Sorry Glen you have had tick problems. They are always worst here in the cooler months as they like the moisture. When it's hot and dry they hide under mulch or at the base of long grass. I used to get them lots and think I got some bug from them. Yesterday I worked for hours in an overgrown area here and was surprised I didn't get a tick.
Good they are doing a lot of research here in Aus about pathogens carried by Aus ticks. When you first think you have one it is good to dab the area with a cotton bud onto wh u spray insect killer. Like spiders ticks r pretty susceptible to it. So if they are hard to get out at least they are dead and soon dry out. I used to dig holes in the back of the neck when I couldn't see if it was a tick. That was not good as often it was a small spider bite.
I check my cat every day and there are often small ones. He likes being outside lots and used to wander away from the house a bit. But he has been attacked by another cat (on my property) so he is a bit closer now. He was a very shy cat until I became his pet person.
