You may think of heartworm disease as a condition affecting dogs. The unfortunate truth is that heartworms can infest cats as well. And when they do, they have a significant risk of causing mortality.
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are parasites that reside in the blood vessels of the heart and lungs of infested animals. Although dogs are a preferred host for heartworms, cats are infested at a rate of 5% to 20% as that of dogs in their area. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Importantly, about one-third of affected cats live indoors only. Around 20% of heartworm cases involving an adult worm in a cat are fatal.
While dogs can easily get infested with over 100 heartworms, cats usually have much fewer—typically under 6 adult worms. This doesn’t mean infestation is any less severe. Immature heartworms cause heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) in cats. Cats may have coughing or gagging, asthma-like episodes, or intermittent vomiting. Unfortunately, some cats don’t have signs until they experience collapse or sudden death, often in response to the death of an adult heartworm.
There is no approved treatment for heartworms in cats. While your veterinarian can use steroids and other medications to help manage symptoms, your cat may still experience sudden collapse or death after a worm dies.
You can easily prevent heartworm infestation in your cat with heartworm preventives. Cats should start heartworm preventives as early as the product label allows, preferably before 8 weeks of age. However, if you haven’t started your kitten on preventives, it’s not too late. You’ll need a veterinary prescription for heartworm preventives, so reach out to your VCA care team. Another positive to heartworm preventives? Many heartworm products also manage other parasites, such as fleas, ticks and intestinal worms.
Find peace of mind with the right heartworm preventives for your cat.
