Yes, heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitos and is therefore more
prevalent in parts of the country where the mosquito population is high, or
where it doesn't get cold enough to knock them back in the winter (I'm in
Florida.)
Thank you for your condolences. I miss her badly, but it does help to have a
new kitty (had him about a month). It's hard to stay sad when there's a
black and white clown with 22 toes bouncing around.
Take care,
Debi
---------------------------------------------
"I think not," said Descartes, and promptly disappeared.

Yes, heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes.  According to my vet,
heartworm preventative (I use Heartgard) should be given 12 months of the
years in this region because I live in a warm area where mosquitoes may not
be killed by cold weather.  By contrast, people in cooler climates
administer the preventative during certain months (which your vet could list
for you).  My vet also said that outdoor cats are more likely to get
heartworms than indoor cats, for obvious reasons.  However, he said that the
irony is that those indoor cats that do contract heartworms are more likely
to die as a result than outdoor cats.  This may be related to immunity
developed by repeated contact outdoors (not a very scientific way of
expressing it, I know).  Incidentally, Heartgard and other medication is
preventative only.  Your cats should be tested for heartworms prior to
starting the program.  There is no treatment for heartworms *in* the cat,
only prevention.

Heartworms are much more common in dogs, but they do occur in cats.
However, the tests are not as reliable as in dogs.  My vet also told me that
he has seen a few instances where a seemingly-healthy cat suddenly died, for
no apparent reason.  Autopsies revealed the presence of heartworm.  He did
say that heartworms in cats (at least, those that are diagnosed) is still
relatively rare but is more common than previously thought.

Both Holly and Duffy have been on Heartgard from the first month when they
were adopted.  I tried Revolution on just one occasion, but had such a bad
reaction (especially from Duffy, who went into a complete panic and ran into
walls and other objects as he ran desperately around the room) that I went
back to Heartgard and never tried Revolution again.

MaryL
(take out the litter to reply)

Photos of Duffy and Holly:      >'o'<
http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly)
http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in")