The good news about ticks

They are nasty little blood-sucking arachnids (related to spiders), and they are very common in wooded areas. The best news is that cats get them less frequently than dogs do. When cats do get them, they may barely be aware of them. Those of us who grew up in the country can spot a “full” (blood-gorged) tick right away, appearing as a big brown lump hanging somewhere on a pet.

Some not-too-bright pet owners rush their pets to the vet, puzzled about this mysterious “growth,” which could be easily removed just by pulling it off. However, when a tick is pulled off an animal, it sometimes leaves its mouthparts behind, which can lead to infections. The old camp counselors’ trick: strike a match, blow it out and apply the hot end to the rear of the tick, which will fall off in a few seconds.