Hi all:

I have two cats, 1.5 years old, who have just gotten the opportunity
to go outside after my moving to a new place.  Neither of them is
currently on any flea or tick medication. I was planning on addressing
that as soon as funds allow me to get them to the vet for their
boosters (about 1 month overdue).

I was just looking at my one cat when I noticed little specs around
the edge of and behind one of her ears. I plucked one offf with a
tweezer and after trying very hard to focus on such a small thing,
identified it as an incredibly small tick. I've never seen ticks this
small. The largest ones are only as big as an aphid.

Unfortunately, she must have at least twenty of these things
congregating around this one ear and who knows how many more
elsewhere. What can I do? Taking them off with a tweezer is almost too
much with the cat flipping out as I try to restrain her.

I'm particularly concerned because of a recent story here in Georgia
of some new sickness spread to cats by ticks which results in the cats
quickly expiring.

I know I should have thought of all these things before letting the
little brats outside, but honestly, 90 percent of the time they just
lie on the concrete patio.

Any tips on treating both the cat and my apartment would be
appreciated.