Ringworm in Cats

Did you ever get ringworm when you were a kid?  
It's not that uncommon.  Cats can get ringworm, too, and right now BCR's Willow is being treated for it.

Even though the name makes it sound like there's a worm of some kind involved, ringworm is actually a fungal infection and isn't worms at all!  It's name is feline dermatophytosis and it's one of the most common skin problems that cats get.  There are two types of these fungi that impact cats, micorsporum canis, which causes almost all ringworm cases in cats and dogs, and trichophyton mentagrophytes.  The reason for the name is the very distinctive circular rash that usually pops up on the affected skin.  It's important to know that ringworm in any form can be transmitted from cat to human.

The fungus that causes ringworm originates in soil but manages to live pretty well outside that environment.  It can live for up to 18 months on things like a cat's bed, carpet, furniture and brushes.  Kittens and older cats with compromised immune systems have a higher risk of getting ringworm.  Other risk factors are whether a cat goes outdoors and lives in a warmer, more humid climate.

When ringworm gets into a cat's system, it digests the protein keratin (that's what makes up most of your fingernails and hair) and reproduces very fast.  When this happens, a cat might actually get rid of the organisms as they groom, or they might die out on their own.  More likely, though, if they settle, the cat will develop dermatitis, an inflammatory skin condition.   There are lots of things that can cause feline dermatitis, but ringworm is a serious one and shouldn't be taken lightly, again because both of the most common types of ringworm in cats can easily passed from animal to humans.

Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine suggests pet owners be on the lookout for these signs of ringworm in your cat:
 - circular areas of hair loss
 - broken and stubby hair
 - scaling or crusty skin
 - changes in hair or skin color
 - inflamed areas of skin
 - excessive grooming or scratching
 - infected claws or nail bed
 - dandruff

If you see your cat showing any of the above signs or not acting as they normally do, call your vet right away.  The first thing the vet will do is try and determine if the problem is ringworm and not something else like a flea allergy.  One common technique for figuring this out is the use of an ultraviolet light that causes the fungus to glow.  Once the vet finds it, he will will get a sample and look at it under a microscope to confirm ringworm or not.  That may be followed by a fungal culture, which can help determine the cause of any infections present, and a PCR test, which will work if a cat has not started treatment already.  If the case is severe, the vet may also do a skin biopsy.

Vets will typically treat ringworm with both topical antifungal medications and oral systemic medication.  If there are lot of lesions on a cat's skin, the vet may also recommend a dip or full-body rinse.  Oral medication is necessary to help stop the fungus from reproducing.  Treatments may take about six weeks or longer to completely get rid of ringworm.  While a cat is being treated for ringworm, he should be isolated from any other cats and people in the house.  It's also important to make sure his environment is kept clean, too.  Frequent vacuuming of cat hair is important as is thoroughly cleaning surfaces on a regular basis.

If it's not treated at all, ringworm can go away on it's own but it may take up to a year and during that time a cat will continue to experience the symptoms listed above AND ringworm could continue to be transmittable to humans.  If you see that your cat is having skin problems, call your vet right away!

CLICK HERE to read more from Cornell University's School of Veterinary Medicine.

CLICK HERE for some additional facts about ringworm from PetMd.com.