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Are cats susceptible to tick-related diseases?

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Are cats susceptible to tick-related diseases?

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Dogs can get serious illnesses from ticks. But what about cats? Cats are highly fastidious by nature, so if they’re walking outside through high grass and accidentally pick up a tick, they usually remove it before too long. That makes tick-transmitted diseases much less common in cats than in dogs.

But from time to time, your furry feline may wander in with a tick attached. If the tick is prominently displayed, remove it promptly by grasping it firmly as close to the cat’s skin as possible. Pull it straight out, like you would a splinter, to make sure you remove the tick’s mouthparts.

If ticks are a common problem for your cat, ask your veterinarian to recommend a repellant.

-Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the "Purina® Animal Instincts" Podcast Series

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