Can Cats get heartworm

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but I am wondering if cat's can get heartworms? All of our cat's are semi-feral and are outside, we have had a really wet summer so far & the mosquitos are really bad. I know that dogs can get heartworms from getting bitten by an infected mosquito. Can cat's have the same problem? If so is there anything I can give them for prevention? BTW all of my babies have been fixed, up to date on all shots, and totally loved Thanks in advance for any & all answers.

My understanding is that it is possible - I'd talk to the vet about what to do next. Good luck - it's been such a wet summer here I don't even take mine out in the stroller anymore for walks, just due to the insects.

yes they can and Revolution prevents heartworm (it is also flea control and gets rid of worms, roundworms *I think*) Revo is the stuff you put on the back of their neck

According to my Vet, a cat gets heartworm from being bitten by a mosquito carrying the heartworm eggs. Both my cats are indoor only, and they still get a heartworm dosing...just in case that pesky mosquito that came in the house transmits the eggs!

In my 18 yrs of having cats, this is the first that I heard about it. Perhaps my other Vet didn't feel that there was a significant chance of my cats contracting hearworm.....and this new Vet doesn't take chances.....

Yes they can, but I've heard its not as common in cats as it is in dogs. I think the cat's system can fight it better. I'm not sure what they do for cat heartworms or the meds involved.

They can get them. If a Cat gets heart woem most of the time they die. Its not the same as when Dogs get it. My Vet has Revolution for heartworm,fleas,worms,ect.

They can definitely get them.

My family had a cat some years ago that found us, and we adopted it. When we took him to the vet, we were told that he had heartworms. At the time, the medicine we gave Cleo was a monthly pill (I want to say it was Advantage) - we used to hide it in pieces of hot dogs or a piece of cheese to get him to take it. This was about 8 years ago or so, I think.

Currently, I'm giving Cleopatra Revolution (she had her first dose on Sunday). Takes care of fleas, ticks, heartworms, tapeworms, hook worms, and ear mites. And the topical treatment was definitely much easier to give than that pill used to be.

YES they can .. IT is MUCH MUCH rareer in a cat and unfortunately HAS A LESS favorable outcome... You may want to use protection in a HIGH risk area... I am dealing with what these POSIONS can do to a dog ( ie she WILL DIE from the illness caused by the preventative)... I live in a LOW LOW risk area and will NEVER use any of the preventatives again

Originally Posted by sharky

YES they can .. IT is MUCH MUCH rareer in a cat and unfortunately HAS A LESS favorable outcome... You may want to use protection in a HIGH risk area... I am dealing with what these POSIONS can do to a dog ( ie she WILL DIE from the illness caused by the preventative)... I live in a LOW LOW risk area and will NEVER use any of the preventatives again

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How can you find out if you're in a 'high risk' or 'low risk' area? If I'm in a low risk area, I won't bother with the preventive either. Why add more chemicals to their bodies!

Originally Posted by MAXCAT08

How can you find out if you're in a 'high risk' or 'low risk' area? If I'm in a low risk area, I won't bother with the preventive either. Why add more chemicals to their bodies!

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one being in Canada likely places you in lower risk ... but ask the vet

I am in a low risk area. You can tell by the weather. Hotter more humid climates that stay warm longer would be higher risk. Areas like where I live stay cool, our summers are very mild and we have a chilly dry(as in low humidity) rainy season. This is why I, like sharky, don't feel compelled to dose my cats often. I gave my cats Advantage for the first time in years since they have been escaping but only 2 times for the entire summer. Then I will not use it again.

Revolution is pretty harsh and I personally would not use Revolution unless my cat absolutely had to have it. Like a feral cat or a cat that was strictly outdoors. These products go into their systems and are basically poisons and pesticides. I would not put a pesticide in my own body so I would really hesitate to put in my cats'. Any preventive that does that much has got to be toxic plus I don't see the need unless you live in a high risk area with an outdoor cat.

Thank you all for your responses, I will talk to vet next time I bring any of the animals to the vet. I really felt kind of dumb for asking, but now I am really happy that I did!! I know we are in a high risk area, I have had two dogs go thru treatment, not sure who it was harder on, me or them. They are both happy and healthy now. BTW they were both rescues, I am not am irresponsible pet owner. They do get monthly prevention now. I will check what needs to be done for the Kitties!!

Hmmm..... I didn't realize that the preventatives could be so harmful to pets. Well, I'm in Texas, so judging from your descriptions, I probably live in a fairly high-risk area. But, I did mention it to the new vet when I e-mailed Cleopatra's medical records (I'd stupidly forgotten to pick them up when I was leaving this morning), so I'll see if he has anything to say about it.

Oh yes they can get it. Our vet told us here there is no cure, but that most cats with it seem to not only to survive, but that the heartworms mature and move out of the cat's system. Our Dakota had them and is now free of them. Something about their hearts are too small to use the "cure' on and the heartworms don't like their hearts as well as dogs.

Dakota was our special one from day one. He was found in the mud half dead and full of ants. My sd cleaned him up and brought him to her dad and I. At 18 months we found out about the heartworms when we had to take him to the vet for his seizures.

Today, he is fine and still brings me dead creatures<sigh>