Understanding Feline Ringworm: Essential Tips for New C

Have you noticed your cat shedding patches of fur, revealing circular or irregular bald spots, and frequently scratching or rubbing at these areas? If so, your feline friend might be suffering from ringworm, a common fungal skin infection in cats. This condition not only affects the cat but can also be transmitted to humans and other pets. If left untreated, it can lead to secondary bacterial infections, turning into a more severe condition known as pyoderma. Today, let's delve into the details of ringworm to help new pet parents better understand and tackle this issue.

What is Ringworm?

Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis or fungal skin disease, is a skin infection in cats caused by specific types of fungi. These fungi primarily belong to the dermatophyte group, with Microsporum canis being the most common, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton verrucosum, and Malassezia species.

Symptoms of Ringworm

The typical symptoms of ringworm include:

• Circular or elliptical patches of skin with clear edges, where the center may appear red;

• These patches are often covered with gray scales and have rough hair;

• The affected hair may break off in clumps or fall out completely;

• The cat may experience severe itching, leading to scratching or biting at the affected areas;

• In severe cases, there may be redness around the patches, thickened skin, scabs, and, if a bacterial infection occurs, pus may leak from the lesions.

How is Ringworm Spread?

Ringworm is contagious and can be transmitted through direct contact or by touching contaminated items (such as litter boxes, furniture, carpets, or brushes). In humans, ringworm often presents as red ringshaped rashes on the skin.

Which Cats Are More Susceptible to Ringworm?

• Cats with poor nutrition or other diseases that weaken their immune system are more prone to ringworm;

• Puppies and older cats are also more susceptible than healthy adult cats;

• Certain breeds, such as Ragdolls and Persians, which have more sensitive skin, are more likely to be affected.

How is Ringworm Diagnosed?

1. Pet owners can keep a Wood's lamp at home, as most ringworm infections will show a fluorescent green reaction under its light. However, it's important to check in a dimly lit environment.

2. For a more accurate diagnosis, it's recommended to visit a veterinary clinic for a skin scraping or hair plucking examination.

How to Prevent and Treat Ringworm?

1. Local Cleaning: Trim the fur around the ringworm patches to expose the infected area, then clean off the scales and dirt with saline solution.

2. Local Treatment: Disinfect the area with iodine and apply antifungal ointments such as Dasatin (ketоконазол cream) or terbinafine cream, twice or three times a day.

3. Oral Medication: For larger or more severe infections, oral antifungal drugs are necessary. Itraconazole is commonly used, with a dosage of 510mg/kg, taken once daily. Note that kittens, pregnant cats, and cats with liver or kidney diseases should not use this medication.

4. Fit the cat with an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from licking the affected area, which could worsen the infection.

5. Environmental Disinfection: Clean the cat's living environment with petsafe disinfectants or chlorine bleach to reduce the spread of fungal spores.

Ringworm doesn't have to be a source of undue worry. At home, you can use Pural's Pipute (tbfen hydrochloride spray) or ketokonazole cream, both of which are broadspectrum antifungal medications highly effective against ringworm. They can help your cat's skin heal quickly. Currently, these products are on a promotional offer at just 62.9 yuan per tube, offering better deals than at online stores like JD.com or Tmall. For mild infections, using just one of these treatments, applied 23 times daily, can show improvement in as little as 35 days!