Found a yucky tic on Ziggy's ear last night, was cursing Frontline for not working then went and checked the box and realised I'm 3 weeks behind in his application, whoops.
Anyway, when we I used to look after a labrador who lived near a forest and spent his life covered in tics I used to sit on him, light a match, blow it out, burn the tics bum and pull with tweezers. Tried to do that to Ziggy last night and lets just say he did not appreciate the procedure one little bit..
I gave him another application of Frontline and put him outside, hoping that maybe it would make the tic fall off.
When he skulks back later, if it's still there, anyone got any tips for making the bugger fall off without completely freaking my cat out?

have you got any vaseline? put it on the tic and it will suffocate and come off
(the tick will suffocate not the cat lol)
*advice from my dad*

Ooo I've got vaseline lipbalm, I'll see it that works!! If he comes back, he was not impressed with me last night, first trying to burn his ear off and then putting yicky chemicals on his neck.

To remove it safely you need an otom tick remover - you can pick them up from the vets. They are really good, you just hook it over the tick, turn and the tick comes out really easily.

Problem with matches, vasaline and anything else like that is that it will make the tic regurgitate the contents of its body back into your cat and so if the tic has anything nasty then your cat might get it too!

You can use tweezers, you need to hold onto the tic as close to the head as possible and pull really hard - the key is that you must twist the tweezers as you pull the tick out. Sometimes it works perfectly, but sometimes the head gets left in, under the skin, which can get infected.

Good luck!

If it was me, I'd be taking him to the vets - wouldn't trust myself not to do it wrong and leave the head in!

Ugh. I really really hate ticks! Especially those huge cow ones that are the size of oranges when they've fed!

I take them off the dog and cat regularly - I just put a piece of tissue over the tick to insure I have a decent grip and pull it off in a similar motion to ripping off wax strips - very quick and slightly twisty/sideways.
OK it's not the 'prescribed' method but its never failed and it was my vet (who is also a good friend) who said it was OK to do it like that, it's how vet nurses will do it if you take the animal in on 90% of occasions!
If you hesitate it wont work, and could leave the head in. Be firm, quick and stick a twist/sideways movement in the yank.

The best thing you can do is phone your vet and see if they have nurse clinics they will usually remove them free of charge.

Do no try to burn them!!! frontline will kill them after a while, vaseline rarely works, and the cat will get it every wear esp if on its ear!!

Thanks for your advice ladies!! Well, in the end I didn't have to do anything, looks like the frontline did a quick job because the tic was all shrivelled up when Ziggy came home this morning, and I just touched it and it fell off, doesn't look like anythings left in there.

Dawn works wonders, too. Ticks will immediately pull out and try to escape.