Ticks are most often found in habitats such as heathland, moors, and woodland. There’s an increased presence in deer parks due to the availability of hosts (animals from which ticks can feed). Cats and dogs with access to the countryside – particularly where there is abundant wildlife – are at an increased risk of ticks. 

Ticks can climb or drop onto pets as they brush past whatever the ticks may be sitting on.

Ticks are spider-like with 8 legs and small egg-shaped bodies that become larger and darker as they fill with blood.

Ticks are tricky to spot amongst your pet’s hair. The most common areas to find ticks on a cat or dog are where there is little hair and thinner skin, such as the face, ears, underarms and between toes.

Cat ticks and dog ticks will appear as grey or brown immobile growths. Sometimes they can be mistaken for warts, but if you look closely, there are key differences. Ticks are narrow at the base where the mouthparts are buried in the skin (whereas warts are wider at the base), they have 8 legs and if you touch them with a gloved finger, they may even move!

As ticks feed on blood their bodies enlarge and they become easier to see.

While tick-borne diseases are more common in dogs, they can also affect cats – and they can cause all manner of problems for pets. 

Lyme disease (borreliosis) is the only disease commonly carried by UK ticks, although a rise in tick infections has revealed new tick species. 

Infected pets may develop a fever, lose their appetite, or show signs of lethargy or arthritis. These symptoms may not manifest for a long time after the infected tick has fallen off.

Regular tick protection for your dog or cat won’t stop a tick from attaching to them (no treatment can do this), but it will prevent disease from being passed on to your pet which is what’s important. Our market-leading and vet-recommended tick treatment options are Frontline Plus and Fleascreen Combo which also protect against fleas.