The cats could be treated with Frontline (available from your vet). This
should kill any ticks they pick up and take care of fleas too which would be
an added bonus. Not of any help to the humans though I'm afraid!
Mel.

"Sian" wrote in message
...
We have lived in this area for over forty years and, over the last three
years have noticed a rise in the garden tick population.

We live near heathland and there have always been deer around so there
must have been ticks but it is only in the last there years, as i
mentioned, thatthey have become a problem.

The cats pick them up. We pick them up. And I am getting concerned.

Is there ANYTHING we can do to protect our animals and ourselves, apart
from moving, which we don`t want to do!!

My thanks for anything you can suggest and my apologies if this is a
subject that has been discussed before. I am new to the group.

Sian.