Help protect your cat from heartworms with monthly, year-round preventive care

Did you know that the only way for a cat to get heartworms is from a mosquito? It’s true.

As early as three months after an infected mosquito bites a cat, the immature larvae of the heartworm can cause signs of disease. The most obvious signs of heartworm disease in a cat are respiratory problems, such as wheezing, coughing or difficulty breathing.

Once a cat is infected, heartworms live an average of two to three years. When the adult heartworm dies, the resultant agents released into the cat’s system may even be fatal to the cat.

Heartworms can be tough to diagnose in cats because the signs of feline heartworm disease are similar to feline asthma and other respiratory conditions. A combination of several blood and radiographic tests may be required to accurately diagnose this disease in the cat.

Unlike dogs, there is no approved treatment available for cats that are infected with heartworms. That’s why heartworm prevention is vitally important.

Traditionally, heartworm prevention was recommended mostly for outdoor cats in certain regions or at certain times of the year. But heartworm disease is an evolving threat. It’s now present in every part of the U.S.

Ongoing changes to our climate, environment and lifestyles make it important to continue heartworm prevention all year round — not just during warm weather. And even if your cat is an indoor cat, it’s still possible for him or her to get heartworms. In fact, a study performed at North Carolina State University demonstrated that 1 out of every 4 cats with heartworms is an indoor cat.¹

Help your cat stay heartworm-free, and ask your veterinarian about monthly, year-round preventive care.

¹Atkins CE, DeFrancesco TC, Coats JR, et al. Heartworm infection in cats: 50 cases (1985–1997). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2000;217(3):355–358.55