Can Cats Get Lyme Disease?

by Jennifer Smith April 04, 2019

Now that spring is here, outdoor enthusiasts are excited to go on camping trips; hiking excursions and just spend time outside with their pets; but with the increasing temperatures comes new challenges for pet owners: ticks.

Any warm-blooded mammal can get bit by a tick and has the potential for tick disease infection including deer, rodents, humans and pets. The effects of a tick bite can last for months, even years, leaving people and pets lethargic and weak.

For dogs with Lyme, they will experience high blood pressure, weak limbs and muscle movements for weeks until the drug, Doxycycline, kicks-in to stop the disease.

Lyme Disease in cats is less common than in dogs. Cats with a tick disease will experience lameness as well as the following symptoms:

Lack of appetite
stiff walk and arched back
Sensitivity to touch
Difficulty breathing
Weak bones/joints
Arthritis

The condition of the skin will determine your cat's overall health and a vet will administer a urinalysis for testing the cat for bacteria, parasites and fungi in the bloodstream.

To protect cats from the risk and spread of Lyme Disease, cat owners need to separate the domestic pet from wildlife that may be carrying ticks with diseases. The best way to keep to protect cats is to install a cat enclosure in the yard for pets to still have playtime but to stay away from external predators, such as deer and other tick carrying animals.