Lyme disease is an illness that is mainly transmitted by deer ticks in the United States. It can affect domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. It’s one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world, so it’s important to know the signs of an infection and how it’s spread. Fortunately for cat owners, this disease is uncommon in cats. However, it’s still a serious and potentially fatal disease. Even though Lyme disease is rarely seen in cats, they can still be infected. Since transmission to cats is possible, knowing what to do to prevent it from happening is the most effective way to keep your cat safe. Let’s take a look at the symptoms of Lyme disease, the treatment for this illness, and what you can do to prevent it from infecting your cat.
How Is Lyme Disease Spread? Image Credit: Hanna Taniukevich, Shutterstock Lyme disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. Ticks do not carry Lyme disease itself. They can only carry — and spread — the bacteria that cause it. Not all ticks are infected with the bacteria, so if you find a tick on your cat, it doesn’t mean the cat was exposed to Lyme disease. A tick must feed on an animal or person already infected with the bacteria to become infected themselves. When a tick selects a host, they grasp onto the skin using small barbs and sometimes secrete a glue-like substance to attach themselves. This is why it can be difficult to pull ticks off of the skin. Their saliva contains numbing agents so their hosts can’t feel the tick while it feeds, and they can stay attached for several days. If the host has infected blood, the ticks will absorb the bacteria. They then become infected and can transmit the infection to their next hosts through biting and feeding. Immature ticks, called nymphs, are mainly responsible for transmission because they are smaller than adult ticks and more difficult to notice. The larger, adult ticks are easier to spot when they are attached to your animal’s skin, especially if they have light-colored, short fur. When adult ticks are spotted, they can be removed quickly. Once a tick is attached to the skin, the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi takes place between 18–48 hours. Younger ticks have a better chance than adult ticks of going unnoticed on an animal for that long.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Cats Image Credit: natata, Shutterstock Some cats with Lyme disease never show any symptoms of the disease. If you have found ticks on your cat, consult your veterinarian and be on the lookout for symptoms, which can take up to 4 weeks to occur. Since symptoms aren’t always present in an infected cat, your vet may want to perform diagnostic tests, including blood tests, to determine if they have the disease. Lameness due to joint inflammation is one symptom of Lyme disease. Cats can experience lameness in one leg that occurs for a few days and then disappears, only to return weeks later in a different leg. This “shifting-leg lameness” is a sign that your cat needs to be seen by a vet right away. Cats can also experience dysfunction and inflammation of the blood filters in the kidneys. That can lead to total kidney failure, and cats will have symptoms that include vomiting, weight loss, lack of appetite, increased thirst, and fluid buildup in their body tissues. Other symptoms include:
Lethargy
Fatigue
Stiffness in joints and arched back
Difficulty breathing
Abnormal heart function
Sensitivity to touch
Fever
Diagnosing Lyme Disease in Cats Image Credit: Stock Asso, Shutterstock If you suspect that your cat has Lyme disease, your vet will want to go over your cat’s history with you. That will include your cat’s medical history, when you first noticed symptoms, how often your cat goes outside, the areas that they frequent outdoors, and anything else that may have led to the infection. They will also inspect the tick-bite site to see if pieces of the tick remain in the skin and how the wound appears to be healing. A blood test is the most common way of diagnosing Lyme disease, although other laboratory tests may be performed. X-rays may sometimes be used to see the severity of the joint inflammation. If your cat has been positively diagnosed with Lyme disease, your vet will discuss a treatment plan with you. Treatment of Lyme Disease in Cats Usually, outpatient treatment is effective at treating cats with Lyme disease. When the disease is caught early, many cats respond quickly to the medication. Antibiotics are prescribed and the cat will remain on them for 4 weeks. If necessary, pain medication may also be prescribed. Do not give your cat anything unless it’s been approved by your veterinarian. If the first round of antibiotics doesn’t work to treat the disease, a second round may be added. Clinical signs of the disease may clear up completely, but in some cases, the symptoms don’t totally resolve. Even after a full course of treatment, long-lasting joint pain and inflammation can remain. If the disease is left untreated in cats for a prolonged period, it may take much longer to treat. It may also take longer for your cat to recover. Untreated Lyme disease can cause irreversible damage to tissue and joints, mainly in the limbs.
Preventing Lyme Disease in Cats Image Credit: Konstantin Aksenov, Shutterstock While a vaccine exists to prevent Lyme disease in dogs, one does not exist for cats. That means you’ll have to be diligent about protecting your cat from this disease yourself. The easiest prevention is not allowing your cat to explore outdoors in tick-infested areas. However, ticks can find their way to cats that are indoors, so this method isn’t foolproof. Tick control is the key to preventing Lyme disease infections. Perform regular checks of your cat’s skin, especially during grooming and whenever your cat returns from being outdoors. Check yourself when you return, as ticks can be brought into the house on your skin or clothing. Using a grooming tool specifically designed to find ticks can be helpful when brushing your cat. Always wear gloves when searching for ticks, and remove any ticks you find by hand, being careful to remove every part of the tick from your cat’s skin. You can use tweezers to help you pry the ticks off of your cat. If you do find ticks, dispose of them in rubbing alcohol. Tick repellents, such as collars and sprays, can be used to help keep your cat safe, but always check with your veterinarian to be sure they are safe to use. Topical preventative treatments should always be used only according to the directions.
See Also: Can Cats Have Down Syndrome? (Causes, Symptoms & Treatment)
Final Thoughts While Lyme disease is uncommon in cats, it can still affect them if they are bitten by infected ticks. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause irreversible damage and can potentially be fatal. Take your cat to the vet immediately if you suspect that they’ve been infected. Preventing Lyme disease in your cat includes checking them regularly for ticks, using over-the-counter repellents, and staying vigilant about the areas in which your cat roams outdoors. Be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease. With early detection, Lyme disease can be treated and your cat can make a full recovery.
Featured Image Credit: anastasya perfenyuk, Shutterstock
Lyme disease is an illness that is mainly transmitted by deer ticks in the United States. It can affect domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. It’s one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world, so it’s important to know the signs of an infection and how it’s spread.
Fortunately for cat owners, this disease is uncommon in cats. However, it’s still a serious and potentially fatal disease. Even though Lyme disease is rarely seen in cats, they can still be infected. Since transmission to cats is possible, knowing what to do to prevent it from happening is the most effective way to keep your cat safe.
Let’s take a look at the symptoms of Lyme disease, the treatment for this illness, and what you can do to prevent it from infecting your cat.
How Is Lyme Disease Spread?
Lyme disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. Ticks do not carry Lyme disease itself. They can only carry — and spread — the bacteria that cause it. Not all ticks are infected with the bacteria, so if you find a tick on your cat, it doesn’t mean the cat was exposed to Lyme disease. A tick must feed on an animal or person already infected with the bacteria to become infected themselves.
When a tick selects a host, they grasp onto the skin using small barbs and sometimes secrete a glue-like substance to attach themselves. This is why it can be difficult to pull ticks off of the skin. Their saliva contains numbing agents so their hosts can’t feel the tick while it feeds, and they can stay attached for several days. If the host has infected blood, the ticks will absorb the bacteria. They then become infected and can transmit the infection to their next hosts through biting and feeding.
Immature ticks, called nymphs, are mainly responsible for transmission because they are smaller than adult ticks and more difficult to notice. The larger, adult ticks are easier to spot when they are attached to your animal’s skin, especially if they have light-colored, short fur. When adult ticks are spotted, they can be removed quickly. Once a tick is attached to the skin, the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi takes place between 18–48 hours. Younger ticks have a better chance than adult ticks of going unnoticed on an animal for that long.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Cats
Some cats with Lyme disease never show any symptoms of the disease. If you have found ticks on your cat, consult your veterinarian and be on the lookout for symptoms, which can take up to 4 weeks to occur. Since symptoms aren’t always present in an infected cat, your vet may want to perform diagnostic tests, including blood tests, to determine if they have the disease.
Lameness due to joint inflammation is one symptom of Lyme disease. Cats can experience lameness in one leg that occurs for a few days and then disappears, only to return weeks later in a different leg. This “shifting-leg lameness” is a sign that your cat needs to be seen by a vet right away.
Cats can also experience dysfunction and inflammation of the blood filters in the kidneys. That can lead to total kidney failure, and cats will have symptoms that include vomiting, weight loss, lack of appetite, increased thirst, and fluid buildup in their body tissues.
Other symptoms include:
Lethargy
Fatigue
Stiffness in joints and arched back
Difficulty breathing
Abnormal heart function
Sensitivity to touch
Fever
Lethargy
Fatigue
Stiffness in joints and arched back
Difficulty breathing
Abnormal heart function
Sensitivity to touch
Fever
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Stiffness in joints and arched back
- Difficulty breathing
- Abnormal heart function
- Sensitivity to touch
- Fever
Diagnosing Lyme Disease in Cats
If you suspect that your cat has Lyme disease, your vet will want to go over your cat’s history with you. That will include your cat’s medical history, when you first noticed symptoms, how often your cat goes outside, the areas that they frequent outdoors, and anything else that may have led to the infection. They will also inspect the tick-bite site to see if pieces of the tick remain in the skin and how the wound appears to be healing.
A blood test is the most common way of diagnosing Lyme disease, although other laboratory tests may be performed. X-rays may sometimes be used to see the severity of the joint inflammation.
If your cat has been positively diagnosed with Lyme disease, your vet will discuss a treatment plan with you.
Treatment of Lyme Disease in Cats
Usually, outpatient treatment is effective at treating cats with Lyme disease. When the disease is caught early, many cats respond quickly to the medication. Antibiotics are prescribed and the cat will remain on them for 4 weeks. If necessary, pain medication may also be prescribed. Do not give your cat anything unless it’s been approved by your veterinarian. If the first round of antibiotics doesn’t work to treat the disease, a second round may be added.
Clinical signs of the disease may clear up completely, but in some cases, the symptoms don’t totally resolve. Even after a full course of treatment, long-lasting joint pain and inflammation can remain.
If the disease is left untreated in cats for a prolonged period, it may take much longer to treat. It may also take longer for your cat to recover. Untreated Lyme disease can cause irreversible damage to tissue and joints, mainly in the limbs.
Preventing Lyme Disease in Cats
While a vaccine exists to prevent Lyme disease in dogs, one does not exist for cats. That means you’ll have to be diligent about protecting your cat from this disease yourself.
The easiest prevention is not allowing your cat to explore outdoors in tick-infested areas. However, ticks can find their way to cats that are indoors, so this method isn’t foolproof. Tick control is the key to preventing Lyme disease infections.
Perform regular checks of your cat’s skin, especially during grooming and whenever your cat returns from being outdoors. Check yourself when you return, as ticks can be brought into the house on your skin or clothing.
Using a grooming tool specifically designed to find ticks can be helpful when brushing your cat. Always wear gloves when searching for ticks, and remove any ticks you find by hand, being careful to remove every part of the tick from your cat’s skin. You can use tweezers to help you pry the ticks off of your cat. If you do find ticks, dispose of them in rubbing alcohol.
Tick repellents, such as collars and sprays, can be used to help keep your cat safe, but always check with your veterinarian to be sure they are safe to use. Topical preventative treatments should always be used only according to the directions.
- See Also: Can Cats Have Down Syndrome? (Causes, Symptoms & Treatment)
Final Thoughts
While Lyme disease is uncommon in cats, it can still affect them if they are bitten by infected ticks. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause irreversible damage and can potentially be fatal. Take your cat to the vet immediately if you suspect that they’ve been infected.
Preventing Lyme disease in your cat includes checking them regularly for ticks, using over-the-counter repellents, and staying vigilant about the areas in which your cat roams outdoors.
Be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease. With early detection, Lyme disease can be treated and your cat can make a full recovery.
Featured Image Credit: anastasya perfenyuk, Shutterstock
