Did you know? While heartworms are more common in dogs than in cats,
cats can get heartworms too
. Cats get infected by being bitten by a mosquito that has bitten an infected dog. Serious illness and even death can occur when a cat is infected with heartworms.
What are the symptoms of heartworms in cats?
The most common clinical signs of heartworm infection include: intermittent vomiting (sometimes of blood as well as of food); diarrhea; rapid and difficult breathing, coughing and gagging, all of which may be confused with feline asthma or some other bronchial disease; loss of appetite; lethargy and weight loss.
Can a heartworm positive dog infect a cat?
Like dogs, cats can be infected with heartworms
. There are differences, however, in the nature of the disease and how it is diagnosed and managed. Because a cat is not an ideal host for heartworms, some infections resolve on their own, although these infections can leave cats with respiratory system damage.
Can indoor cats get heartworms?
Myth: Indoor-Only Cats Can't Get Heartworm Disease
While an indoor-only lifestyle reduces a cat's risk of being infected with heartworms, it doesn't eliminate it
. It takes just one infected mosquito – coming through a torn screen, or open window or door – getting into your home to bite your cat.
Is cat heartworm contagious?
A:
No, heartworm in cats is not contagious
. Because cats are not natural hosts for heartworms, the parasites do not reproduce inside cats. Heartworms' natural hosts are dogs. Mature heartworms living in a dog's tissue and heart can produce baby worms (microfilariae).
Where do cats get heartworm from?
When a
mosquito bites
and feeds on these infected animals, it picks up the baby worms in the blood. Once inside the mosquito, these baby worms develop into infectious worms. When the infected mosquito bites a cat, it leaves infectious worms on the cat's skin.
How likely is it for a cat to get heartworms?
Although dogs are the more natural host for this disease, cats are also susceptible to heartworm infection. It is estimated by the American Heartworm Society that, in any given community, the incidence of heartworm infection in cats is approximately
5% to 15% percent that of dogs who are not on preventive medication
.
Can cats be cured of heartworm?
There is simply no good treatment for heartworm-infected cats
. Effective drugs are not available, and cats that seem to be doing well may die suddenly. Treating heartworm infections in cats is risky at best, and not treating these cats is just as risky.
Do cats need heartworm protection?
Unlike in dogs, there is no treatment that can kill adult heartworms in cats.
Heartworm prevention is therefore essential for the life and health of cats
.
Do cats really need heartworm prevention?
Heartworm infection can be fatal or severely debilitating for cats, so
preventive medication is recommended for all cats
, whether they live indoors or outdoors.
What do heartworms look like in poop?
Adult worms
resemble spaghetti
and may come out in feces or vomit of an infected dog. Transmission to dogs is through eggs in feces, eating a prey animal that is a host (usually rodents), mother's milk, or in utero.
