My outdoor cat has a lump behind its ear. Could it be a tick?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It’s hard to say but it looks like a tick is attached to his ear. I would recommend taking him to a vet to confirm and have them remove it. If it is, you have to make sure you remove the entire head and in that location it may be tricky. I don’t know about tick borne diseases in Ireland but in the US ticks can carry diseases that could cause problems in pets. The vet can discuss these further when they see Snowball. Good luck and kisses to Snowball!

That appears to be a tick. Read the article below on how to remove a tick. Consider a monthly topical flea and tick preventive if Rocket will continue going outdoors. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-remove-a-tick-from-your-dog-or-cat

This actually does not look like a tick. This could be a little cyst or wart. Check it at the bottom closest to the skin. If it has tiny legs, it is a tick, and you should pull it out; if not, then it is a growth and you may want your vet to examine it.

Thank you for providing a picture and for helping this start cat out! It is difficult to say based on the picture of it is a tick or perhaps even an ulcerated skin growth. For this reason I would be hesitant about trying to use a tick removing device. The risk of bleeding or infection could be high if the lesion is in fact not a tick. You could try a warm water bath over the lesion to see if you can visualise the area in greater detail and repost a picture. Thank you For using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and please post any further questions you may have here on the forum.

Even though the pics are slightly out of focus, the growth you described seems to be a tick. I would recommend a clinical examination at your local veterinarian as an essential to confirm this and remove it appropriately. Local antibiotics may be needed.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from your description and the fact that she is an outdoor cat, I would suspect what you are seeing is an abscess. I would recommend getting her to a vet if possible to have the lump examined so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. If you know who the owners are, I would try to discuss this with them before taking their cat to the vet for treatment. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

YEs this is quite likely a tick bite reaction and there may be part of the tick still there causing irritation. Bathing with warm saline soaked cotton wool will help to keep the area clean if she allows you, monitor closely for increasing redness, pain, lameness or fever which may indicate a widespread infection which would require additional treatment. I recommend using a tick prevention such as bravecto every 3months to prevent further incidents