April 2, 2026, 4:23 am | Read time: 5 minutes
With the warm months comes tick season. These small parasites are not only annoying but can also transmit dangerous diseases, including Lyme disease. What does this mean for cats, and what should owners be aware of? PETBOOK explains.
Overview
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease—also known as Lyme borreliosis—is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. The pathogens are primarily transmitted by ticks, which pass them to their hosts while feeding. It is one of the most common tick-borne diseases in Europe.1
Can Cats Get Lyme Disease?
The answer is yes, cats can also contract Lyme disease. Although the disease is much less common in cats than in dogs, infection is not impossible. The pathogens reside in the digestive tract of ticks, especially the common wood tick. During blood feeding, they enter the cat’s body through the tick’s saliva.
The transmission of Lyme disease pathogens typically takes between 12 and 48 hours. The longer the tick goes unnoticed, the higher the risk of transmission. Conversely, the sooner a tick is discovered and removed, the better.
Outdoor cats are particularly at risk, but indoor cats are not completely safe—for example, if parasites are brought in on clothing or other pets.
Areas with High Lyme Disease Risk
Lyme disease can theoretically occur anywhere in Germany—and is by far the most common tick-borne disease in Europe—whether in animals or humans. Regions with high tick density are particularly at risk. There, the risk for Lyme disease increases, as does the risk for other infections like TBE. While TBE has a nationwide reporting requirement that creates reliable annual statistics from which official TBE risk areas can be derived, this is not the case for Lyme disease.2
There is no uniform reporting requirement, so there is no official map of Lyme disease risk areas. According to the RKI, known TBE risk areas include Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, southern Hesse, and southeastern Thuringia. Also, central Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, parts of Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia are considered regions with frequent TBE occurrences.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Cats
Lyme disease in cats often presents with nonspecific or even no symptoms, making the disease difficult to detect. When symptoms do appear, they usually develop gradually and resemble other illnesses. The first signs can also appear weeks or even months after a tick bite. Even the typical erythema migrans, a red ring around the bite site, often goes unnoticed in cats because it is barely visible under their fur. Nevertheless, there are typical signals that cat owners should watch for:
- Lameness
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Behavioral changes
- Joint swelling or pain
- Pale mucous membranes
If such symptoms occur, you should take your cat to the veterinarian. Even if the signs are often nonspecific, it’s better to visit the vet one time too many than one time too few.3
How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed in Cats?
If Lyme disease is suspected, the veterinarian will first ask about tick contacts in recent weeks or months, as well as any behavioral changes or possible complaints. This is followed by a thorough physical examination. In most cases, a blood test is also performed to determine if the cat has developed antibodies against Borrelia.
Important: A positive result does not automatically mean the cat is currently ill; it may simply indicate that the cat has had contact with the pathogen in the past.
If a Lyme disease infection is diagnosed, treatment with antibiotics is usually initiated. This can last several weeks to months and should be carried out consistently to avoid relapses. Pain and anti-inflammatory medications may also be administered, such as for fever, lameness, or joint pain.
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Places Preferred by Ticks
Ticks prefer to stay at forest edges, in tall grass, bushes, but also under stones or wood piles. Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly check your cat when it comes home. The parasites particularly like to settle in well-blooded areas such as the ears, neck, armpits, belly, or groin. Keeping hedges, bushes, and grass in the garden as short as possible can also help prevent ticks from settling there.
How to Prevent Ticks
In general, the earlier a Lyme disease infection is detected, the better it can be treated. Although it is difficult to avoid, especially for outdoor cats, there are some measures that can help prevent it.
While there is a special vaccine for dogs against certain Borrelia subtypes, there is no vaccine for cats against Lyme disease. The safest protection is provided by special collars, sprays, or spot-on products that are specifically suitable for cats.
Some pet owners also use natural remedies like amber necklaces or coconut oil. These may have a supportive effect, but do not replace proven tick protection products.
If you find a tick, remove it carefully with tick tweezers, a card, or a hook. Be careful not to crush the tick—this prevents further pathogens from entering your cat’s body.