In recent years, the veterinary profession has come to realize that heartworm infection is a disease which can plague cats as well as dogs. The incidence of feline heartworm disease within a given area is difficult to measure because of the difficulty surrounding diagnosing heartworm disease in cats. However, current estimates are that cases of heartworm disease in cats within a given locale probably number 10-20% of the total number of dogs infected.
Fortunately, heartworm disease in cats is fairly easy to prevent and there are many products which are used as heartworm preventive medications in cats. These products include:
- Heartgard Plus for cats
- Interceptor for cats
- Revolution for cats
- Advantage Multi for cats
Heartgard Plus Heartworm Medicine for Cats
Heartgard Plus heartworm medication for cats contains ivermectin and pyrantel as the active ingredients. Ivermectin is very effective in preventing heartworm infections, while pyrantel is effective in controlling intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms. Therefore, Heartgard Plus medication for cats not only prevents heartworms but helps to control roundworms and hookworms as well.
Heartgard Plus is available in a chewable tablet which should be administered monthly. Heartgard Plus can be administered to kittens as young as 6 weeks of age.
Interceptor Heartworm Medication for Cats
Interceptor for cats contains milbemycin oxime as the active ingredient. Like Heartgard Plus, Interceptor prevents heartworms in cats and helps control roundworms and hookworms as well. Interceptor heartworm medication for cats is a flavored chewable tablet which should be administered monthly year round. Interceptor is safe for kittens 6 weeks of age or older as long as the kitten weighs more than 1.5 pounds.
Revolution Heartworm Medicine for Cats
Revolution is also used monthly to control heartworms in cats. However, in contrast to Heartgard Plus and Interceptor which must be given orally, Revolution is a topical medication which is applied to the skin on the back of the neck or between the shoulder blades.
Revolution contains selamectin which is effective in controlling a number of different feline parasites, including:
- heartworms
- fleas
- ear mites
- roundworms
- hookworms
Revolution may be used for kittens eight weeks of age or older. However, the manufacturer advises to use caution when administering to sick, debilitated or underweight cats.
Advantage Multi Heartworm Medication for Cats
Advantage Multi resembles Revolution in that it is a topical medication which is applied to the skin of a cat. Advantage Multi should be administered monthly, much like the other heartworm medications. Advantage Multi can be used on kittens 9 weeks of age or older, but the kitten must weigh at least 2 pounds to be a candidate for Advantage Multi administration.
Like Revolution, Advantage Multi is effective in preventing or treating several parasitic feline infections, including:
- heartworms
- roundworms
- hookworms
- ear mites
- fleas
Choosing the Appropriate Heartworm Medication for a Cat
Cat owners have a variety of choices in heartworm medicines. For some, the convenience of a chewable flavored heartworm tablet may be preferable, while for others getting the cat to take a pill may be difficult and a topical heartworm medicine may be a better choice. Deciding what other parasites need to be dealt with can also help decide which medication is most appropriate. For many cat owners, the convenience of having a heartworm medication which also prevents fleas is appreciated.
As with any other medications, heartworm medications should always be used according to label directions. If there are doubts or questions regarding how to administer the medication, a veterinarian should be consulted.
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