And the only way in which this worm can enter your cat's body is through a mosquito bite. The infection occurs when a mosquito pierces a cat's skin and, in so doing, allows entry of heartworm larvae that it has picked up from another animal, most commonly an infected dog, into the victim's bloodstream.
How does an indoor cat get heartworms?
When an infected mosquito bites a cat, it injects infective larvae into the cat. The larvae migrate into the bloodstream, ending up in the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries. There they mature into adult heartworms capable of reproduction within about 6 to 7 months.
How contagious is heartworm in cats?
Is heartworm contagious in cats? A: No, heartworm in cats is not contagious. Because cats are not natural hosts for heartworms, the parasites do not reproduce inside cats. Heartworms' natural hosts are dogs.
How common is heartworm in indoor cats?
An indoor feline lifestyle is not a guarantee against heartworm infection. In fact, one in four cases of heartworm disease occur in cats that live exclusively indoors1.
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