If we decide to have a cat as a pet we must be aware that just giving them a little love and some food is not enough. Therefore, as responsible caregivers, we must, among other things, take responsibility for their he alth. For example, one of the most common skin diseases in cats is dermatophytosis or ringworm.
If you suspect that your cat has ringworm, don't think twice and go to the vet to carry out the necessary tests as soon as possible, because this skin disease caused by a fungus spreads very quickly through the body and It spreads very easily, even to people. Keep reading this article on our site where you will find everything about ringworm in cats, its symptoms, your contagion and your treatment Also, discover some tips to help you overcome this problem to your trusty feline companion.
What is ringworm in cats?
Feline ringworm or dermatophytosis is a fungal skin disease, that is, a skin disease caused by fungi. This he alth problem is highly infectious and contagious, as it affects a large number of living beings including cats, dogs and humans, so when it is also transmitted to people it is a zoonosis and, therefore, with all the more reason, we must emphasize the importance of prevention and treatment if detected.
The fungus that causes ringworm in cats is Microsporum Canis, which affects the skin, to the hair and nails of the animals it parasitizes, as it feeds on the keratin found in these parts of the body. When ringworm also affects the nails of our feline, it is known as onychomycosis. We will know that it is acting on our cat when we observe its broken and brittle nails.
As dermatophytes cannot live in inflamed areas or in areas with hair, we will see that hair falls out in the areas of our cat's body where the fungus lives. The areas without fur are one of the most characteristic symptoms of the disease, although we will talk about this in detail later.
Due to the high ease of contagion and reproduction of these fungi, it is vital that, if we detect ringworm in one or several cats, Let's start with the treatment and isolate the affected animals from the rest to prevent the disease from spreading. For this reason, it is very common to find cats with ringworm in places where many gather, such as colonies, whether controlled or not, in shelters, etc.
The case of ringworm will be more or less severe depending on how long the disease has been acting on the affected animal and also depending on the cat's previous state of he alth. We must think that a weak state of he alth favors the appearance of opportunistic parasites and this is how ringworm often manifests itself.
Factors that favor dermatophytosis in cats
As with any disease, there are both internal and external factors that favor the appearance of ringworm in cats, that is, they help the disease spread to other animals and spread within the already infected body.
A domestic feline will be much more likely to contract dermatophytosis or ringworm depending on its he alth and environment. For example, these are some factors that favor ringworm in our cats:
- A Low defense system.
- Malnutrition.
- Other previous illnesses or parasites.
- A lot of stress.
- Unfavorable conditions, both for life and he alth and for the environment (excess humidity, lack of hygiene, excess heat, lack of sunlight, etc).
How is ringworm spread in cats?
Cats are the animals that most easily transmit ringworm and become infected with it. This disease, being fungal, uses fungal spores to spread through the environment and from animal to animal. Due to this type of fungal reproduction, cats that do not have the disease can become infected very easily when they interact with another cat that is sick and when entering in contact with objects such as blankets, food, litter box, toys, etc., used by an affected individual, among other possibilities.
The environmental and he alth factors that we have discussed in the previous section are key to the appearance of ringworm in cats and so that it spreads more quickly in the body of the animal it has already infested. Therefore, if we have a cat we should try to ensure that these factors that favor ringworm are as few as possible in a normal way, but above all if our friend is already beginning to show symptoms, this way we will prevent the situation from getting worse.
In the case of small kittens, ringworm can appear, most commonly, for a poor nutrition which greatly lowers their defenses, in addition to poor or no deworming. On the other hand, in the case of adult cats, the presence of these fungi usually indicates something more serious than poor deworming, since in these cats the most frequent causes of low defenses are other diseases or he alth problems, whether it is a cold, a pneumonia or a serious viral disease such as leukemia, which severely affect the feline immune system.
Is ringworm in cats contagious to humans?
Yes. As we have indicated at the beginning, ringworm in cats is transmitted to humans. In the same way, it can affect dogs, which is why it is so important to go to the vet at the first symptom.
When does ringworm stop being contagious in cats?
In order for ringworm to stop being contagious between cats, it is essential to carry out the complete treatment, since if the fungus is interrupted it will not be eliminated and will be able to reproduce again. Normally, the treatment lasts about six weeks, but it will depend entirely on each case.
Symptoms of ringworm in cats
If you wonder how to know if your cat has ringworm, you should know the most common symptoms that the fungus that causes it produces in these animals. The symptoms begin to be visible between 2 and 4 weeks after infection, but the stages of ringworm in cats are not always the same, since some even show little injuries. Some of the most common ringworm symptoms in domestic cats include the following:
- Frequent licking, biting and scratching in the affected areas. This is serious, since, although they do it with the idea of relieving themselves, what really happens is that in this way the fungus spreads better throughout the body, so we should try to make our cat scratch or lick as little as possible possible.
- Circular lesions of alopecia, either localized or generalized.
- Scabs and peeling of a yellowish color.
- Odor Peculiar that comes off the skin of the affected animal.
- Appearance of kerions, which are skin nodules that cause severe pain in the area where they appear.
On the other hand, if you are still not sure if your cat has ringworm, another way to find out is by looking at the affected areas. The first parts of a feline's body to be affected by ringworm are ears and limbsBut due to the rapid reproduction of the fungus, surely in a few days the head and other areas will begin to be affected as well.
Difference between mange and ringworm in cats
Although they can be confused, mange and ringworm are completely different diseases and, therefore, produce different symptoms in affected cats. Both are skin diseases, but while ringworm is caused by a fungus, mange is caused by mites The most common type of mange in cats is notohedral, which It produces intense itching and manifests itself on the skin, leaving areas without hair and with scabs, which is why it can be confused with ringworm. Consult the article Notoedric mange in cats to learn how contagion occurs and how it is treated.
Diagnosis of ringworm in cats
It is vital that the veterinarian perform all the necessary tests to make sure that it is ringworm and, above all, to make sure that there is no underlying disease that has caused the ringworm. These diseases, such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency, are usually very serious and weaken the cat's immune system, favoring the appearance of secondary diseases and parasites. If you want to learn more about these diseases, go to this article on the most common diseases in cats on our site and learn why veterinary monitoring is vital.
Once the vet has done tests such as cultures, trichogramsor using the Wood's lamp and can confirm the presence of ringworm fungi, it will indicate the best treatment to offer our cat. When the veterinarian decides on the appropriate treatment, he will take into account the age of our cat, other possible diseases and parasites, the state of his immune system and the risk of contagion to other animals. From there, he will deduce the most adjusted treatment to the existing needs.
How to cure ringworm in cats? - Treatment
Although it should be the veterinarian who specifies the best treatment for ringworm in cats, before doing so we must clean the affected areas with povidone-iodineor some other similar antiseptic product that is anti-infective and antifungal, which helps us to disinfect and heal the skin of our animal. Next, and once we have cleaned the area, we can proceed with the application of the treatment.
In general, ringworm usually subsides without complications improving the diet and cleaning care in order to strengthen the system immune to fight the fungus on its own. However, the specialist can also indicate some treatment, the most common and main one being topical, either in powder, cream, ointment, emulsion or liquid, such as chlorhexidine or enilconazole. There are also oral treatments, but they are much more aggressive for our feline's body, so we always try to get ahead with topical treatments. Even so, if dermatophytosis in cats persists for a long time, systemic treatment will have to be opted for in order to completely eliminate the disease.
As it is a long treatment and with which you have to be very persistent, we must have a lot of patience, but little by little we will see how our friend recovers until he will finally be completely cured. It is vital that ringworm treatments are done exactly how and for as long as our trusted veterinarian tells us, as the fungi hardly need anything to spread again quickly.
Typically, ringworm treatments in cats should last 1 to 3 months, but any ringworm treatment should last for A further 2-4 weeks after the affected cat appears to be cured is the only way to ensure success. When this time has passed, the veterinarian should repeat the tests to be completely sure that the disease has been overcome.
What can be done with a cat with ringworm?
The most important thing is to follow the treatment for feline ringworm that the veterinarian has stipulated, since it is the most effective to end this fungal disease. As a complement and in order to help our cat to overcome ringworm, we can follow these consejos:
- Protegerse: as dermatophytosis in cats is a zoonotic disease, it can affect us humans, so we must be very careful when handling it. our cat and its environment while it is sick with ringworm. In addition to cleaning and disinfecting the entire house and especially the areas where our friend spends the most time, we must use disposable latex gloves to touch and treat the feline, And it is that, if you wonder what happens if you touch your cat ringworm without any care, it is most likely that you will get it. If you don't have gloves, you'll need to soak your hands in bleach diluted in water to kill the fungus, then wash with soap and water.
- Protect others: so that it does not spread to other cats, dogs or even other people in the house, do not A deep cleaning of the house will be enough, and it will be necessary for the cat affected by ringworm to be quarantined isolated from the others until it is completely cured and the vet tells us. It will be good if, even if there is only one affected cat in the house, we bathe all of them at least once with antifungal shampoo, which we will talk about later.
- Disinfecting the house: as we have been saying, disinfecting and thoroughly cleaning the house is something very important, because if we do not eliminate the fungi no matter how much our cat manages to easily cure the dermatophytes, they will act again. We can use chlorine, special detergents, bleach and we must vacuum thoroughly. Of course, we will have to remove the vacuum bag. If possible, it is very convenient that we clean furniture, carpets, blankets, toys, beds and everything possible with pressurized steam. It will be good that we clean as much as possible every day, at least vacuuming to remove contaminated hair from the environment, but at least we must do it this exhaustively on the first day of treatment and the last.
- Trimming the hair: to prevent the Microsporum Canis fungus from spreading rapidly throughout our cat's body, we recommend trimming the hair from around the round, hairless lesions, in which the fungus already inhabits. Removing the surrounding hair will make it more difficult for the dermatophytes to move and therefore they will remain localized and it will be easier to eliminate them. The hairs that we cut must be removed from the house, since the fungus will continue to survive in the dead hair.
- Brush: we can brush our cat to help eliminate fungal spores, but above all it is a good method to spread powders or other antifungal products prescribed by our veterinarian throughout the body. After using the brush we must disinfect it and vacuum again in the area of the house where we have brushed our cat with ringworm.
Can you bathe a cat with ringworm?
Yes, you can bathe a cat with ringworm, but with a specific shampoo In fact, to keep the clapas, areas without hair in which the fungus that causes ringworm lives, free from infections, it is vital that we often bathe our cat with an antifungal shampoo and apply the treatment indicated by the veterinarian. These treatments and shampoos should be left to act for about 10 minutes before being removed. It is very important that the water temperature is lukewarm, around 25 ºC-27 ºC.
Normally, these shampoos can also be used on kittens, but it is necessary to consult a specialist before proceeding with the bath.
How to prevent ringworm in cats?
Without a doubt, the best treatment is always prevention, and in cases of ringworm in cats this also happens. To do this, it is very important to maintain proper hygiene of our cat's environment and resources, as well as to act quickly if any symptoms are observed. Likewise, we must provide him with a adequate diet in order to keep his immune system in perfect condition, since we have been able to verify that a drop in defenses favors the proliferation of the fungus that causes ringworm.
Discover in this other article What cats eat to know all their nutritional needs.
Are there home remedies for ringworm in cats?
Since ringworm often does not require any specific treatment, there are home remedies that help strengthen the immune system. Likewise, in those cases in which veterinary treatment is necessary, remedies can also be applied in order to complement it and help the cat to overcome ringworm more quickly and effectively. Some examples are the use of probiotics or coconut oil. In the following article we talk about it in depth: "Home remedies for ringworm in cats". Of course, it is very important to apply them under the approval of the veterinarian in charge of the case.
