I have 3 strickly indoor -never-step-outside-the-door cats. Do they need monthly heartworm/tick medicine? I have had them on 'Revolution' parasite control, but it is very pricy for the all 3 of them, I have to buy a 6 dose box, approx.$70 every 2 months. My vet says I should keep them on it 'in case of a flea getting into my apt from outside' but I'm not so sure. Any thoughts?
Dr. Max
Favorite Answer
It depends on the area you live in. If you have heartworm in yoru area and it is showing up in cats, it's a good idea to keep up the treatment.
If you live in an area where it is rare, or live in an area where fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are not common, then many people choose to forgo treatment.
I live in a very low heartworm area. Also I live in a low flea area. I use advatage on my cats as needed- which is once or twice a year when the flea population rises.
My cats are strictly indoors as well.
So it is an informed choice. Be informed for your area.,
scharfschwerdt
Do Cats Need Heartworm Prevention
Anonymous
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RE:
Do indoor cats really need heartworm/tick medicine every month?
I have 3 strickly indoor -never-step-outside-the-door cats. Do they need monthly heartworm/tick medicine? I have had them on 'Revolution' parasite control, but it is very pricy for the all 3 of them, I have to buy a 6 dose box, approx.$70 every 2 months. My vet says I should keep them on it...
old cat lady
I would go with Dr. Max's suggestion. You have to weigh risk factors. I think the risk for your cats is minimal unless the incidence of heartworm is high in your area for cats. It is my understanding that heartworm is more prevalent in the East and South.
My cats can only be in my back garden because of cat fence-in and we definitely have mosquitoes and I have thought about giving them the preventative. I would certainly give it to a dog. We do not have fleas in the yard or house.
I have not given any vaccinations for seven years either. Bats are vectors for rabies in the county I live in. The chance of a rabid bat falling into the garden and my cats getting at it is very small. I have lived in "earthquake country" for 35 years now. That can happen too. So it's a personal judgment call. My philosopy is that 99% of the things you worry about will not come true.
Anonymous
I'm not a vet, but my best advise is no, if they are strictly indoor as you say, you don't need any of that stuff. I had cats that were indoors and never stepped out and I never put that stuff on them although, just to make sure from time to time, I would run a flea comb through them to make sure they didn't have any fleas. They were fine until the day they died.