What You Need To Know About Ringworm And Cats
Ringworm is a fungal infection that targets a cat's skin. This fungus causes ring-shaped lesions that can make your cat itchy and could even spread the fungus to you. Knowing how to identify if your cat has a ringworm infection will help you determine what steps to take to contain the condition.
You'll See Ring-Shaped Lesions
Ringworm's trademark symptom is that it leaves circular-shaped lesions on your cat's skin. The fungus feeds on keratin, which causes the lesions to form. Common places to find ringworm are your cat's face, tail, ears, and feet. On your cat's paws, ringworm can also infect the claws, which cause them to become deformed.
Many illnesses or wounds can cause circular-shaped lesions, so that's not enough to confirm your cat has ringworm. Ringworm lesions may also leave an ash-gray residue on your cat's fur. Many types of ringworm leave spores in your cat's fur that glow beneath a black light.
Some Cats Are Asymptomatic
Sometimes cats can appear asymptomatic but still be carriers of ringworm. You may think a cat that shows no symptoms of ringworm wouldn't have a problem. However, ringworm can spread to you or other cats in your household. If you or other pets in the household show symptoms, you'll want to test other cats that are asymptomatic.
Asymptomatic cats are typically long-haired. Their hair tends to mask any symptoms of the fungal infection. Your vet can confirm infection in these cats by obtaining a culture of their hair and skin scrapings. However, if the spores develop slowly, it may take up to four weeks to determine if the cat is infected.
There Are Plenty Of Treatment Options
Ringworm is a tricky infection to treat. Many vets opt to take a multi-faceted approach to treat ringworm in cats. Here are some of the treatments available:
Lime Sulfur Dip. This dip is available over the counter and is diluted and applied directly to the infected areas. You don't rinse this dip off after it's applied. This dip may stain your cat's fur.
Ointments. Your vet may prescribe antifungal creams for you to apply to your cat's skin lesions.
Oral Medication. Your vet may combine any of the other treatment options with oral antifungal medication.
In many cases, after treatment, ringworm will clear within three weeks. However, the spores can remain infectious in your household for up to 18 months. Due to this, it's essential to follow a deep cleaning regimen in addition to any medications your vet recommends.
If you spot possible ringworm lesions on your cat, you should reach out to your vet. Your veterinarian will provide an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan for your cat's health needs.
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