Why Cats Prone to Ringworm in Spring: Understanding the

Section 1: Why Do Cats Prone to Ringworm in Spring?

It's a common misconception that ringworm only appears during spring. While cats can indeed contract ringworm throughout the year, the incidence tends to rise in spring. This is primarily due to several factors:

1. Significant temperature fluctuations: Spring brings about considerable changes in temperature, especially during the day and night. These shifts can weaken a cat's immune system, making them more susceptible to skin diseases. If a cat is already nutritionally deficient, their skin's resistance to bacteria and fungi is further compromised.

2. High humidity: The spring and summer months are characterized by increased humidity, with spring often seeing a sudden rise in moisture levels due to rapid temperature increases. This slow evaporation of indoor moisture creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, leading to a higher likelihood of skin diseases in cats.

3. Frequent bathing: As the weather warms up in spring, many pet owners start bathing their cats more frequently. However, failing to dry them thoroughly after a bath or not completely drying their fur can lead to excessive skin moisture, fostering the growth of bacteria and ringworm.

4. Crossinfection: During spring, when cats are in heat, they may wander off in search of a mate without their owners' knowledge. This can expose them to other cats with ringworm, increasing their risk of infection.

Section 2: Diagnosis and Treatment of Ringworm

The symptoms of ringworm in cats include:

1. Localized hair loss with red and swollen skin in the affected areas;

2. One or more circular or elliptical patches on the skin, accompanied by grayish scales.

Diagnosis: Wood's lamp examination can be used to identify ringworm. This type of ultraviolet light causes certain ringworm fungi to glow a fluorescent green. To ensure that the cat's ringworm is almost healed, the Wood's lamp can also be used for followup checks.

Treatment:

Before treating ringworm, pet owners should isolate their cat to prevent the spread of the fungus to humans or other pets. Next, trim the fur around the affected area by about 1 cm to facilitate medication application. Then, remove scales and crusts from the cat's skin, disinfect the area with iodine, and apply the Furocin skin spray and Fuan'te ointment. Continue applying the medication and observe the cat's skin for several days. If the recovery is slow, consider combining medication with a bath.

Caution: During the treatment of ringworm, it's important to keep the cat fitted with an Elizabethan collar to prevent them from licking the affected area, which could worsen the condition and lead to further spread.

This article has covered the reasons why cats are more prone to ringworm in spring, as well as the diagnosis and treatment methods. If you have any further questions, feel free to consult an online veterinary doctor directly.