Dogs and cats have different experiences with heartworms. Dogs that get the disease tend to have lots of worms that primarily affect the heart. In cats, the worms most often cause lung problems, and the worms live much less time, about two years. There are two approved heartworm preventives for cats. Revolution is a topical medication it soaks in through the skin.
Owners apply an eyedropper full of medicine to the back of the animal's neck once a month.
Some veterinarians recommend the medications' use for coverage during late spring and summer, when mosquitoes are most prevalent, so it's best to consult with your veterinarian. He also recommends treatments across the board for dogs and ferrets. He believes that many cats that have heartworms are being misdiagnosed, especially since the symptoms can easily be mistaken for other problems. Some typical symptoms are coughing, breathing difficulty, vomiting, sluggishness and weight loss. Heartworm is most common near huge bodies of water, such as the Great Lakes and oceans, because that's where mosquito populations are heaviest.