Heartworm disease is a serious condition that can affect cats as well as dogs. If you own a cat such as the Himalayan, you should request an annual wellness exam to include routine heartworm testing. Heartworm disease can be a serious and fatal disease if it’s not treated by a veterinarian. The disease is caused by a worm that can be small or as long as a foot. This worm can invade the heart, lungs and blood vessels of a Himalayan. Unlike dogs; however, a cat may only have one to three worms present in her body. The worms present are almost always baby worms and rarely adult heartworms. Heartworms can cause damage to a Himalayan by causing secondary infections including heartworm associated respiratory disease (HARD). Medication used to treat heartworms in dogs is not usually effective in cats. Prevention is the main method for protecting the Himalayan. Contact Oakbrook Animal Hospital for more information about cat care.