\u27a1\ufe0f Ticks are parasitic mites that feed on the blood of dogs and cats and can transmit certain diseases.
\u27a1\ufe0f The risk of infestation exists all year round, but is highest from April to September.
\u27a1\ufe0f A tick must be removed quickly using a tick remover to reduce the risk of transmitting pathogens.
\u27a1\ufe0f Suitable anti-parasite treatments (spot-on treatments, collars, tablets) effectively prevent ticks in dogs and cats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
A brief overview of ticks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tique-pince.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTicks are not insects, but parasitic mites that feed on the blood of animals and sometimes humans<\/strong>. They belong to the same family as the microscopic mites found in house dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\nUnlike insects such as fleas<\/a> or mosquitoes<\/a>, adult ticks have eight legs, whereas insects have only six. They do not fly or jump<\/strong>: they attach themselves to a host when a dog, cat or other animal passes near an area of infestation (tall grass, scrubland, undergrowth).<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe most common ticks found on dogs and cats belong to the genus Rhipicephalus sanguineus<\/em><\/a>, often known as the brown dog tick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\ud83d\udc49 There are nearly 1,000 species of ticks worldwide (source: Anses<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow do ticks feed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The tick has a specialised mouthpart that allows it to bite<\/strong> the animal\u2019s skin and attach itself firmly for several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen it attaches itself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- it inserts its rostrum into the skin,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- it releases an anaesthetic substance to prevent the animal from feeling the bite,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- it slowly feeds on blood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This tick bite can last from 2 to 7 days<\/strong>, giving the mite time to complete its blood meal. During this period, the tick gradually swells and becomes more visible on your dog or cat\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tique-femelle.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nThe life cycle of ticks and high-risk periods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The life cycle of ticks consists of four stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Egg<\/strong>: the female lays several thousand eggs in the environment (soil, vegetation).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Larva<\/strong>: after hatching, the larva has six legs and seeks out its first host to feed on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Nymph<\/strong>: after its first blood meal, it develops into a nymph (8 legs) and attaches itself to an animal once more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Adult tick<\/strong>: it feeds one last time before reproducing and laying eggs in turn.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udc49 This cycle can last several months, or even more than a year, depending on weather conditions.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\nAt what times of year can dogs and cats catch ticks?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\nDogs and cats can pick up ticks all year round.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nHowever, the risk is higher:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- from April to September<\/strong>, when temperatures are mild,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- in spring and autumn<\/strong>, which are ideal times for them to be active.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Ticks become active as soon as the temperature rises above around 7\u201310 \u00b0C.<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/promenade-chien.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/foret.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nWhere do ticks live?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ticks do not live on animals all the time. They are found in the environment, waiting for a host to pass by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are mainly found in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- tall grass,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- wooded areas,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- wetlands,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- neglected gardens,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- natural areas such as scrubland.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
How long does a tick stay attached?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A tick can remain attached to the skin for between 24 hours and 7 days<\/strong>, sometimes a little longer depending on its stage of development and the species.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAverage attachment time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Larva: a few hours to 2 days<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Nymph: 2 to 4 days<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Adult tick: 3 to 7 days on average<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
During this time, the tick slowly feeds on blood. The longer it remains attached, the larger it grows and the more visible it becomes to the naked eye.<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tique-cou-chat.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nDogs and cats: diseases transmitted by ticks<\/h2>\n\n\n\nA disease transmitted by ticks<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Possible symptoms in dogs and cats<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Risk level<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>Piroplasmose (Babesia canis)<\/strong><\/td>Fever, severe fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, anaemia. This condition can be serious if not treated promptly by a vet.<\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f Significant risk in dogs<\/td><\/tr> Lyme disease<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Fatigue, joint pain, lameness, fever. It can affect dogs and, more rarely, cats. Without treatment, the condition may become chronic.<\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f Moderate to high risk<\/td><\/tr> Ehrlichiose<\/strong><\/td>Fever, fatigue, weight loss, blood disorders. May lead to complications if the infection is not treated.<\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f A serious risk for dogs<\/td><\/tr> Risks to cats and dogs<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Skin irritation, local infections, and general weakness in the animal. In some cases, damage to the nervous system or a deterioration in the animal\u2019s general condition.<\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f This varies depending on the animal\u2019s state of health<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\ud83d\udc49<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Ticks can also bite humans<\/a> and transmit certain diseases, including Lyme disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTicks are not insects, but parasitic mites that feed on the blood of animals and sometimes humans<\/strong>. They belong to the same family as the microscopic mites found in house dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike insects such as fleas<\/a> or mosquitoes<\/a>, adult ticks have eight legs, whereas insects have only six. They do not fly or jump<\/strong>: they attach themselves to a host when a dog, cat or other animal passes near an area of infestation (tall grass, scrubland, undergrowth).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common ticks found on dogs and cats belong to the genus Rhipicephalus sanguineus<\/em><\/a>, often known as the brown dog tick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 There are nearly 1,000 species of ticks worldwide (source: Anses<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The tick has a specialised mouthpart that allows it to bite<\/strong> the animal\u2019s skin and attach itself firmly for several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it attaches itself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This tick bite can last from 2 to 7 days<\/strong>, giving the mite time to complete its blood meal. During this period, the tick gradually swells and becomes more visible on your dog or cat\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The life cycle of ticks consists of four stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 This cycle can last several months, or even more than a year, depending on weather conditions.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Dogs and cats can pick up ticks all year round.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n However, the risk is higher:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ticks become active as soon as the temperature rises above around 7\u201310 \u00b0C.<\/p>\n<\/div> Ticks do not live on animals all the time. They are found in the environment, waiting for a host to pass by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are mainly found in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tick can remain attached to the skin for between 24 hours and 7 days<\/strong>, sometimes a little longer depending on its stage of development and the species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Average attachment time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this time, the tick slowly feeds on blood. The longer it remains attached, the larger it grows and the more visible it becomes to the naked eye.<\/p>\n<\/div> \ud83d\udc49<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Ticks can also bite humans<\/a> and transmit certain diseases, including Lyme disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do ticks feed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/figure>The life cycle of ticks and high-risk periods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
At what times of year can dogs and cats catch ticks?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>Where do ticks live?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
How long does a tick stay attached?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDogs and cats: diseases transmitted by ticks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A disease transmitted by ticks<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Possible symptoms in dogs and cats<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Risk level<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Piroplasmose (Babesia canis)<\/strong><\/td> Fever, severe fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, anaemia. This condition can be serious if not treated promptly by a vet.<\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f Significant risk in dogs<\/td><\/tr> Lyme disease<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Fatigue, joint pain, lameness, fever. It can affect dogs and, more rarely, cats. Without treatment, the condition may become chronic.<\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f Moderate to high risk<\/td><\/tr> Ehrlichiose<\/strong><\/td> Fever, fatigue, weight loss, blood disorders. May lead to complications if the infection is not treated.<\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f A serious risk for dogs<\/td><\/tr> Risks to cats and dogs<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Skin irritation, local infections, and general weakness in the animal. In some cases, damage to the nervous system or a deterioration in the animal\u2019s general condition.<\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f This varies depending on the animal\u2019s state of health<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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