My vet called me about the Tick

iluvmykittys · Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 107

My vet just called about the tick I found on my cat.
All she said was that she couldn't identofy what kind it was- and that the Health Dept will not identify ticks anymore either. Sad

So- thats that.
She said that "cats are not usually prone to getting the Lyme Disease, but if I wanted him tested I wouls have to wait 4-6 weeks to do it".
Is that true- that Cats usually do not get Lymes disease?? Because Everything I read on the internet says they can get it just as much as dogs/humans.
What should I do??? I am worried for him...he is my Baby!! Sad

Please write back!!!
(Is 4-6 weeks too long to wait for the blood test? Can anythign bad happen between now & 6 weeks?!)

Bente · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject:

The cats my family and relatives had in my childhood came home with ticks all the time, and they were all okay. I don't know if you've got other sorts of ticks where you live though... I don't think you've got anything to worry about, but I'll keep my fingers crossed anyway Smile

Mary_NH · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:46 pm Post subject:

what state are you in?
Deer ticks are the only ones to carry Lyme Disease and they are VERY tiny...I would imagine even fully engorged they wouldn't be all that large.
Dog ticks are the larger ones and when they are fully engorged they almost look like a smallish grape with wiggly legs on them.
I'm gonna have nightmares now

iluvmykittys · Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 107

I live in NY, about 45 mins aboce NYC.
This was about....1/4 inch in length (engorged) not sure how long he had been on my cat- maybe 2-3 days?? Not sure...
But yeah, about 1/4 inch.
He was alight beigh color....and unfortunatly, when we tweezed the Tick, we pulled some of my kitty's hair- so between that, and the Vaseline....I could not see a face or any legs. Plus- I was totally nervous and grossed out- so I was afraid. LOL!!
I hope he is OK.
Hopefully it was a dog tick...not a deer tick.
(Not sure of its original size- what it woudl have looked like BEFORE "Feeding")
Thanks...

coppersmom · Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:08 pm Post subject:

I would have to look it up but I don't think deer ticks are light tan...I think they're brown.