In the UK we used an ' O TOM tick twister ' and very good they are too.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xe1ip9 ... MYOknd5EgoWe have lost ours now and we use a sort of plastic tweezers. But I do believe that once you have hold of the tick, the main thing is to twist the tick around before pulling it out.
We were told that in Summer to apply tick and flea treatment every month. But that this period could be extended in the colder months ie Winter.
But we stick as close as we can to treating our cat every month.
Trev..