The life cycle of a heartworm is complex with many larval stages. However, the most important part to note is that out of all these stages, we can only kill two of them. Therefore, it's crucial to give your cat heartworm prevention every month on the same day because we only get two chances to ensure that your cat doesn't get heartworms.

The prevalence of heartworms in cats is not clearly known because they are not tested as often as they should be. However, they are probably less common than in dogs but more common than we think, especially in high endemic heartworm areas like Houston and Louisiana.

No, cats are not the primary hosts for heartworm disease. While they can have one or two worms in their hearts, the majority of transmission occurs through dogs.

Cats get heartworms by being bitten by a mosquito.

An internal parasite is anything that lives inside of you, such as intestinal parasites, heartworms, tick-borne diseases, blood-borne diseases, and fungal diseases.

A cat heartworm is the same as dog heartworms. They are parasites that live inside a host, regardless of who they bite or where they live.

Skin tumors can become painful for cats. When they are small, they may not be very uncomfortable. However, skin tumors can grow aggressively, ulcerate, and grow into tissue spaces, which can become uncomfortable for the cat.

A skin cancer diagnosis in cats is not necessarily a death sentence. However, it's important to be mindful of any lesions on your cat's skin, especially on the face. If you notice a lesion, nodule, or an ulcerative area, it's crucial to get your cat checked by a vet as soon as possible. Cats don't get cancer as easily as dogs, but when they do, it's far more likely to be malignant. Catching skin cancer early can open up more treatment options and potentially even cure it when it's smaller.

Specific studies would need to be consulted to determine if a particular cat breed is more at risk. Generally, skin cancer is more common in cats with lighter hair. White cats, in particular, are overrepresented in having skin cancer.