How To Treat Ringworm In Cats: Tips & Treatments For Your Feline - Newsweek

Cats, like all other domesticated animals, are susceptible to the unpleasant fungal infection of the skin, hair and nails known as ringworm.

However, there are common misconceptions about the condition, as the rash is not triggered by a worm, and the infected areas are not always ring-shaped, leaving some cat owners a little confused.

Read on to learn more about how to treat ringworm in cats.

What Is Ringworm?

Ginger cat relaxing on couch in living room. Cats, like all other domesticated animals, are susceptible to the unpleasant fungal infection of the skin, hair and nails known as ringworm Maryviolet/Getty Images

Teresa Keiger, Creative Director of The Cat Fanciers' Association, tells Newsweek ringworm is a common fungus and found on both humans and animals.

She says: "In humans, it's usually found as athlete's foot, jock itch, or ringworm. Like any fungus, ringworm spreads by releasing spores, making it easily transmissible to other cats and to humans."

This fungus dermatophytosis boasts the annoying ability to grow on the skin and to sustain itself by consuming the outer layers of the body, hair and nails.

There are thought to be scores of different species of dermatophyte fungi, each tending to cause infection in its particular host animal.

Cats are not immune to ringworm, with numbers of cases of dermatophytosis in felines caused by infections with Microsporum canis (M canis), with this organism also found on dogs and humans.

How Do Cats Catch Ringworm?

Dermatophytosis is a contagious infection, caused by (as many as) millions of microscopic spores grown around infected hairs and areas, and shed into the environment.

Eventually, some spores can make their way into a cat's proximity, either by contact or close proximity to an infected animal or object, allowing it to become infected.

Spores floating through the environment can remain dormant and infectious for up to two years, which makes them problematic to eradicate.

Once these microscopic bodies stick to the skin, an infection can begin, while cuts can be a susceptible entry point for infections to develop.

Infection is more common in cats younger than one-year-old due to their less-sophisticated skin defenses, and in long haired cats, possibly because they may be less able to groom themselves efficiently.

How To Spot The Signs Of Ringworm Infections In Cats?

The appearance of dermatophyte infections in cats is variable, as ringworm's effects can be difficult to spot to the untrained eye.

Pet hospital the VCA notes the most common signs include a "cigarette ash scaling" in the roots of the cat's fur, which can be the best indication of ringworm's presence.

Other signs to look out for if you feel something may be wrong are circular crusty patches of skin with hair loss.

How To Treat Ringworm?

Treatment is always recommended because, while most cases can eventually sort themselves out, infected animals are a risk to other cats and also to humans.

However, Keiger believes ringworm's real danger to cats is not the unsightly bald spots and scaly skin, but infection.

She says: "It can entrench itself and cause dermatitis—and that irritated skin can then become infected."

Ringworm treatment is fortunately relatively straightforward, and is either systemic—involving antifungal tablets or liquids taken orally, or topical—meaning creams rubbed into the skin.

The National Library Of Medicine cautions topical treatment alone is rarely very effective.

It states on its site: "The treatment of fungal infections caused by a dermatophyte has been successful when treated with oral or topical antifungal agents.

"Terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole are oral antimycotics that are effective in the treatment of superficial mycoses, although, depending on the severity of the infection, a topical antifungal may be sufficient."

The International Cat Care also suggests preventing further infection to other animals and humans by decontaminating the environment.

This is best achieved by both physically removing infected hairs, and chemical disinfection, with the most helpful products in the battle against dermatophyte spores thought to be hypochlorite and gluteraldehyde solutions.