Are heartworms visible? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

No, heartworms are not visible in cats. They stay strictly in the heart or the lungs.

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Is heartworm painful? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

No, it's not that heartworm disease is painful per se. It just causes inflammation in the heart and lungs, making it more irritating than anything else.

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How soon will a cat show signs of heartworm? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

It takes about six months for a heartworm to fully develop from the larva to an adult stage. After that, the cat can start showing signs at any moment.

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What is a sign my cat has heartworm? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

Cats with heartworms may show signs such as coughing, lethargy, lack of appetite, and even potentially sudden death.

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Can my indoor cat get heartworm? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

Unfortunately, here in Florida, we still get mosquitoes inside, so yes, it is very likely that your cat could potentially come in contact with them.

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What is the cycle of a heartworm, and how will this information be beneficial to my cat? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

A heartworm will usually reproduce, they'll float around in the bloodstream, we call those offspring microfilaria or larva. A mosquito will then ingest that, usually this is from a dog or any other canine, like a coyote. It will then go and take a blood meal from your cat and inject some of that blood with the microfilaria into the bloodstream, where it will then go and affect the heart.

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How common are heartworms in cats? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

It's not nearly as common. Again, cats are not the normal host, so it's not beneficial for a cat to get heartworms.

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Can a cat pass on heartworm to another pet, or person? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

No, a cat is not the normal host for the heartworm, so it is not possible for them to transmit. The heartworm actually cannot reproduce, so there are no offspring or microfilaria in the bloodstream.

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How does a cat get heartworm? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

A cat gets a heartworm the same way a dog does, through a blood-borne parasite, through mosquitoes.

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What is cat heartworm disease? - Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

A heartworm is something that lives within their bloodstream that lodges in their heart.

Contributed by Dr. Amanda German from
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