The answer to this question is an unequivocal “yes” but the situation is vastly different from the canine situation. It is very important to understand the differences and understand why feline infection is so rare.
THE PARASITE AND ITS MIGRATION
The cat is not a natural host for the heartworm which means the migrating larval heartworm is not likely to find its way to the heart should it actually make its way into a cat’s skin from a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes that carry heartworm definitely prefer to feed on dogs.
Whereas a moderate heartworm infection in a dog would involve 25-50 adult heartworms, infected cats typically have less than six adult worms. Because the feline heart and blood vessels are so small, these few worms can wreak havoc. In a dog, six worms or fewer might not be considered worth treating.
Whereas worms found in the canine heart can reach lengths up to 14 inches, the average length of worms found in feline hearts is only 5-8 inches.
While an adult heartworm can expect to live 5 years in a dog, it will only live 2-3 years in a cat probably due to the cat’s especially strong immune reaction.
SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE
The cat’s immune system is extremely reactive against heartworms. For this reason, it is virtually impossible to detect microfilariae in an infected cat. (The cat’s immune system removes them too quickly). Also, symptoms of infection tend to be more immune-related than heart failure related. Cats develop more of a lung disease, complete with respiratory stress, and coughing or vomiting chronically. Feline heartworm disease is often misdiagnosed as feline asthma. Sudden death may occur just as it may occur in infected dogs.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Microfilariae testing is virtually worthless in the cat.
Antigen testing may not be accurate in the cat as the worm burdens are typically very low. (Remember, it takes 1-3 female worms, depending on their age, for the test to trigger positive.)
Antibody testing may be more sensitive but is not adequate alone. A negative antibody test is good evidence that the cat is not infected; however, a positive antibody test may indicate several things. It could indicate a mature infection. It could indicate the presence of immature worms in the body. It could also indicate a past infection. (Antibody levels will remain somewhat elevated after the heartworms have long since died of old age.) This means that a positive antibody test should be accompanied by some kind of signs of heart disease (either symptoms or radiographic or ultrasonographic evidence) or with a positive antigen test before making a diagnosis of active heartworm infection in a cat.
Antibody testing can detect either antibodies against heartworm skin or antibodies against deeper heartworm body proteins. Antibodies against skin seem to be more indicative of current infection. Antibodies against deeper (“somatic”) proteins, may indicate early infection (infection prior to the maturation of the adult worms) or an old infection. All three types of testing (Antigen, Cuticular Antibody and Somatic Antibody) may be needed to evaluate a cat’s heartworm status.
TREATMENT
The same heartworm adulticide therapy used in dogs may be used in cats but it is extremely dangerous to do so. There may not be a choice, however, depending on the degree of illness from the heartworm disease. Approximately one third of cats receiving heartworm adulticide therapy will experience life-threatening embolic complications when the worms die suddenly. One month of cage confinement is typically recommended to control circulatory effort after adulticide treatment.
In general, if the cat does not appear sick, the American Heartworm Society recommends attempting to wait out the worm’s 2-3 year life span and simply monitor chest radiographs every 6 months or so.
Since the major signs of disease in the cat are due to inflammation and immune stimulation, a medication such as prednisone can be used to control symptoms.
October 21st, 2008 4:59 am
Yes and it is almost always fatal in cats. It is not as common for a cat to get it as it is with dogs, but it is harder to treat a cat.
October 23rd, 2008 4:39 am
Not if your a good mom.
October 25th, 2008 10:40 am
The answer to this question is an unequivocal “yes” but the situation is vastly different from the canine situation. It is very important to understand the differences and understand why feline infection is so rare.
THE PARASITE AND ITS MIGRATION
The cat is not a natural host for the heartworm which means the migrating larval heartworm is not likely to find its way to the heart should it actually make its way into a cat’s skin from a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes that carry heartworm definitely prefer to feed on dogs.
Whereas a moderate heartworm infection in a dog would involve 25-50 adult heartworms, infected cats typically have less than six adult worms. Because the feline heart and blood vessels are so small, these few worms can wreak havoc. In a dog, six worms or fewer might not be considered worth treating.
Whereas worms found in the canine heart can reach lengths up to 14 inches, the average length of worms found in feline hearts is only 5-8 inches.
While an adult heartworm can expect to live 5 years in a dog, it will only live 2-3 years in a cat probably due to the cat’s especially strong immune reaction.
SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE
The cat’s immune system is extremely reactive against heartworms. For this reason, it is virtually impossible to detect microfilariae in an infected cat. (The cat’s immune system removes them too quickly). Also, symptoms of infection tend to be more immune-related than heart failure related. Cats develop more of a lung disease, complete with respiratory stress, and coughing or vomiting chronically. Feline heartworm disease is often misdiagnosed as feline asthma. Sudden death may occur just as it may occur in infected dogs.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Microfilariae testing is virtually worthless in the cat.
Antigen testing may not be accurate in the cat as the worm burdens are typically very low. (Remember, it takes 1-3 female worms, depending on their age, for the test to trigger positive.)
Antibody testing may be more sensitive but is not adequate alone. A negative antibody test is good evidence that the cat is not infected; however, a positive antibody test may indicate several things. It could indicate a mature infection. It could indicate the presence of immature worms in the body. It could also indicate a past infection. (Antibody levels will remain somewhat elevated after the heartworms have long since died of old age.) This means that a positive antibody test should be accompanied by some kind of signs of heart disease (either symptoms or radiographic or ultrasonographic evidence) or with a positive antigen test before making a diagnosis of active heartworm infection in a cat.
Antibody testing can detect either antibodies against heartworm skin or antibodies against deeper heartworm body proteins. Antibodies against skin seem to be more indicative of current infection. Antibodies against deeper (“somatic”) proteins, may indicate early infection (infection prior to the maturation of the adult worms) or an old infection. All three types of testing (Antigen, Cuticular Antibody and Somatic Antibody) may be needed to evaluate a cat’s heartworm status.
TREATMENT
The same heartworm adulticide therapy used in dogs may be used in cats but it is extremely dangerous to do so. There may not be a choice, however, depending on the degree of illness from the heartworm disease. Approximately one third of cats receiving heartworm adulticide therapy will experience life-threatening embolic complications when the worms die suddenly. One month of cage confinement is typically recommended to control circulatory effort after adulticide treatment.
In general, if the cat does not appear sick, the American Heartworm Society recommends attempting to wait out the worm’s 2-3 year life span and simply monitor chest radiographs every 6 months or so.
Since the major signs of disease in the cat are due to inflammation and immune stimulation, a medication such as prednisone can be used to control symptoms.
October 25th, 2008 1:43 pm
never heard of heart worm disease,.,but heard of cats,..got some pets..
October 26th, 2008 5:13 pm
I have no idea
October 27th, 2008 6:02 pm
I guess any animal could.
October 29th, 2008 5:58 am
They can but it’s not as common in cats as it is in dogs. It’s also alot harder to treat in cats due to size and the medications involved.