it’s not advantage. Maybe stronghold. You can ask the vet but once it’s on the ticks will die within 24 hours.

It’s called stronghold plus. I don’t use frontline coz fleas are immune where I live.

However I would still get an otom tick remover. We have one in medicine cabinet as the kids get them loads. 🤮

Thank you @SwanShaped I think he will be bundled off to the vets because I don't think the Frontline is making any difference and I'm also worried that they will migrate to my other cats.

Just checked my one and it's an O'tom too - strongly recommended.

Yes, migrate to other cats/you.

Frontline takes 48 hours to kills ticks- hence why they are still there.
Other products that kill ticks are Bravecto ( my preferred choice kills ticks in 4 hours POM), seresto collar ( OTC) and stronghold plus ( POM).

Well I got him into the vet this evening and he removed 5 and they were still alive so the 2 doses of Frontline which was bought OTC did fuck all!
Have a prescription Frontline spray to use on him if we find anymore plus one of those OTom removal thingies.

Stronghold plus treats ticks. I use it as flea treatment (plus it treats some worms)