A big Tick (Yuck!)

Peppy the cat has brought in a couple if ticks before(only a couple in 5 years), but never one this big. I had just let him in and he jumped up on the counter. Spencer came and got me and said there was a tick. It was sure it wasn't a tick, even when I first saw it. I've seen them, but not when they are this big unless they are imbedded in someone. I took this picture near a penny, so the size of the tick could be seen. Gross, huh?
[James took it outside and smashed it and it made a lovely blood spot on the driveway. Mr. Tick was full of someone's blood.]