Dr. Meow Meow
Prof. Pet Studies (Veterinarian)
Ringworm is a fungal infections of the skin that can affect both felines and humans. Experienced cat owners, especially those of us with a background in cat rescue, can often recognize the typical round-shaped lesions.
What can you do if Kitty gets ringworm? How to help your feline friend get better and make sure others in your household don't get it too? If you suspect Kitty has ringworm, don't panic.
We're here to help with this detailed guide!
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Posted on June,11 2024
Once the ringworm is confirmed, your vet will prescribe a course of treatment, which can include anti-fungal dips or shampoos and sometimes medication as well.
Work with your veterinarian on finding the best medications to use. Some anti-fungal drugs are very toxic and some are not very effective.
Never use OTC drugs without first consulting your vet (that's always true, for any drug and any medical condition). Be wary of recommendations for specific anti-fungal drugs that you read online.
Take some time to research this or ask around on our Cat Health forums, and discuss the choice of drug with your vet.
Clipping of the cat's fur is sometimes suggested by vets. While it may be necessary in severe cases, clipping has its drawbacks. Clipping can cause microscopic cuts and bruises to the cat's skin, where ringworm spores can take hold and form new colonies. It can also simply contaminate the treatment room with more spores.
Lime-sulfur dips are not expensive and can be a very effective part of treatment. They are usually recommended once or twice a week - consult with your vet about the frequency.
You may be able to find a pet groomer to do them for you, but this won't be easy as many groomers refuse to treat animals with ringworm due to its contagious nature.
Limiting the cat's access to certain parts of the home can help with limiting ringworm contamination. It could be a useful step, especially with a highly infected cat and until you achieve some control over shedding using medication and lime-sulfur dips.
Keep in mind that ringworm spores are airborne, so confining a cat to a crate won't help. The spores will get out of the crate and into the room.
Confinement of any kind can increase a cat's level of stress, so use it cautiously and consider taking steps to lower the cat's stress level.
If you're dealing with a ringworm infestation in a multi-cat household, you will need to decontaminate the house.
Cleaning is your first line of defense, as it helps mechanically move spores out of the house, as well as killing them with disinfectants.
Reducing the number of spores to an absolute minimum prevents re-infection and future outbreaks.
