Yes, cats absolutely get ticks. In a national survey of veterinary practices across 18 U.S. states, 796 ticks were collected from 332 cats over just 14 months. The most common tick found on cats was the deer tick, accounting for 53% of all specimens, followed by the lone star tick at 28% and the American dog tick at 16.5%. Ticks on cats are common, underrecognized, and capable of transmitting serious diseases.
Which Ticks Target Cats
Cats are fair game for most of the same hard ticks that bite dogs and humans. The deer tick (also called the black-legged tick) is the one most frequently pulled off cats, found on nearly half of infested cats in national surveys. The lone star tick is the second most common, collected from about 30% of cats with ticks in every month except the coldest winter months. The American dog tick, despite its name, commonly attaches to cats throughout its range. Brown dog ticks occasionally latch onto cats too, though they strongly prefer dogs.
A newer arrival, the longhorned tick (originally from East Asia), also readily infests cats in areas where it has become established. Ticks tend to attach around a cat’s head, neck, ears, and along the back. In one large Australian study of over 10,000 tick cases, ticks were most often found on cats’ necks specifically, compared to dogs where the head was the primary site.
Indoor Cats Are Not Immune
One of the more surprising findings from tick research is that indoor cats get ticks too. In the national veterinary survey, about 22% of cats with ticks spent 30% or less of their time outdoors, and 10 cats were reported as entirely indoor. Ticks can hitch a ride into your home on your clothing, shoes, or on a dog that shares the household. A single tick that drops off you after a hike can find its way to a cat resting nearby.
That said, outdoor access dramatically increases the risk. Most infested cats in the survey spent the majority of their time outside, and male cats were slightly more likely to pick up ticks (58.8% of cases), likely because of their tendency to roam farther.
Peak Tick Season for Cats
Ticks were collected from cats in every month of the year, but infestations peak twice. The biggest spike happens in May and June, which accounted for 42.5% of all ticks submitted. A second peak follows in October and November, with 35.9% of submissions. These windows align with the life cycles of deer ticks and lone star ticks, which have active nymph and adult stages at different times of year. If your cat goes outdoors, these are the months to be most vigilant about checking for ticks.
Diseases Ticks Transmit to Cats
Ticks aren’t just a nuisance for cats. They carry pathogens that cause genuine, sometimes fatal illness. The diseases most commonly transmitted to cats through tick bites include:
- Feline infectious anemia: causes anemia, fever, and jaundice by destroying red blood cells
- Bobcat fever (cytauxzoonosis): causes anemia, fever, and jaundice, and is nearly 100% fatal in domestic cats without treatment
- Babesiosis: leads to anemia, breathing difficulty, and neurologic problems
- Tularemia (rabbit fever): causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, abdominal tenderness, and abscesses (less commonly diagnosed)
- Ehrlichiosis: causes eye discharge, breathing difficulty, swollen joints, and fever (less commonly diagnosed)
Bobcat Fever Is the Biggest Threat
Bobcat fever deserves special attention because of how deadly it is. In domestic cats, the infection is fatal nearly 100% of the time without aggressive treatment, with death occurring 9 to 15 days after infection. There is no vaccine. The disease is transmitted by the lone star tick and is most prevalent in the southern United States, particularly Arkansas and Missouri, where 12 to 15% of apparently healthy domestic cats tested positive for the parasite. The lone star tick’s range is expanding northward, bringing bobcat fever into new regions.
Critically, transmission can happen fast. Research has shown that the parasite responsible for bobcat fever can pass from an infected lone star tick to a cat in as little as 36 to 48 hours of attachment. That means a tick that goes unnoticed for just two days could deliver a fatal infection.
How to Find and Remove Ticks
Run your fingers slowly through your cat’s fur after they’ve been outside, paying close attention to the neck, ears, head, and along the spine. Ticks feel like small, firm bumps on the skin. Part the fur to get a clear look, since ticks on cats can be as small as a sesame seed (nymphs) or as large as a pea when engorged.
To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist, squeeze the body, or try to burn it off. If the mouthparts break off in the skin, try to remove them with the tweezers, but if you can’t get them out easily, leave them alone and let the skin heal. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water afterward. Save the tick in a sealed bag or container in case your vet wants to identify the species later.
Tick Prevention for Cats
Several topical preventatives are available for cats, and most provide about four weeks of protection per application. Products containing fipronil are among the most widely used for cats and maintain roughly 91% effectiveness against parasites through the end of the treatment period. Your vet can recommend a product suited to your cat’s lifestyle and region.
One critical safety warning: never use a dog tick product on a cat. Many dog tick treatments contain permethrin, a compound that is extremely toxic to cats. Even small amounts can cause severe reactions. In a study of 42 cats exposed to permethrin, 86% developed tremors or muscle twitching, 33% had seizures, and 12% experienced temporary blindness. Other signs include drooling, loss of coordination, and fever. Complications occurred in a third of cases, including dangerously low body temperature, aspiration pneumonia, and in the worst cases, respiratory or cardiac arrest. There is no correlation between the amount applied and how severe the reaction will be, meaning even a small exposure can be life-threatening. If your cat comes into contact with a permethrin product, whether applied directly or picked up from contact with a recently treated dog, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.