Lyme Disease and Cats

Lyme Disease and Cats

This tip is all about making cat owners aware of Lyme disease and the risk it poses to our pets.

Lyme disease is borne by ticks, and is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia that is carried by Ixodes ticks. It has been around for a very long time, but only got its name in 1975 after there was an outbreak of humans contracting the disease in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Most infections in the United States are caused by deer ticks that are brown in color and about the size of a pin head. This can make them very difficult to see. The ticks swell to many times their size while feeding before dropping off.

The disease is transmitted much like malaria is transmitted by a mosquito. The tick bites, and the bacteria is transferred in this manner. It should be noted that it takes some time for the bacteria to travel into the cat’s system. These ticks are usually found in woodlands in tall grass, grasslands and low bushes. They usually feed on deer, but can be found on horses, sheep and rodents as well. They prefer to feed on deer, small birds and mice. However, they will bite dogs, cats, humans and horses as an alternative source of nourishment. They are most active in the summer months, but Ruthie mentioned to me that in Minnesota where she is, they are usually active between May and July.

This disease not only affects humans, but can also affect dogs and cats that happen to wander through an area where the ticks might reside. An engorged tick will usually drop from its host and stay in the area where it fell until a new host comes along. When the tick is ready to feed again, it simply climbs onto anything that may be suitable that passes by. It is still rare in Britain, but as the summers are getting hotter there has been an increase in the disease. Because British veterinarians are not very familiar with the symptoms of Lyme disease, it's very often overlooked.

Tick Hot Spots

Here in the States there are hot spots around the country where it has become a problem. In some of these areas, up to fifty percent of deer ticks can carry the disease. Since the disease is so prevalent, it is well documented in veterinary journals and many pet magazines.

Treatment Options

Not all tick bites lead to serious problems in cats, and they can be treated with antibiotics. Treatment works best in the early stages of the disease. Antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease in cats include: amoxicillin, doxycycline, and tetracycline. However, it should be noted that cats that frequent areas where deer ticks are prevalent can be re-infected by being bitten again. There is no vaccine available for cats at the present time in the United States.

The bacteria for Lyme disease can only be transmitted while the tick is feeding. You cannot get Lyme disease from your cat; you have to be bitten by an infected deer tick yourself.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease and Cats

Symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Stiff or painful joints and muscles
• Sudden collapse

Preventing Lyme Disease

A lot of times the only reason Lyme disease is even diagnosed is because the cat has been seen with a tick on it, or a bite mark has been found. Sometimes cats show no signs of the disease at all. Research done in the United States has found that ticks with Lyme disease don’t even start to transmit the disease until after they have been feasting on a host for ten to twelve hours. For this reason, it is important to remove the tick from your cat as soon as it is seen.

Additional Safety Precautions

Many veterinarians suggest keeping your cat indoors to prevent Lyme disease. If you can’t do that, there are tick collars made for cats. Cat flea collars will not kill ticks. NEVER use dog tick collars on cats because they are toxic to felines. If you are in an area where there could be Lyme disease and your cat does go outside, you should check it every day after it comes in to check for ticks or evidence of their bites. Check your cat’s favorite sleeping places regularly for ticks.

Tick Removal

A tick can be removed with tweezers by grasping the tick firmly and twisting. Don’t try to yank or jerk the tick free because this can leave the mouth parts of the tick imbedded in you cat’s skin. If they are left behind, try to remove as soon as possible because they can cause an abscess. While it was thought that using petroleum jelly would suffocate the tick, or using alcohol would make the tick to let go, this can be problematic because the tick can vomit saliva into the bite that may contain the bacteria. If your cat develops odd symptoms after being bitten, make sure to tell your vet about the tick bite.

Is Your Cat at Risk?

• Do you see a tick or tick bite on your cat?
• Does your cat spend outside time near a meadow or woods frequented by deer?
• Does your cat have a low-grade fever?
• Is your cat more lethargic lately?
• Does your cat have anorexia?
• Is your cat moving stiffly or very slowly?
• Does your cat show signs of painful joints or lameness?

If you can answer yes to any of the above, you may want to take your cat to the vet for a blood test to detect the Borrelia bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Lyme disease doesn’t seem to pose a serious threat to cats. They seem to be more immune to it than dogs or humans, however, it can go undiagnosed because it may not be recognized. According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control, cases in the United States have doubled since 1991.

“Remember the animals in your life are not just your pets they’re your friends” WNR

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