This is a disease caused by the fungus Microsporum canis, which feeds on the keratin of the skin, hair and nails of the animals it parasitizes. The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are circular lesions without hair that, in addition, produce a lot of itching, crusting and scaling. Likewise, it is common for them to emit a bad smell. In case of suspecting this fungal disease, it is essential to go to the veterinary center to start the treatment that the professional stipulates, since it is the most effective to eliminate ringworm in cats.
Once the treatment has been established, as a complement you can apply some home remedies to treat ringworm in cats Of course, too the veterinarian must approve that these remedies be applied on a case-by-case basis. Keep reading and discover on our site what these remedies are and how to apply them.
Haircut
Although this is not a proper home remedy, it is a recommendation to keep in mind to prevent the spread of ringwormThus, before applying any ointment or remedy, it is important to cut the hair around the lesions. It is advisable that this cut is done by a knowledgeable person, such as a veterinarian or a feline groomer, both to avoid harming the animal and to avoid stress during this process.
In addition to cutting the hair, it is essential to collect all the hair that is cut and, of course, those that fall out naturally, because if we do not do it, the ringworm could spread to other animals or people.
Wash affected areas
Once the hair has been removed from the lesions, it is important to keep them clean. To do this, we can use a commonly used antiseptic that is made up of iodine or chlorhexidine. These antiseptics are usually sold in pharmacies without a prescription, but in any case, it is necessary to consult with the veterinarian so that they can indicate the most suitable for our feline.
When handling our cat, both to cut the hair and to clean the lesions or apply veterinary remedies and treatment, it is essential to use disposable latex gloves, since we can get infected.
Vinegar with s alt
In addition to using products sold in pharmacies and in veterinary clinics and shops, there are remedies that we can easily make at home, for example, vinegar with s alt. Mix iodized s alt with white or apple vinegar and stir well until you get a kind of paste. We will apply this resulting paste to the affected skin areas of our feline companion. Let this mixture act for about 5 minutes, then remove it and wash the area well. We will repeat this process for at least a week.
Apple vinager
Apple cider vinegar itself is a powerful natural antibacterial and antifungal, which is why it is used as a home remedy against multiple parasites and mushrooms. Likewise, it is analgesic, anti-inflammatory and healing, so that it also favors the healing of lesions caused by ringworm. To learn more options for this purpose, do not miss this other post with more Home remedies to heal wounds in cats.
This vinegar can be applied topically on lesions by adding 5 to 10 drops, once a day. It is important to use 100% apple cider vinegar, preferably organic.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Dr. Jacob Harich discovered as early as 1980 that grapefruit seed extract possessed excellent antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, and antioxidant properties For this reason, today we find it as one of the most used natural remedies to combat different types of infectious processes, such as those caused by fungi. For this reason, it is a natural product widely used to treat ringworm in any animal.
To use this home remedy for ringworm in cats, the ideal is to dilute the extract in water and apply it once or twice a day on the affected areas. Of course, its effects are observed as a complement to veterinary treatment, not by itself. Likewise, we will not use an essential oil, since it would be toxic for the cat.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is also an excellent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. Of course, it is useful in mild infections, in more serious infections it will not offer the expected results.
To use coconut oil to combat ringworm in our cat, we simply have to clean and dry the affected areas, apply a layer of oil and let it act. We can use this remedy once a day, every three or four days, not every day.
Probiotics
Probiotics favor the immune system, so using them is always a success in infectious processes like this. We can complement our cat's diet by acquiring specific probiotics for these animals or, if we cannot find them, with yogurt or kefir. It is essential that the yogurt is natural and does not contain sugar, since it is not suitable for these animals. As for kefir, we also find it in different presentations, the most common being milk and yogurt. Again, it must be a sugar free product.
We can offer a natural or kefir yogurt to our cat following the instructions of our veterinarian regarding quantity and frequency. In this other article we talk more in depth about probiotics: "Probiotics for cats".
Although we have different home remedies for ringworm in cats, we must again emphasize the importance of following veterinary treatment. These remedies alone may not solve the problem, so we must follow the guidelines established by the professional and, as a complement, administer the remedies that best suit the situation of our feline.
