Feline Worms – Ring Worm

Surprisingly, if your cat has ringworm, it is not actually a worm. Until a friend approached me asking what the bald patch on her cat was and I did some research, I assumed that ringworm was an internal parasite. It was interesting to discover that ringworm is actually a fairly common skin disease or infection

of cats and dogs and it is caused by a fungus. The technical name for this fungus is

Dermatophytes and it invades and feeds off the dead skin and tissue found on the surface of the cat’s skin, claws and hair.

My vet told me that one in five cats can have the fungus, but show no symptoms. Ringworm is highly contagious, and can be passed from animal to animal, animal to human and human to animal. Kittens appeared to be most susceptible to ringworm, most likely because their immune system is not fully developed. Long-haired cats, and some breeds are also susceptible to ringworm, as are cats under stress.

The most common form of ringworm is microsporum canis and it is responsible for anywhere between 75 to 90% of all cases of ringworm in cats.

Symptoms of ringworm can range from circular patches of hair loss, especially around the head and limbs, areas of baldness, dry flaky skin and dandruff or scaly inflamed looking skin. The skin will be very tender to the touch and could feel warm or hot.

Your cat can be infected with ringworm by other cats in the neighborhood, contaminated bedding or brushes, carpets, furniture etc. The hair on affected cats becomes very fragile, breaking and shedding. The spores that are shed into the air can be picked up by your cat lying on an infected area.

If you believe your cat may have ringworm, it is imperative that you seek advice from your vet immediately. He will confirm the diagnosis and prescribe treatment. If you have more than one animal in the house, it will be necessary to treat all of them. Keep children away from infected pets as much as possible and wear gloves when you are treating it. It is also necessary to treat the environment by washing all your pets bedding in hot water and vacuuming or shampooing carpets and furniture. The spores from ringworm can live in the environment for well over a year. Healthy cats should be free of ringworm in approximately 2 to 4 months.

If you suspect your child has picked up ringworm from your cat or kitten, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible. Although ringworm in your cat can create extra work, it is not usually considered life-threatening or dangerous. By being aware of your cat and noticing anything unusual, it is often easier to get on top of a problem straight away.

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