Paralysis ticks and cats in Australia: signs, what to do, and prevention

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Cats show tick paralysis differently from dogs, often as a changed meow or a grunt on each breath before any wobbliness. What to look for, what to do the moment you find a tick, what treatment costs, and which products are registered for cats.

The paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) is the most dangerous parasite an Australian cat is likely to meet. Its saliva carries a neurotoxin that progressively paralyses muscles, including the ones the cat breathes with. Most cats survive with prompt treatment. The ones that die are mostly the ones that arrive late, and in cats the early signs are easy to miss.

This guide is written for owners, not as a substitute for a vet. If your cat has a tick and any of the signs below, go to a vet or emergency clinic now, not after reading the rest.

Where and when

The paralysis tick lives along the eastern seaboard, from North Queensland down to Victoria, mostly in bushy coastal areas (RSPCA Knowledgebase; SASH). It is also found in several inland areas (RSPCA NSW). It does not occur in Western Australia (per the NexGard SPECTRA label, linked below).

In the south, the season generally runs from spring to late autumn. In the north it can run all year. PetSure's claims data shows cases climbing from August and peaking in October, November and December (PetSure). Don't treat winter as safe, though: SASH notes cases are regularly reported then, and the University of Sydney's vet hospital describes the tick as present year-round in Sydney (Sydney School of Veterinary Science).

Indoor-only cats are at much lower risk, but not zero: a cat that slips out into a bushy backyard for an afternoon is exposed.

The signs, and why cats are different

Owners usually expect the dog picture: wobbly back legs, then collapse. Cats often show breathing and voice changes first, while the weakness is "typically less obvious to owners early on" (RSPCA NSW). Look for:

• A changed or weak meow, or a meow that has stopped
• An odd breathing pattern, with a soft grunt at the end of each breath out
• Laboured or noisy breathing
• Gagging, retching or trouble swallowing; struggling to pick up food or keep it in the mouth
• Dilated pupils
• Agitation, or a cat that is unusually quiet
• Wobbliness or weakness, usually starting in the hind legs and moving forward

Those come from RSPCA NSW, the Animal Emergency Service and Lort Smith. A Queensland study of more than 2,000 feline cases found that stress can sharply increase a cat's breathing effort, and that the breathing signs can matter more than how the cat is walking (peer-reviewed study, PMC). That is also why a cat with tick paralysis should be handled calmly and kept quiet on the way to the vet.

Timing. Signs usually appear after the tick has been feeding for several days: sources give 3–4 days (PetSure), 3–5 days (NexGard) and 3–7 days (Lort Smith). Once signs begin they can worsen quickly.

You've found a tick: what to do

1. Remove it now. Don't wait to get to the vet first. Use a tick remover or fine tweezers, grip the tick right next to the skin, twist and pluck, and don't squeeze its body (NexGard).
2. Don't put anything on it. No alcohol, oil, petroleum jelly, flame, or tick spray (SASH). Above all, never use a dog tick product on a cat: some can kill cats (RSPCA NSW), and permethrin and pyrethrin products are dangerous even in small amounts (Animal Emergency Service).
3. Keep searching. Where there is one tick there may be more. Finish the search (see below) before you relax.
4. Call your vet. RSPCA NSW's advice is to seek emergency veterinary care even if you have removed the tick, because the toxin already in the cat can keep acting for hours afterwards. If your cat already shows any sign above, go now.
5. Watch closely for at least 24 hours after removal (Lort Smith). Keep the cat indoors and quiet so you can see any change.

What the vet does

Treatment centres on tick antiserum (TAS). Cats are usually sedated to reduce stress and breathing effort, may get a pre-treatment to reduce the risk of reaction to the serum, and may need oxygen and intensive care. In severe cases the cat needs a ventilator until the toxin wears off (Lort Smith).

The outcome data is reassuring for cats treated in time. In the Queensland emergency-clinic study, about 3% of cats died within five days. The rate was about 2% for cats given the recommended treatment, and 8% for cats not given antiserum. Ventilation is where it gets stark: of cats whose vet recommended ventilation but who didn't receive it, 15 of 17 died; of those who were ventilated, 4 of 22 died (PMC). The University of Queensland cites a higher figure, about 5% mortality even with treatment, for pets generally (UQ).

What it costs

PetSure, which underwrites many Australian pet policies, reported an average tick paralysis claim for cats of $1,859 in 2022, with the largest single claim at $20,348 (PetSure). Averages hide the spread. A cat treated early with antiserum and a night in hospital sits at the low end. A cat needing several days of ventilation in an emergency hospital can cost many times the average.

Two practical points follow:

• Insurance: PetSure's figures come from paid claims, so tick paralysis is something pet insurance routinely pays for. How a policy classes it, and whether a waiting period applies, varies, so check your PDS before the season rather than in the waiting room. If you live in tick country and don't insure, keep an emergency fund closer to $3,000 than $1,000. See the cheapest cat insurance in Australia and insurance for indoor cats.
• Ask for an estimate on arrival, so cost is a conversation with the vet rather than a reason to delay going.

Prevention: products registered for cats

Only use a product labelled for paralysis tick in cats, at the dose for your cat's weight. Australian options include:

Sources: NexGard SPECTRA label; Zoetis, Revolution Plus; Bravecto Plus and Seresto figures from their Australian product listings.

Two cautions. First, the NexGard SPECTRA label itself says prevention will not entirely remove the risk of tick paralysis, and that is true of every product. Prevention buys time and lowers the odds; it doesn't replace the daily search. Second, these are the same products sold for fleas and worms, so if your cat is already on a flea and worm treatment, check whether it already covers paralysis tick, and ask your vet before combining products.

The daily tick search

During the season, search at least once a day if your cat goes outside or lives with a dog that does (SASH). Run your fingertips slowly against the fur, feeling for a small bump:

• Head, face, lips and around the ears: the most common sites. In one insurer's cat data, 63% of ticks were on the head, neck or ears
• Neck and under the collar (take the collar off)
• Under and in front of the front legs
• Between the toes
• Skin folds, and under the tail

The RSPCA's rule of thumb is to concentrate on everything forward of the front legs (RSPCA Knowledgebase; Sydney School of Veterinary Science). Long-haired cats take longer: part the coat and go slowly, and don't stop at the first tick.

The short version

On the east coast, put your cat on a product registered for paralysis tick in cats, and search it daily from spring to autumn. If you find a tick, remove it, keep looking, and call the vet. If your cat's meow changes, its breathing sounds odd or it starts gagging, go straight to a vet: in cats those are the early signs, not the late ones. Containment helps a great deal, which is one more reason the indoor-vs-outdoor trade-off leans towards keeping cats in.

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Last updated 2026-11-04 · Not veterinary advice — always consult your vet for medical concerns.