The following isn’t an official mystery, but rather an urgent alert. I’m sharing this information to safeguard your cats and kittens from severe illness.
Willow
Sadly, one of our kitty parents came home to find that their beautiful five-year-old indoor-only cat, Willow, had passed away without having shown any signs of illness. Willow’s family was devastated and could not understand what could have happened to their poor little kitty. They brought their cats in regularly for exams and preventative care. So what happened to Willow?
Willow’s owners decided that they had to know what happened, so we sent Willow to the state pathology laboratory for extensive analysis. After several weeks, they finally had their answer. It was heartworm disease.
Heartworm disease does not only affect dogs
Heartworm disease is transmitted by an organism that is carried by mosquitoes. During a bite, the infected mosquito injects the organism into the cat’s bloodstream. Even a single heartworm can cause severe inflammation in a cat’s lungs and heart, often leading to sudden death.
There is no cure for heartworm disease in cats. Once infected, there is little that can be done except supportive care and hope that the cat’s body can clear the infection on its own. The only protection is prevention.
Indoor cats are also at risk.
Heartworm prevention should be given year-round, even for indoor cats. Mosquitos can, and do, come inside our homes.
Losing your kitty to a disease that is so preventable is heartbreaking! That’s why we’re sharing Willow’s story with the hope that it helps save others.
Recommendations:
✔ Keep your cat on year-round heartworm prevention. Cats will have different products with different frequencies.
✔ Ask your vet if your current parasite prevention contains a heartworm preventative. If you are buying anything without veterinary approval, the product will NOT contain a heartworm preventative.
Your veterinarian is always your best partner in protecting your cat from this invisible, but potentially deadly, disease.
Heartworm prevention is a medication and can only be obtained with veterinary approval. Because there are several options available, your veterinarian can help you choose the product that best fits you and your cat’s lifestyle.