Heartworm disease is a dangerous disease that can affect all cats no matter their breed, sex or age. Heartworms are transmitted primarily through mosquitoes. A mosquito bites an infected animal and draws heartworm larvae from the bloodstream. When an infected mosquito bites a cat, the larva is released into the cat’s blood stream. It only takes 10 to 14 days for larvae to reach the infective stage. It takes 6 months for the worms to mature into large heartworms. Once they are on the move throughout the bloodstream they will primarily attack the heart and lungs. They can cause organ failure. Heartworms can live anywhere between 2 and 3 years in cats. The damage they can do in that amount of time can be fatal if aggressive treatment is not sought immediately. Even then treatment may not be successful. Talk to your Bee Cave TX veterinary clinic to learn how to protect your cat from heartworms.