How to remove a tick from a cat

Do you know how to safely remove ticks from your cat to keep them healthy, comfortable, and protected from disease?

Overview

If you’ve found a tick on your cat, don’t panic, but don’t wait either. Ticks can pass on infections to both cats and humans, so it’s best to remove them as soon as you spot them.

To remove a tick from a cat, use a tick remover tool or fine-tipped tweezers to grip the tick by its body, twist gently (if using a tick remover), or pull straight up (if using tweezers). Avoid squeezing the tick’s body. Clean the bite area and monitor your cat for signs of irritation or illness.

Why removing ticks quickly matters

What does a tick look like?

What you’ll need

Step-by-step: how to remove a tick from a cat

Prevention is better than cure

Medically reviewed by Lizzie Youens

Published on 19/06/2025 • Reviewed on 19/06/2025