Himalayan Gene in Cats

Siamese cat

What is the Himalayan gene? The Himalayan gene is a mutation on the C locus on chromosome A1. This genetic trait is also characterised by its heat sensitivity, which presents as darkened points (face, ears, legs and tail) and a pale body, known as ‘pointed’. In addition to the characteristic coat, the Himalayan gene also … Read more

Is Lily of the Valley Toxic to Cats?

Is lily of the valley toxic to cats?

Is lily of the valley toxic to cats? Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is toxic to cats. The toxic principles are cardiac glycosides, (primarily convallarin and convallamarin). Cardiac glycosides are plant-derived steroids that influence heart function. Every component of the lily of the valley including its leaves, flowers, berries, stems, and bulbs, is poisonous. … Read more

Orange Tabby Cat Facts

Orange tabby cat

Also known as a red tabby, an orange tabby is a common coat colour that consists of a  base colour that ranges from a light cream or yellow-orange to a deep, rich red or ginger, which is a backdrop for the darker stripes, spots, or swirls. Orange tabby is a common coat colour and not … Read more

9 Types of Calico Cats (With Photos)

Calico cat

Dense calico     Dilute calico     Van calico     Harlequin calico     Shorthaired calico     Longhaired calico     Curly coated calico     Male calico What is a calico cat? Calico refers to a colour pattern that is common in random-bred and purebred cat populations. The term ‘calico’ refers to a tri-colour coat that consists of white, black and orange,  white, chocolate and … Read more

Can Cats Have Littermate Syndrome?

Does littermate syndrome affect cats?

What is littermate syndrome? Littermate syndrome refers to a set of behaviours that can develop when two or more puppies from the same litter are raised together in the same home. These challenges can make both training and bonding more difficult for the owner and can also lead to a range of behavioural issues for … Read more

Cat Peeing Everywhere and Crying a Lot

Cat peeing everywhere and crying

  Cats are known for their meticulous cleanliness, which extends to their toileting habits. When changes in their behaviour such as peeing everywhere and meowing a lot occur, it can be a significant cause for concern. These unusual actions can be symptoms of underlying health issues, stress, or anxiety, and it’s crucial to understand the … Read more

Why is My Cat Vomiting Worms?

Vomiting in cats

Cats are host to a number of parasitic worms, which live in the gastrointestinal tract of their host. Parasitic worms cause discomfort, nutritional deficiencies, anemia, intestinal blockages and stunted growth. It is important for pet owners to be aware of the risks of intestinal worms, know what to look for. Most gastrointestinal worm infections go … Read more

Siamese vs Burmese Cat: What is the Difference?

Siamese vs Burmese

The Siamese and Burmese are two of the most popular and recognisable cat breeds that originated in Southeast Asia. Both breeds are popular for their outgoing and friendly nature. We take a look at the physical differences by reviewing the breed standards, as well as the personality traits of each breed. Siamese Siamese Lifespan: 15-20 … Read more

Can Cats Catch Roundworms From Dogs?

Can cats catch roundworms from dogs?

Roundworms, scientifically known as nematodes, are a diverse group of parasitic worms that live in the gastrointestinal tract of their hosts, which includes humans, cats and dogs. The most common species of roundworms to infest dogs is Toxocara canis, followed by Toxascaris leonina. Tococara canis Adult worms live in the intestine of the dog and … Read more

10 Pictures of Ringworm in Cats + Veterinarian Advice

Ringworm on a cat's ears

The excitement of owning a new kitten is quickly dampened when you realize that not only is your cat very itchy and losing hair, but your human family members have also developed red itchy scabs on their bodies. This is an all too familiar scenario as a vet and it becomes quite complex to treat highly contagious ringworm in cats. Fortunately, once a definitive diagnosis has been made, there are a variety of treatments available to win the battle against ringworm.

What is ringworm in cats? what do ringworm scabs look like? (with pictures)

Ringworm is a fungal infection that affects the skin in cats, as well as humans and other mammals. The name of the condition, ringworm, can cause confusion as one would assume that the infection is caused by a worm, but the name is misleading. There are a number of fungi that infect the skin cells, and they often form a reddish, round, itchy area of hair loss with a ring of scaly skin around the area. In humans, the ring of scaly skin can resemble a worm.

ringworm on cat's ear with hair loss and redness

What are the causes of ringworm in cats?

The scientific name for ringworm is dermatophytosis and the fungi that cause the lesions are dermatophytes. Whilst there are a number of dermatophytes that cause ringworm infection in cats, the most common fungus is Microsporum canis. Many cats will carry the dermatophytes on their skin without displaying symptoms and these cats may transmit the fungi to other cats in the household. They will also drop fungal spores with their normal skin cells and loose hair and contaminate the household.

ringworm seen on a cat's leg

Cats may be exposed to the fungal spores from direct contact with another cat or contact with the fungal spores in the environment. This environmental contamination with fungal spores can make it difficult to treat and control the infection. Fungal spores are resistant to treatment and may persist for up to 18 months in the environment. Most cats are naturally resistant to dermatophytes, but very young cats, geriatric cats or cats with suppressed immune systems may not be able to keep the fungal at bay and they will develop symptoms. Persian cats are more susceptible to ringworm than other cat breeds.

Some medications, e.g. cortisone or cyclosporin can suppress the cat’s immune system, making them more susceptible to ringworm. Viral infections such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) or Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) may also suppress the cat’s immune system.

Symptoms that indicate the presence of ringworm

Any change in the skin can indicate the potential presence of ringworm. Typically, cats with ringworm will:

  • lose hair in a patchy fashion
  • develop a scaly, red, inflamed and itchy area on the skin (“ringworm scabs”)

The most commonly affected areas are the face, ears, feet and tail. The fungus can also infect the nail beds and tail and may be confused with other skin conditions such as mange, miliary dermatitis, feline acne or “rodent ulcers”.

close up of ringworm infection in cat

Unfortunately, many other skin conditions can look very similar to ringworm, and it is impossible to ascertain what the cause is without seeing a vet and allowing them to do certain diagnostic tests to establish the cause of the skin condition.

skin conditions can look very similar to ringworm

When to call your vet

Whenever you notice a change on your cat’s skin it is important to have them checked by the vet. The vet will need to perform a few tests to get to the find the underlying cause of the ringworm and to treat it appropriately. Trying to treat your cat’s skin condition at home without being certain of the cause can worsen the skin condition and delay your cat’s recovery and may cause it undue stress. Ringworm is also contagious to other cats and to people and prompt, effective treatment will prevent others from getting infected.

allergic skin disease in a cat

signs of ringworm on a cat's neck

Pictures of ringworm & ringworm scabs in cats

What will your vet do?

Your pet will do a full examination including a history to determine if your pet has any underlying or risk factors. They will also ask questions regarding your cat’s diet and history of tick and flea control.

They will then examine your cat with a Wood’s lamp. This lamp uses various wavelengths of light to detect the presence of dermatophytes on the fur and skin. It is not 100% accurate in all cases and if they strongly suspect dermatophytes even though the Woods’ lamp test is negative, then they will take samples of hair for fungal culture.

purple wood lamp to diagnose skin disease in cats and dogs

Fungal cultures are helpful because they identify which fungus is causing the ringworm, but they can take up to 10 days to yield a result. The vet may start treatment whilst waiting for the result. Fungal PCR testing is a newer, quicker and more sensitive test that is variably available depending on your location. They may also do other tests such as skin scrapings and hair plucks to ensure that there are no other infectious agents causing the skin condition, e.g. mange mites or bacterial infections. If your cat is positive for ringworm then the vet may recommend testing for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) because these are the two most common causes of a suppressed immune system.

If they still cannot establish a cause at this point, they may recommend a treatment trial or skin biopsies which are taken under anaesthesia.

Treatment for ringworm

There are three treatment routes that your vet will consider for your specific situation:

1. Topical – medications that are applied directly to the cat’s skin

a veterinarian treats a kitten for ringworm. with cotton swabs, the doctor applies ointment to the wounds.

2. Systemic – oral medications that are dosed to the cat, either in a pill or liquid form

3. Environmental- this can be critical to decrease the risk of exposure to fungal spores and to stop re-infection.

Whatever treatment route is used, it is important to note that it may take some time to get the infection under control and it essential to follow all instructions and to complete the treatment properly.

Topical treatments include lime sulfur dip and miconazole-chlorhexidine rise or shampoo. It is essential to dilute it as instructed and to allow for the appropriate contact time. The vet may also recommend that all the animals in the household are treated topically to destroy any fungal spores that they may be carrying. If there are only one or two small lesions, a topical anti-fungal ointment containing an anti-fungal such as miconazole or clotrimazole may be prescribed.

The most used oral medications are itraconazole and terbinafine. Griseofulvin is an older treatment that is not commonly used any more but can be very effective. All of these medications are available only with a prescription and in some cases the vet may have to compound them into an appropriate dose, particularly for kittens. There are various treatment protocols which range from daily dosing to once or twice weekly depending on the individual cat and the medication that the vet deems appropriate.

How to treat cats with ringworm at home

Whilst we would not recommend attempting treatment at home without seeing a vet first, it is essential to decontaminate the environment to get the infection under control. In most cases it is preferable to isolate the infected cat from other cats in the household.

  • Thorough cleaning of the environment including thorough vacuuming and steam cleaning of carpets and upholstery and disinfection of floors (using a dilute bleach solution or appropriate disinfectant as recommended by your vet).
  • All laundry should be washed twice and bleached if appropriate to the fabric. Fungal spores can survive in the environment for up to 18 months and thorough disinfection is essential to prevent re-infection.
  • All other pets in the household should be screened for dermatophytes by the vet and thoroughly bathed in an appropriate anti-fungal shampoo or dipped with an anti-fungal dip, to decrease the load of fungal spores that they may be carrying.
  • If you or any other person is infected then consultation with a doctor is required to obtain prescription treatment.
  • Practising meticulous hand washing and hygiene precautions after contact with the infected cat is essential.

Ringworm is highly contagious to other cats and to humans

Yes ringworm is highly contagious to other cats, especially if they are very young or geriatric. Unfortunately ringworm is also contagious to humans (known as a zoonosis) and to other animals in the household, for example dogs.

ringworm contagion from cat to human

More pictures of ringworm in cats

cat nose scabs due to ringworm infection
cat nose scabs due to ringworm

 

Ringworm on a cat
Cat with skin disease caused by fungus. Cat has been shaved and treat by vet at veterinary clinic

 

Ringworm on a cat's ears
Ringworm at ear cat

How long does it take for ringworm in cats to be eliminated?

Ringworm can be lengthy, frustrating and costly to treat due to the risk of environmental contamination and frequent re-infection. It can take 2 -16 weeks to thoroughly clear the infection. In animals with weakened immune systems, it may take even longer. Fortunately, ringworm is hardly ever fatal, but it is frustrating and time-consuming to treat and eliminate.

References:

https://www.dvm360.com/view/ringworm-diagnostics-treatment-and-management-strategies-proceedings-0

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951439

 

Ringworm at a glance

What is ringworm? Ringworm is a highly contagious, generally superficial fungal infection of the skin, fur and nails, caused by a fungus of the genus Microsporum and Trichophyton.How do cats become infected with ringworm? Infection occurs via direct contact with an infected animal or fungal spores which are in the environment on objects which commonly include grooming equipment, bedding, collars and ectoparasites.

How do you know if a cat has ringworm?

  • Circular patches of scaly, red lesions which start out small and increase in size
  • Areas of hair loss
  • Small pustules may be found in the lesion
  • Itchiness (occasionally)
  • The head, ears and tail are most commonly affected

Is ringworm contagious to humans? Yes, ringworm is zoonotic which means the infection can spread from cats to people or people to cats (and other pets).

Treatment: Oral antifungal drugs, medicated baths and/or medicated shampoos and dips. The environment must be
cleaned at the same time as the cat is treated.

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