No cat owner is pleased to hear that their precious pet has been infected by ringworm. While if untreated the condition can become serious, ringworm in cats is something fairly common and not life-threatening in and of itself. It is, in fact, the most common fungal skin condition found in cats.
Ringworm is not something limited only to cats; it is also found in humans and dogs. It is not really a ‘worm,’ but actually is a parasitic fungal organism that thrives on dead skin – though it can also be found in hair and claws. There are three types of fungus that cause ringworm in cats – Microsporum gypseum or M. gypseum, which is contracted from contaminated soil, Microsporum canis, also indicated as M. Canis, which is almost exclusively found on cats and accounts for almost all cases of ringworm in cats, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which is contracted through contact with rodents or their burrows.
Ringworm in cats, as well as with dogs and humans, is highly contagious and can even be passed among species by contact with either the infected animal, or somewhere where spores are present – which can be anywhere shed hairs of the cat are found. Prevention can therefore be difficult, but can be done by limiting your cat’s exposure to rodents, the outdoors, and other cats or dogs that might be infected. There is a vaccine for ringworm in cats manufactured by Fort Dodge, but it only is effective against the M. canis strain.
The most common symptom of ringworm in cats is bare patches in their fur, usually circular in shape. This area may be itchy and may be grey in color. If you see these signs, it is best to get confirmation from a veterinarians as soon as possible – the longer the cat is infected, the greater the chances of other pets, as well as other people and children in the house contracting the parasite. To be certain of a diagnosis, your veterinarian has several options, including using a blacklight (though not all species of ringworm will show up under a blacklight), observation of a hair sample to look for fungal spores under a microscope, or by conducting a fungal culture (putting a hair sample in a food-rich petri dish for the fungus) which could take up to 10 days to get results.
If your cat is in fact afflicted with ringworm, there are a number of different treatments available that your veterinarian might prescribe. There are several shampoos and dips, as well as oral tablets that combat the fungus, but all of these must be given in regular doses over a period of time. In addition, any topical treatment requires that the cat not be allowed to lick itself, as if the treatment is ingested it may cause vomiting or other illness. However, as the fungal spores spread through the shedding of the cat’s hair, treatment must include thorough vacuuming and washing hard surfaces in a bleach/water mixture. Anything that might have come in contact with the cat or the cat’s hair must be decontaminated, as the fungal spores can live up to 13 weeks on the hair – and re-infect your family and pets in a matter of months.
In conclusion, while it may be an involved process to treat ringworm in cats, it is not a serious illness and is nothing to be terribly worried about. Proper cleaning of your cat’s environment and treatments prescribed by your veterinarian are sufficient to cure your pet, and prevent or at least limit the spread of the parasite to the rest of the family and other pets.
