Feline Heartworm Disease

Signs of Feline Heartworm Disease

What do you mean? My CAT can get heartworms!?

Yes! Unfortunately the cat is not immune to heartworm disease. Although cats are not considered the "usual" host for the heartworm parasite, they can become infected and suffer from heartworm disease. Signs of heartworm disease in cats are non-specific. The cat may cough or vomit intermittently. Cats are quite sensitive to the presence of heartworms and sudden death is often the only sign that will be seen. The incidence of feline heartworms in any given geographic area is directly proportional to the incidence of heartworms in the dog population.

Feline Heartworm Disease - What's Different?
American Heartworm Society - Feline Heartworm Disease

Life Cycle

As in the dog, heartworms must be transmitted to a cat from the bite of an infected mosquito. However, since cats rarely have circulating microfilaria, the mosquito will not become infected from another cat. Therefore, an infected cat is not considered to be a threat to other animals within the mosquito's range of travel. Ultimately the source of the cat's infection is an infected dog.

Canine Heartworm Disease | Canine Heartworm Lifecycle | Canine Heartworm Treatment
Feline Hearworm Disease | Feline Heartworm Lifecycle
Heartworms in the USA | Preventative Comparisons