Heartworm Disease in Cats

Both cats and dogs are at risk for heartworm disease. However, heartworm in cats is less common than heartworm in dogs. This is because cats are more resistant to infection. Infected cats tend to have fewer heartworms than dogs—typically less than 6—while infected dogs can have up to hundreds if left untreated. Additionally, infection rates in cats are about 5%-15% of that in unprotected dogs.¹ Although it’s less common in cats, as few as one worm can be fatal for cats. Read on to learn more about heartworm disease in cats, and how to help prevent your cat from getting infected.

How Do Cats Get Heartworms?

Cats get heartworms through the bite of an infected mosquito. Because heartworms require 2 host animals to complete their life cycle, the mosquito acts as the immediate host. Once the mosquito bites an infected animal, it ingests the microfilariae, which develop into infective larvae in the mosquito in about 10-14 days. When an infected mosquito bites a cat, it transfers the infected larvae to the cat, continuing the heartworm larval life cycle and infecting the cat with heartworms.

A kitten sleeps in a blanket while snuggled up next to a heart-shaped toy

Signs of Heartworms in Cats

Most heartworms in cats won’t survive to the adult stage of their life cycle. Due to cats’ smaller size, and strong immune response, the presence of even 1 or 2 adult worms can be considered heavily infected.

Although cats typically have fewer heartworms than dogs, an infection can still be deadly. Heartworms in cats can trigger an intense immune reaction that can cause severe or even fatal symptoms.

Signs of heartworms in cats include:

Coughing, gagging, and rapid breathing (often confused with asthma)
Intermittent vomiting of food or blood (in severe cases)
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Lethargy
Rapid heart rate
Blindness
Collapse
Convulsions
Sudden death

How Are Heartworms in Cats Diagnosed?

Heartworms in cats can be difficult to diagnose because most cats don’t show signs of infection. If they do show signs, the symptoms can be easy to confuse with other conditions. Typically, your cat will require multiple tests and procedures to confirm a heartworm diagnosis.

These tests include:

Several types of blood tests
Physical exam
X-ray
Ultrasound

How to Treat Heartworms in Cats

There is no treatment to kill adult heartworms in cats. Most cats who are infected will fight off the infection on their own. It’s important to note that since cats are more resistant to heartworms, most cases in cats will resolve within 2-3 years. Unfortunately, the death of worms can cause fatal reactions in cats. If your cat is diagnosed with heartworm disease, your vet will most likely recommend the following depending on their condition.

Monitor for Symptoms

Many cats may be asymptomatic. Therefore, your vet may recommend monitoring for symptoms and supportive therapies as needed.

Supportive Therapies

As symptoms arise, your vet may recommend supportive therapy and monitoring to help manage the symptoms until they pass. In cases where the lungs and blood vessels have been affected, therapy might include prednisone. Other therapies include antibiotics and cardiovascular drugs.

Surgical Removal

In severe cases of heartworm infection in cats, a vet may recommend surgical removal of the heartworms by a specialist.

A kitten in a cone looks at you from inside its kennel

How to Prevent Heartworms in Cats

Heartworm prevention is important, which is why vets recommend starting your cat on prevention at a young age. This is especially true for cats cohabitating with a dog, or any other pet that spends time outside.

Indoor cats who do not interact with outdoor pets are still at risk for heartworm infection, as the mosquito is the immediate host. All it takes is one infected mosquito to enter the home and bite your cat to transmit the infection.

Reference
1. 1. Marcucci, B. A Comparison of Canine and Feline Heartworm Disease. VetFolio. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.vetfolio.com/learn/article/a-comparison-of-canine-and-feline-heartworm-disease