Tick paralysis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that affects cats, especially during peak tick season. Understanding the signs and symptoms of tick paralysis can help cat owners take swift action to protect their pets. However, preventing tick paralysis in cats comes with unique challenges, as not all tick prevention products are safe for felines.
Signs and Symptoms of Tick Paralysis in Cats
Tick paralysis occurs when a tick injects a neurotoxin into a cat’s system while feeding. The toxin affects the nervous system and leads to progressive paralysis. If you notice any of the following signs in your cat, seek veterinary care immediately.
- Weakness or Wobbliness: Cats with tick paralysis may appear uncoordinated, struggle to walk, or have difficulty standing.
- Loss of Appetite: A sudden decrease in appetite or refusal to eat can indicate tick paralysis.
- Changes in Meowing or Vocalisation: Some cats may have a weaker or altered voice due to paralysis affecting their throat muscles.
- Laboured Breathing: As the paralysis progresses, it can affect the respiratory muscles, making breathing difficult.
- Paralysis Progression: The paralysis typically starts in the hind legs and gradually moves upward toward the front legs, neck, and respiratory muscles.
- Dilated Pupils and Weak Reflexes: Cats may have unusually large pupils and slow responses to stimuli.
- Gagging or Difficulty Swallowing: Tick paralysis can impact a cat’s ability to swallow food or water properly.
What to Do If You Suspect Tick Paralysis
If you believe your cat is showing signs of tick paralysis, follow these steps:
Stay Calm and Minimise Stress: Keep your cat as still and comfortable as possible to prevent further progression of paralysis.
Check for Ticks: Carefully inspect your cat’s fur, especially around the head, neck, ears, and underbelly. Ticks are often small and hidden in hard-to-spot areas.
Remove Any Found Ticks: If you locate a tick, remove it immediately using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. Grasp the tick close to the skin and pull it out gently but firmly. Keep the tick in a container and take it with you to the veterinarian for identification.
Seek Immediate Veterinary Care: Even if you remove the tick, the neurotoxin can continue affecting your cat for hours. Veterinary intervention is crucial.
Preventing Tick Paralysis in Cats
Prevention is the best way to protect your cat from tick paralysis, but choosing the right product is essential. Here’s how you can keep your cat safe.
- Use Cat-Safe Tick Prevention Products: Always consult your veterinarian before using any flea or tick prevention product. Some spot-on treatments and collars designed for dogs contain toxic ingredients that should never be used on cats.
- Avoid Permethrin and Pyrethrin Products: Read labels carefully and ensure the product is specifically approved for feline use.
- Check Your Cat Regularly: Perform daily tick checks, especially if your cat spends time outdoors or in tick-prone areas.
- Keep Your Environment Tick-Free: Reduce tick habitats by keeping grass trimmed and avoiding dense brush or leaf piles where ticks thrive.
- Monitor for Accidental Exposure: If you mistakenly apply a dog tick treatment to your cat, wash the affected area with mild detergent and seek veterinary assistance immediately.
Why Tick Prevention is Different for Cats
Unlike dogs, cats have fewer options for safe and effective tick prevention. Many common tick treatments contain insecticides that are toxic to cats due to their unique liver metabolism. One of the most dangerous chemicals for cats is pyrethrin, a natural insecticide derived from chrysanthemum flowers, and its synthetic counterpart, permethrin. These ingredients are commonly found in flea and tick products for dogs, as well as household insecticides.
Even minimal exposure to pyrethrin or permethrin can be extremely harmful to cats, leading to symptoms such as muscle twitching, excessive salivation, and, in severe cases, full-body seizures. These reactions can occur within minutes to hours after exposure and, if left untreated, can be fatal.
When to Seek Veterinary Advice
Tick paralysis is a medical emergency. If your cat shows any signs of tick paralysis, contact your nearest Animal Emergency Service hospital or your local veterinarian immediately. Early treatment greatly improves the chances of recovery.
For more information on tick paralysis, visit our Tick Paralysis Guide.