View Full Version : Kitten has a strange growth
sideoutshu
Oct 5, 2005, 05:39 AM
I found 4 kittens outside of my home 2 weeks ago. They were apparently abandoned by their mother and I took them in. I am trying to find them good homes, and have 3 left. One of them has two strange growths on its head and behind its ear. They are attached to the skin and resemble small peas. Greenish-brown and seemingly barely attached to the skin. They almost look like I could pull them off.
1. What are they?
2. Are they harmful?
3. How do I get rid of them?(mind you that I am trying to give the cats away and don't want to spend hundreds of dollars at the vet.
4. Will she be OK?
5. Is it contagious to the other kittens or us?
RickJ
Oct 5, 2005, 10:05 AM
Sounds like ticks.
If they are, see this article
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=62
Or any of these
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=remove+AND+tick+OR+ticks+AND+cat+OR+cats&btnG=Google+Search
Can you send a picture?
sideoutshu
Oct 5, 2005, 10:22 AM
It is not a tick. It is greenish brown and sacklike. I will take some pics tonight.
RickJ
Oct 5, 2005, 10:41 AM
Hmm. Sounded like textbook tick - which would be the only typical feline parasite that is as you describe.
Do you think you can say with certainty that it is not a critter of some sort?
sideoutshu
Oct 5, 2005, 10:47 AM
I can say nothing with certainty. But it is completely smooth and capsule like with no arms, legs etc.
RickJ
Oct 5, 2005, 10:58 AM
Let me point out that
1. greenish brown is not an uncommon look for a swollen tick, and
2. sometimes the legs are tucked in so well - and obscured by the swollen body - that they're not apparent.
If it were my cat - and I were sure that whatever it is is "barely attached", I'd gently try to remove it as if it were a tick:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=62
And either remove it - or cease trying if it were painful for the cat... then head over to the pet supply store with the cat to ask them what it is and how to cure it.
sideoutshu
Oct 14, 2005, 11:09 AM
It was a tick... and I took two off her. She was surprisingly good while we were doing it, although I could tell it was a little painful.
RickJ
Oct 14, 2005, 11:10 AM
I thought so. When they're swollen, their legs get tucked away so you'd hardly notice them.
Glad you got that booger off her! ;)