{"id":5203,"date":"2025-06-16T08:52:43","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T08:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestvetcare.improvepetcare.com\/?p=5203"},"modified":"2025-06-16T08:52:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T08:52:45","slug":"heartworms-in-cats-why-prevention-is-necessary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bestvetcare.improvepetcare.com\/heartworms-in-cats-why-prevention-is-necessary\/","title":{"rendered":"Heartworms in Cats: Why Prevention is Necessary"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Heartworms<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

There is a common notion that cats do not get heartworm disease. However, this is far from the truth. Though the risk of heartworm disease is lower in cats compared to their canine counterparts, felines are not completely safe from this potentially fatal disease. Contrary to this misconception, heartworms are more deadly in cats than dogs. So, how do you deal with heartworm disease in cats? Let us help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This blog provides information about heartworm disease, how cats get infected with it, symptoms of the disease, diagnosis & treatment, and how to prevent it in cats. Keep reading to know more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heartworm disease explained<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heartworm disease is caused by spaghetti-shaped, foot-long worms, known as heartworms or Dirofilaria immitis, that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of infected animals. Heartworms can affect animals, such as dogs, cats, ferrets, and other mammals like wolves, foxes, etc. In rare cases, heartworms can affect humans as well. Though known as heartworms, these parasites can cause damage not only to the heart but also to the lungs and associated veins of the infected pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also Read: 6 Misconceptions About Heartworm Disease In Cats<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do cats get heartworms?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just like dogs, cats also get heartworms from a mosquito bite. And so, both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk of catching heartworm infection. Adult female heartworms present in the infected animal get transferred to the mosquito when it takes the blood meal. These baby worms then develop and mature into infective stage larvae inside the mosquito. When this infected mosquito bites a cat, these infective larvae get transferred to them. Once inside the cat, these larvae mature into adult heartworms and live for up to 2 or 3 years in cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, cats are atypical hosts for heartworms, and most of the worms do not survive till the adult stage in a cat. But the sudden death of heartworms can cause a life-threatening condition called Heartworm-Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD) in cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of heartworm disease in cats<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cats infected with heartworm disease may show no or very subtle symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of heartworm disease in cats include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n