Feline Heartworm Disease.

You may not know that heartworm disease can be found in cats. Though not as prevalent as in dogs, it still poses a real threat. While the reasons are not exactly known, indoor cats seem to be more susceptible to the disease than outdoor cats. Heartworms in cats are often hard to diagnose because the symptoms bear a resemblance to many other diseases. Traditional tests may not detect the worms because there may be only one. Feline heartworm is most often misdiagnosed as feline asthma because the symptoms are very similar. Heartworm symptoms don’t show up in cats until 2-3 months after they have been infected. At this time there is no approved treatment for cats if they do contract heartworms. The only way to prevent this disease is through monthly doses of oral or topical medication which can be prescribed by your vet.

Symptoms of Feline Heartworm:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Anorexia
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Weight loss
• Some cats show no signs at all, but die suddenly

Adult heartworms can live between 2-3 years in cats and when they die can cause an embolism in the cat. This can be fatal to the cat.

If your cat should show signs of any of the symptoms listed above, contact your vet for further evaluation. If it is found that your cat does have heartworm, your vet will want to monitor your cat’s condition over time. The vet will recommend 6-12 month checkups to watch the progress of the disease.

If you have any questions please contact your vet for more information.