How Do I Treat Feline Heartworm?

Unfortunately for cats, there is no treatment for heartworm disease like there is for dogs.  Therefore, it is very important to prevent heartworm disease in cats.  We recommend feline Revolution, which is a monthly topical medication.  Revolution will not only protect against heartworm disease and intestinal parasites, but will also protect your cat from fleas and ear mites. Our staff will be happy to teach you how to apply Revolution to your cat; it is actually quite simple and we find most cats are not bothered by it at all.

We find that many of our clients believe heartworm preventatives are only necessary for outdoor cats.  However, it is important to point out that indoor-only cats can be exposed to heartworm by mosquitoes that enter your home through open doors and windows. In fact, mosquitoes will gravitate toward the warmest object in a room, and with normal feline body temperature at around 101.5 degrees, your cat may attract more mosquitoes inside the house than you do. So, if you’re getting bitten, your feline friend probably is being bitten as well. 

If you have additional questions on heartworm preventatives in cats (or dogs), please give our office a call at (203) 775-3679.

Author: Jeremy Salvatore

Dr. Salvatore joined Brookfield Animal Hospital in 2013.  He is a graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary medicine.  Dr. Salvatore is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr. Salvatore has a special interest in veterinary dentistry.