Cat Heartworm?

by Sharon
(Alabama)

I am new to cat care, never having had a cat as a pet before. I have two cats now which spend most of their days outside but come in at night. I live in the hot, humid Southeast.

Do my cats need heartworm medication in this climate, and if not, how often is it necessary to deworm them and with what cat medication?


Dear Sharon,

Congratulations on starting your cat family!

Considering that you likely have mosquitoes year-round, preventative heartworm medication would be a wise idea and should be discussed with your veterinarian.

As for how often your cats would need deworming, it is hard to say for any cat that goes outdoors. While every 6 months would be wise, if your cats are prone to catching small rodents or come in contact to other animals that may have worms, bringing a fecal sample to a veterinarian every 3-6 months would be strongly recommended. Your veterinarian will make recommendations for the best deworming medication as well.

All the best,
Dr. Neely