My husband called me this morning and said that our cat has a tick imbedded in his skin. He's been trying on and off again to get it out, and cannot get it to come out. I've never seen a tick, and pretty sure dh hasn't either, so I am really freaked out. He's tried the match trick (even though it's not recommended), and pulling straight out with tweezers. Also tried smothering in vaseline, nothing is working. The cat is really agitaged now, and is clawing at him (very mellow cat, never clawed anyone before). We called the vet earlier on, and she said to just use tweezers and pull out straight, and not to worry. That if we wanted to bring him in to get it taken out to be safe, the visit would cost over $150! We really don't have that kind of cash. ANY help, tips, or advice is appreciated. Dh is now waiting until I get home to try, and I am so dreading it. I questioned if he was sure it was a tick, and he said he can pretty much guarantee, and it is all read and a little inflamed around it.

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

Hope this helps

Use blunt curved tweezers or a thread.
Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward with a steady, even pressure.
Do not twist or jerk the tick because this may cause the mouth parts to detach and remain in the skin.
You should pull firmly enough to lift up the skin.
Hold this tension for 3 to 4 minutes and the tick will back out.
DO NOT squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick because its fluids may contain bacteria.
Immediately dispose of the tick. If you have any concerns, put the tick in a plastic bag and freeze it. If you get sick you can take the dead tick with you when you see your provider.
Immediately wash your hands and the affected area with soap and water.

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Angels may not come when you call them, but they'll always be there when you need them.

I always use a lot of rubbing alcohol when removing ticks from pets and people. I dunno if it helps make it easier to remove (I never have much trouble doing so), but if I irritate the bite area by tweezing the skin, or might end up leaving a bit of tick behind, I feel like the alcohol will help guard against infection.
Good luck!
MZ

I have alway used alcohol too. Like above poster said, you do not want half of the ticks body still embedded in the skin. Gently but a little firm, pull, and it should come out.


If your vet would charge you $150 to pull a tick out, I would find another vet.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

My husband's been trying since 11 today off and on. I made sure he has been pulling straight out, and he said it's not budging at all. Cat's "skin" is pulling up when he does this as well.

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

My son had a tick last summer and the neighbor helped me get it out (first time I had seen a tick and freaked a little). He used alcohol to douse the area and said it would make the tick back out a little. It did, and he used tweezers to pull it the rest of the way out.

I agree with other posters that $150. is too much!!! I would find another vet

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I wouldn't recommend this for a child, but I have always heard that heat makes the tick suffocate and pull out trying to breathe and you can grab it and pull it out. Make sure to pop it or burn it so it dies and doesn't come back on someone else's body...

Well I got it out. Man it is disgusting looking. I had to have dh hold the cat in his lap, and wrap him in a towel (in case he got upset), and I had to do a really hard tug, and it came out. I tried just pulling it out like they say, and trust me it was really hard, and that got nowhere.

After I took it out, I then put it in alcohol, and you would have sworn it was dead, never saw any movement the entire time. When I went to burn it though, as recommended, I saw it's legs wiggle! ICK! Before I did that, dh thought I was over reacting by wanting to burn it, and suggested just putting it in a plastic bag in our trash (inside!) CRAZY!

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

When you pulled it out, could you see it's head? Because the head stays in if you just pull it out. That's why people said to put alcohol on it to smother it to come out itself. Also, when you burned it, did it "pop"? They will actually pop like a little firecracker. That's what we used to do to them when we were kids. That's to me the only way to know for sure they are dead...

Dh did do the alcohol before I got home..I am not sure if that helped it to come out, or if it was always the way it was when I got home, and that was completely out except for the a few black things sticking off it, like the legs or head or something. I mean it was like hair thickness, but really strong. I put it in alcohol afterwords to inspect it, and it did have a "head" that I could only view from one side. Not sure what kind of tick it actualy was, I can't seem to find any that look exactly like it online.

Yes it popped, it got really saggy, then ballooned up, and popped.

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

Oh my gosh!!! I can't believe your vet would charge you over $150 to remove a tick! I suggest calling around to some other veterinary offices to see how much they would charge.

This happened to my dog a couple of years ago. We tried pulling the tick out and the head got stuck in my dog. I just ran him up to our vet's office and he took the rest of the tick out with no problem. I don't think he even charged me anything at all, if he did, it was only $5 or $10 at the very most. Is your vet quoting that price because she would have to sedate your cat? Then I guess I could understand. If not, then I would suggest finding another vet who is more concerned with the health of the animals instead of making a quick buck.