My cat's tick squished, saw grey sludge. Is this normal? What is it?

Great job finding and removing the tick. The yellow material you saw as you squished the tick is likely some of the ticks internal structure/anatomy as well as the digested meal. I would just clean the site on Kona where you removed the tick with warm water and soap and monitor at this point like you said. There may be a small bump or scab or a little redness at the site where the tick attached, and this should resolve in the next 10-14 days. Lyme disease as well as other tick borne disease can cause lethargy, fevers, and joint pain. There are several tick preventative medications you can consider to prevent future ticks. Examples are Nexgard and Simparica (which are monthly oral medications) and collars such as the Preventic collar or Seresto collar.

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.

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

Hi Emily! Secretions from the tick's feeding parts can cause skin reactions, such as raised areas, lumps and growths called granulomas. I would keep an eye on this area, and if it doesn't go away in a few days, have Jensen seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

This lump is likely a local inflammatory response that is sort of like an allergic reaciton. As long as it doesn't spread, becomes painful or causes a fever then I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Apply topical Neosporin if you wish twice a day until healed. Ticks take more than 48 hrs of attachment or transmit disease.

I recommend you ask your vet nurse to check it or post a picture here - it is possible part of the tick may still be embedded. I recommend using a monthly tick prevention such as stronghold plus or broadline to prevent future botes during the spring-summer months

This looks like a tick - sometimes just one is present, but you should still check for more to make sure. If your other cats goes outdoors it wouldn't hurt to check for ticks as well. There is no specific cleaning that needs to happen after a tick is found - the skin where it was attached can become inflamed but it should resolve after several days. It sounds like you should also ask your vet about a tick preventative - there are several options and you can see which brand your vet carries or recommends in your area.