new kitten with possible ring worm

Hey All,
I am here today cuz I adopted a kitty from a local shelter that was at out pet store. They thought she was around 5months. She got checked out by my vet and she said she is more like 3 or 4 months judging by her teeth. She is also underweight. Now a week later my kitty has what looks like a growth on her back paw and no fur on it. I also noticed a 2inch or so line on another leg that was missing fur. When I took her to the vet she said "Oh no" then paused and said it may be ring worm. She also has not gained weight in a week. So I have put her in a room for the time being. I hate hearing her cry non stop. I feel so bad. I have had a friend say it doesn't look like ring worm. I'm not sure what to do. Any advice would be great. This is my first kitty and she has been my best friend and my puppys to. The animal shelter we got her from said they do take the animals back within 2 wks. I don't want to give her back but not sure if this could be bad for my kids or puppy. Any advice would be great.

Well do NOT give her back!
Poor thing needs you and your love!

And why did you put it locked up in a room??? If you stress it out its immune system will get worse. You need to be around it! Love the poor little guy!
As for the paw, I just dont know. Im sure someone here can help though.

Give the cat a hug and a kiss from me!

I can't imagine that you'd even think of returning your cat, so let's not even go there....

What did your vet advise you to do about her being underweight and the possible ringworm? Did the vet do a culture for ringworm? If the vet didn't do one, find a new, more responsible vet and have it done. The culture can take three weeks to give you a result.

Yes, if it's ringworm, you, your kids, and your other dogs and cats can get it. If the kitten has been in the house in close contact with everyone for a week already, it's too late to isolate her now. Ringworm is an airborne fungus and it blows around like pollen, so quarantining at this point is probably useless, especially since it seems to be stressing out the poor little thing. You need to avoid stressing your kitten. If she's crying, give her whatever she needs.

In the meantime, it doesn't hurt to begin treating for the ringworm. Here's a link to some advice I have about this, based on my own recent experience of adopting a kitten with ringworm.

Ringworm is a pain, but it's not fatal and you can deal with it, especially if you start right away. I'd be even more concerned about why the kitten isn't gaining weight. Make sure she's had all the appropriate tests and vaccinations, and try feeding her different things if she doesn't want to eat whatever you're giving her now.

Good luck!

Your vet didn't even look under the UV light to see if it could be ringworm? OK, it is not 100%, but it will be a preliminary test... Ringworm shines bright green under the UV light.

For what you are describing, it doesn't sound to me like ringworm - I would find another vet. I tell you why: The line shape is not the usual, and also ringworm doesn't present itself with a growth.

So this line without fur could very well be from fight, and so could this growth, an abscess, for example.

The fact that she is not eating is the most worrisome of it all...

If you are afraid of this being ringworm, get some Monistad 3 (the women yeast infection cream, make sure it is the 3) and rub it rub it and rub it twice a day on the spots, until a few days after they disappear. Just make sure he doesn't lick it.

If you or your kids get it, it is easily treatable with athlete's foot spray or cream; that is pretty much what ringworm is... really a nuisance but not a big deal.

Keeping her on quarantine, as the other members said, is pretty useless, and not so good due to lowering her immune system.

I would urge you to look for another vet.... I know I am not seeing your kitten, but your description doesn't really fit the ringworm bill very well.

Ringworm lesions can take all kinds of forms, and they can affect toes and claws. It's also possible that these lesions are something else entirely. Your vet should be investigating them thoroughly with cultures and biopsies! If not, try to get recommendations from some long-time cat owners for a better local vet!

If you decide to use Monistat or a similar topical cream, be careful. It can be very irritating for cats. We had to stop using it after a couple of days. Many vets believe that these topical creams aren't that helpful because ringworm spores are so widespread within the fur, which is why lime dips and medicated baths are more often prescribed. Topical creams keep some spores contained at least, but there are oral meds that provide a more systemic cure. However, do not give ANY oral meds without a real, confirmed diagnosis, because they can be very hard on kittens, too.

Those creams do work well on human skin, however, although I hope you won't need them!

My advise was going to be to inbox Bunnelina, but I see she's johnny on the spot and already steering you in the right direction!

Virbac Animal Health ResiCHLOR leave on lotion for dogs, cats, and horses. It's an antibacterial antiseptic with Chlorhexidine Gluconate 2% W/W.
Directions : shampoo or wet the hair coat, apply lotion, and rub into hair and skin. I didn't do this. When I found a ringworm spot (felt like a scab under the hair) I got the lotion and applied it to that spot (no wetting the hair or anything else). I rubbed it in very well and then put extra on it. I did this every 2-3 days. I did one animal at a time and went over the body applying lotion on the spots only. The hair where the spots where fell out and left little bare spots on the animals but I didn't care. I wanted this gone. It didn't take long to get it under control and gone. Just stay on top of the spots. I got the lotion from my vets office. It was actually for a completely different reason. My previous dog had really itchy skin so that's what they gave me. when they got ringworm I researched effective medicines to apply and it said to use the Chlorhexidine and It's in the lotion so I thought it was worth a try. And it's all I will use in the future if I ever have this problem again. Hope this helps.

These spots are on/near her feet? The kitten's age was misrepresented and she's underweight?

Do the spots look raw or irritated at all? I wonder if these could not be urine burns, something that wouldn't be impossible if the shelter caring for her was neglectful at all. Or it could even be an allergy to the litter you've chosen.

Basically, you need to ask your vet to thoroughly check, not just assume. Ringworm does not always glow under a black light, so if it doesn't glow you still need to ask her to take a skin scraping to double check.

Has the kitten been dewormed or was she in with other cats at that pet store? Chances are she needs a thorough fecal check and another deworming (or two) to address her being underweight.
Get her on a good kitten food, preferably some kitten wet with her dry (if you decide on dry) - because while ringworm is a nuisance, it's not as serious of an issue as a young kitten being underweight can be.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

These spots are on/near her feet? The kitten's age was misrepresented and she's underweight?

Do the spots look raw or irritated at all? I wonder if these could not be urine burns, something that wouldn't be impossible if the shelter caring for her was neglectful at all. Or it could even be an allergy to the litter you've chosen.

Basically, you need to ask your vet to thoroughly check, not just assume. Ringworm does not always glow under a black light, so if it doesn't glow you still need to ask her to take a skin scraping to double check.

Has the kitten been dewormed or was she in with other cats at that pet store? Chances are she needs a thorough fecal check and another deworming (or two) to address her being underweight.
Get her on a good kitten food, preferably some kitten wet with her dry (if you decide on dry).

Click to expand...

See, that's the thing... The vet took only a look and said "ops, maybe it is ringworm"... and did nothing about it... The very very least would be to look under a light and then step 2 would be a biopsy.
I really do think that this could be a number of things, not only ringworm, and that the OP is better off looking for another vet...

^ Or putting her vet on the spot and calling her out. The vet that saw Sho years ago didn't seem too concerned about his ringworm, nor did he check with a black light (I already had at home - bright bright green!). That vet did have a more lax manner but was competent once you questioned and pushed him. He moved, btw, and is not the vet I deal with at that clinic anymore.

Thank you so very much everyone.

Jinxy did get a culture done and they said we should know something soon. She is all caught up on shots and the day we got her she appeared to be in good shape. The lady from the shelter said she had a respiratory infection but it was cleared up. She also said she was told Jinxys mom was very tiny and that was the reason Jinxy was so small for 5 months (her tail is very long for her body though)

We have all held her and been head butted by her. She has been sleeping with my husband and I every night and day. So I guess I will let her out. When my son went in the room to play with her she had such a purr for him.

Now, the vet did give me a shampoo to use once a week. Also dab the other stuff on in between baths. She did get her first bath tonight and scratched the heck out of my husband. I wasn't home.

With her weight...Is there anything I can do to help her eat more? She is on wet Science Diet 3 times a day and free feeding dry SD. She does not eat good unless you are in the room so I sit with her. The vet did tell me to give her wet food as much as she will eat. She seems to use the litter box just fine. She does not want treats at all though.

Thanks again everyone for the advice. I am so glad I found the site.

Oh good - with that extra information, it sounds like you're right on track. Keep an eye on it - if it is ringworm it can be contagious but, like Carolina said, nothing fatal. It's just a big pain in the ...

Her poor eating may be the food or may be that she's lonely. If she's not feeling well, that would add to it. Stay with her when you can when she eats and keep giving her lots of loving. She's just a baby after all and not feeling so good probably hasn't helped her transition.

Thank you for being her human ...

Good! Sounds like you do have a good vet - just one that doesn't get upset over things like ringworm. If a vet is recommending wet food, that puts them ahead of many.

You and the vet are right on top of things. If you haven't trimmed the kitten's claws, do so, and keep them trimmed. You may have a few weeks of bathing and duller claws can help you guys out. If possible, try at least laying a towel down in the sink/tub for her to stand on in the water.


I have a kitten that's unusually small for her age, too. But she's not underweight proportionally, if anything she's a bit fat. So I hope yours catches up and gets to growing soon

I wish we knew how much experience your vet has with visually identifying those lesions is. My vet did the same thing with my kitten: "Uh oh, that looks like ringworm...." and the culture proved her right. In any case, keep up with the baths because it doesn't harm Jinxy (trim the tips of her claws!) — and if it IS ringworm you will be a couple of weeks ahead in the treatment. And a couple of weeks can make a huge difference when you have to do major cleaning every day and keep up the weekly dips and so on.

Please note that there are a lot of quack ringworm remedies on the Internet that promise a cure in days. If only it were so easy. Using bleach, human remedies, etc. on a cat's skin can be harmful. Follow your vet's advice, but also take a look at this info sheet by Dr. Karen Moriello. She is THE veterinary expert on ringworm, and many vets follow her treatment plan (including mine). There's a lot of scary stuff on the web, and it's better not to dig too deeply! Dr. Moriello has a sensible, scientifically researched and shelter-tested approach.

From what you've said, there's no point in isolating the kitten. She's had the run of your house, so if there is ringworm, it's already everywhere. Try to follow the cleaning instructions you'll find in my link. A very good vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter will become your new best friend....

Please try feeding the kitten something else besides Science Diet. Some kittens just don't want certain brands to the point where they lose their appetites and weaken. During her first weeks with us, our new kitten barely ate any Royal Canin kitten chow, which is what her rescue org told us to give her. She did not gain weight, the vet was concerned, and told us to "Try anything." She recovered her appetite when we gave her a bowl of roasted chicken breast. She ate bowls of it, and then we moved on to other kinds of wet and dry food. She gained a pound in a week and has had a normal appetite ever since.

It's funny how similar your story sounds to ours — tiny Wendelina could coil her tail on her side like a garden hose, it was so long. She still hasn't quite grown into her enormous fluffy tail but it no longer drags her down.

Good luck with Jinxy. I hope she starts enjoying her food. Please keep us posted on the culture results, too.

Nothing to add to all the excellent advice you've received. Just want to welcome you to TCS and say congratulations on your new furbaby family member!

Just welcoming you to the group and glad you gave this adorable baby a home! Good luck with her, and there are so many helpful, extremely nice people here!

As a shelter volunteer, I have to say, "Thank you for adopting!"

As to the ringworm, you've gotten good advice.

As to the food, if you haven't already, you might try a kitten food, one that is high in protein and fat. (Fat tastes very good to carnivores, just like sugar to them!)

Hi everyone,
Sorry I have not been on lately. I wanted to let everyone know that Jinxy is doing good. The vet said she did not have ring worm. The spots have not grown more. They are still there though. The vet did say to keep bathing her with the shampoo.

Any info on how to trim nails would be great. She did get them trimmed when I got her. She is in need again. My leather furniture is starting to see some scratches. I have gotten her a scratching post and tried rubbing catnip on it. She went crazy climbing the curtains and my legs. No more catnip for Jinxy. She is a wee bit to crazy when she has it.

She has started eating better and looks like she is growing into her tail nicely. She is not getting chubby just a little longer.

She is just the best pet I have ever had. Watching her grow is as fun as watching my own kids. She discovered how to drink out of the tub. She has however started taking after the puppy. She carries around a beanie baby teddy bear. I crack up and tell her you are a kitty. LOL!

Thankyou again everyone. I look forward to all the great info I am going to learn from my fellow kitty lovers.

Melana

Thanks for the update! You might want to offer her more than one type of scratcher. Some cats like flat, some curved, some upright. Some like carpet some like sisal, and so on.

It needs to be sturdy too, and large enough, not those silly things that stick up like a finger on a small base and wobble when they are touched.

You can teach her how to use her own scratchers. First, when she scratches at the couch, take her over to the scratchers and gently hold her paws and make them do a scratching motion on the scrather.

In addition, YOU do some scratching on it too. Cats are the original copy cats, you are her mama and she will do what you do.

Involve the scratcher during Game time, when things get exciting, crawl over and give the thing a good scratch as if you were a cat. When you see her wake from a nap, get her attention, then hurry over and scratch on it. And so on.

To trim her little claws, you want to get her used to having her paws handled. Any time you are petting or grooming her, touch her paws. Pet them at first and see how she reacts.

Next, hold the paw between your thumb and fingers and gently press down to exten the claws. Look at them carefully to see how they grow, and find the quick (the pink part). You wnat to avoid clipping down that far.

Since you are new at it and she is a baby, just snip the sharp tips for now. Some people recommend using a baby nail trimmer at this age, as her claws while sharp, will not be hard. Give treats while snipping, to help Jynxy associate the snipping with good things.

Curtain climbing is normal for a kitten, they don't need cat nip. Wait until she's older for the nip.