Ringworm... Nightmare?

I know some people have had nightmare experiences with ringworm, but the only time I've had to deal with it, it was cleared up very easily. So it's not always terrible. Keep your kitties' stress levels low as possible, and feed them a high-quality food. . .strengthening their immune systems will help them to kick the ringworm faster. I hope it's easy for you, too!

My experience with ringworm is that it clears up very easily when the animal is healthy (I've had kittens/cats, puppies/dogs and humans with it). If a cat is stressed, they are not healthy. I agree with Willowy's advice - a good diet and a stress free environment will go a long way. And stick with the medication from your vet.

It's been a while since I've had it - don't you use the stuff that you use on athlete's feet on people? Ringworm is a fungus and so is athlete's feet.

I experienced ringworm brought in by a kitten, and it spread to 3 people and all 5 of the cats we had in the house at the time. On the people, it cleared up just fine with an OTC anti-fungal cream. For the kitten, my vet initially recommended daily bathing with a medicated shampoo. A week later, when all 5 cats had it, I called him pleading for another solution since I could not imagine bathing 5 cats daily who were not accustomed to baths. He prescribed an oral medication, which cleared up the ringworm promptly. We never had a reoccurence.

I know it seems like a nightmare! Just follow the vet's recommendations. I hope it clears up for you soon!

I'm sorry you have to deal with this, I know how frustrating it can be. I had ringworm on 8 cats and multiple spots on my body (over 50... yes, my immune system is a mess). The most important part of the treatment were oral medications for both me and the cats, but the cats also got 2 lime sulfur baths and I showered a few times with antifungal shampoo. Actually 2 of the cats were suspected to be pregnant so they only got lime sulfur baths, and it looks like it was enough for them. Their last culture came back negative, and I have been ringworm-free for a month so I suppose it really is gone, because with my immune system I am sure I would have got a few patches if there were still ringworm spores in my house. Which brings us to the cleaning.

I am really lucky to be allergic So there are no carpets, curtains and upholstery in my home. That made cleaning and vacuuming a breeze. What I would definitely suggest is that you have all carpets steam-cleaned, and then store them somewhere until the ringworm has cleared up. It is much easier to clean wooden floors. For upholstery, your vet was spot on, protect your furniture with blankets and that will be enough. (Though paranoid as I am, I would still steam-clean it first, in case some spores got on it before you went to the vet). I washed the floors a few times with disinfectant, and all tiles in bathroom and kitchen with bleach. You don't really have to do it often but I would do it once during the treatment and once after it. Just to cover all bases. I also washed all clothes and bedding I could in hot water, and what I couldn't I let it sit in disinfectant overnight before washing... not sure if that was taking it a bit too far, but I was in a very fragile state of mind back then!

Good luck to you and your kittens!

I rescued a litter of kittens a few years ago. All of them had ringworm, which then spread to my fiance at the time and me. It was HORRIBLE! But the good news is, it won't last forever. I lost count at over 100 spots on my body. My fiance had less than me, but still quite a few. The anti-fungal creams weren't working for us either, so we researched just about every remedy possible and tea tree oil was our miracle cure. The kittens all got bathed in a shampoo that the vet gave us, so make sure you don't use the tea tree oil on them (I can't be sure, but I remember reading somewhere that its bad for cats). But for us humans, we bought some at Walgreens (you can find it in the Vitamin section) and just dabbed it onto every spot on our body. It cleared up VERY quickly that way. If it ever happens to me again I'll skip the anti-fungal creams completely and go straight to the tea tree oil! Good luck. I know its a pain. I don't for a second regret taking those kittens in, but that may have been one of the most miserable times of my life!

ETA: I had 2 other cats in the house that I never stopped touching during this time and neither of them ever got any ringworm spots. I don't know if that was smart of me to do, but I do know that it never spread to them, and they slept on the bed that I was sleeping on, so they were definitely exposed to it through me and my fiance.

I don't have any experience with ringworms, but I do hope that everything clears up for you and your kitties soon.

Ringworm is one of those annoying problems that always feel worse than they are - especially skin diseases/infections that somehow make you feel as if it is your fault for not being cleaner! But it will go away. I had it in my cats (and on myself) about four years ago, and although the vet and the doctor treated it at the start with all the creams and shampoos you have mentioned, we did not get rid of it till we all had oral treatment. So I think you are going down the right road. Good luck - there is light at the end of the tunnel, and then you can enjoy your lovely new kitties in total harmony and peace.

Hi Sarah,

I'm so sorry you are going through this when you should just be enjoying watching your kittens grow. The same thing happened to me in 2009, when we adopted two feral kittens. We already had two elderly Persians and none had been isolated, so I had to treat all four cats and disinfect the whole apartment day after day. It went on for many weeks.

But I did it, and we survived, and we can even laugh about it (a little) now.

I wrote up what I learned from my experience in this post. I hope some of it may be reassuring or helpful to you.

I was lucky that our vet spotted my kitten's lesions only about two weeks we got her, so it hadn't had much chance to spread to us. I started cleaning before we got the culture results and we managed to avoid getting any lesions ourselves. Some strains of ringworm are more virulent than others, and it sounds like you have a bad one. You might consider asking your doctor about oral medications to help your and your husband's situation, if it keeps spreading on you. They're the same ones used for cats, actually. They are very powerful drugs and must be monitored, but they also really work.

Good luck. You WILL get through this and everyone will be healthy and healed! Hang in there in the meantime!

Although I am not dealing with ringworm, I also have two precious kittens that are battling issues right now (Giardia) and they can't be together and I can't love on the one with the most issues. It breaks my heart to keep him locked up in the bathroom and go in like a hospital nurse all the time. I am praying this passes fast. Just a little "I feel ya" support here.

It reminds me of my kitten's first lime sulfur bath... she screamed and climbed on my shoulders like she always does when she seeks protection, and I cried my eyes out while giving her the bath, I felt like I betrayed her trust and she shouldn't be tortured by the only person she felt could protect her. It still breaks my heart to think of it That's why I quit the bathing and gave them just oral meds, well that and the fact that they had lesions all over the face and on the lips and I didn't think I could efficiently wash those parts.

Last year we found some kittys and tried to get them friendly and find them home, BUT waht we got were the worst case of ring worms we ever saw. I asked the vet and she suggested the foot rot medication at the Tractor supply for livestock. Its a antifungal (pink sray) We had tried EVERYTHING!! We used the jock itch meds and bleach (diluted) athletes foot meds the whole nine yards. I didnt think we would ever get ride of them. ALL the animals had them all 3 kids and myself. It took about 3 or 4 days and the foot rot meds had started working and I started to see hair growth back. It was amazing how fast it was, and no fighting to give baths. We also used it on us. We would all take showers with dandruff shampoo and then spot treat ourselfs with the meds. It was night and day. The dandruff shampoo has a med in it that also kills ringworm.
I hope you get it all cleared up so you can enjoy the new babys. Also the vet told us to bleach there common areas and there bedding. adn yours for that fact to kill the ringworm. Im not sure if she was just being careful or not but after we didnt have a it come back.
Best Wishes
Becca

I would definitely take Azshara to the vet! She probably needs more than the bathing meds. I'm sorry I don't have any experience with ringworm to help you, but I would take her to the vet asap and ask for oral meds for ALL the cats, as well as the topical treatments.

Good luck! I can't imagine how hard this is for you

I had two kittens many, many (25?) years ago who came from a shelter that had ringworm. If I am remembering correctly (I have a very good vet, and still use him today) the instructions were to shave the cat, short or long-haired, doesn't matter you have to get the hair off to get to those lesions and I think I remember about if the hair falls off in the environment, it spreads that way. So shaving will take care of any loose infected hair spores. LimeSulfur dips two times per week. Griesefulvin oral medication. And there was some oily miconizole liquid that I put on the lesions after the dip and they were dry. Poor kitties, it is such a trying time for you and I remember it all too well. I just wish your vet recommended the full on attack for the ringworm from the start. I never did get the ringworm from the kittens, and kept them in a secluded room too, and wore a nylon groomers jacket when I went in to play with them and care for them. It was a very difficult time, but we made it through and they were very healthy and never got it again. I would say it was about five weeks and they recovered well. So sorry you are dealing with this, but you can get this under control.

I've been in your shoes before just a few years ago, two cats w/ ringworm in a multi-pet household. Once my cats got over it a dog cropped up w/ it a few months later. IMO - nothing but oral meds works for ringworm! Having seen many cats be treated by vets only w/ anti-fungal baths or anti-fungal creams, I've seen just how bad the ringworm can get despite treatment.

Fluconazole has worked well @ the shelter here & doesn't seem to be as hard on kitties as other meds. Fulvicin can be very hard on cats (IMO), especially kittens/senior cats. Shaving in most cases in unnecessary, as it does nothing to aid in the healing of ringworm, many years ago they used to shave them. Lime sulfur dips my vet reserves for more severe things than ringworm (like mange & certain difficult to treat mites), because, as you are seeing, it stresses the cat(s) out more which can be more hindrance than help. (Baths/dips stress the cat & a stressed cat can have a weakened immune system.)

I'd honestly consider treating all cats in the household. If your vet won't give you meds, call another to find out if they will!

I've also gone through ringworm with a litter of kittens and it surely was a nightmare. I was lucky that it didn't spread to me or any of my other animals. I kept the kitten in a spare room and always wore a robe over my clothes and latex gloves whenever I went in to their room. If you wear gloves you can pet them and hold them which they need.

Like you my vet gave me a medicated shampoo to use every other day. It was a nightmare having to bathe six kittens who fought like their lives was on the line. I was wearing gloves when I bathed them but it didn't take long before they were completely shredded.
I only bathed them 2-3 times before I decided that there was no way that I could continue doing it. It was so stressful for the kittens and I just hated having to do it to them. So instead of the shampoo I started to use Lime Sulfur dips. Not only was it much easier and less stressful to use but I also didn't have to do it as often, only every 5 days at first and then every 7 days.
I really do recommend using the dip instead of tha shampoo when you are treating cats. It does not smell very good and it can stain the fur yellowish but the yellow goes away on it's own in a while and imo a yellow tinted fur is better than suffering with the darn baths.

With the dip you can just put it in a bucket and lower the cat in it for a few seconds. Put her on a towel and let her dry. You can also use a spray bottle to put the dip on them but that takes a little longer since they have to be completely saturated. To get it on the head you can use a squirt bottle and for the face you ca put it on with a soaked wash cloth. That's about it.

When I had my ringworm kittens I kept them all together and it didn't seem to affect them negatively. I think it should be okay for your kittens to stay together.
Like others have mentioned there is also oral medication fpr ringworm does exist so if the topical treatment doesn't work I think you should take the kitty to the vet to get the oral treatment.

I know this is a nightmare but remember that it will come to an end. It won't go on forever and you will get through this.

Good luck!

While I was devastated at the many cats our shelter put to sleep due to a ringworm outbreak, I hope those who criticized the shelter for it have read through this thread and know that this is what could have happened with every one of those cats, had they been adopted.

I had the same problem with my kitties. It started back in September. We got one kitten from a friend and the other kitten from the shelter. The kitten from the shelter, Seamus, came to us with some scabs on his back. I figured they were just from playing too rough with his litter mates. Then, our other kitten, Loki, showed a strange bald spot above his eye. We thought, at first, that he had singed his fur on a candle. Then the spot became grey and scabby. The vet did a culture and, sure enough, it was ringworm. We treated both kittens with oral medication (Griseofulvin), topical medication and medicated baths. We scrubbed our entire house, from top to bottom with bleach water, washed everything that could be washed in hot water, and steamed the carpets.
The were cleared to be released from Quarantine in November. That's when we noticed that our cat, Maggie, was missing the fur on her nose. Sure enough, she had it too. She went into quarantine and a few weeks later, Loki went back into quarantine because he reinfected himself even worse than the first time. Back to the oral meds, the topical meds and the medicated baths. Unfortunately, the Griseofulvin was not working. So, we switched to a strong, more expensive medication called Trichonizole. We cleaned the rest of the house a second time, from top to bottom. We vacuumed the quarantine room often. Finally, in January, our vet cleared them to be let out of quarantine. Loki was left with "scar tissue" on his head that was grey and wrinkly. Maggie's nose is now discolored (she has a white face). Loki's fur was very slow to grow back the second time, but it eventually did.
We took an entire day to clean the ringworm room. We bleached EVERYTHING from the carpet to the ceiling, including about 700 CD's. We vacuumed the crap out of the carpet, shampooed it and then sprayed with bleach water. We threw out the litter boxes that were in there and got new ones. Anything that could have been thrown away, I threw away. I even got rid of the vacuum cleaner that we used in that room. Anything to ensure that the fungus wouldn't come back.
Everyone told us that we would laugh about the experience when it was over. They were wrong! We are still paranoid over a month later and frequently check the cats for hair loss or any other sign that it might be back. My suggestion to you would be to keep them separated from your other cats until your vet clears them. Do not miss a dose of medication. Vacuuming with help keep the spore level down. I've read that spores can live in the carpet and other fabric for up to 2 years! You should spray everything that can't be washed with bleach water. Remember, wood is porous so things can get into it. We also threw away the carriers we used to take the infected kitties to and from the vet. Lysol came in handy for spraying down the couch, our mattress and other upholstered furniture. Make sure you dust BEFORE you spray or you will send ringworm spores flying everywhere. Use a swiffer cloth or a damp rag to dust.
I hope you can get something out of my experience. Good luck to you and your kitties!!

I am wondering if anyone has an update on their experience with ringworm.

We have been fighting this battle since Dec 1, 2010. We have a kitten (who brought us RW), cat & puppy. We treated both cats and puppy with weekly Mal-A-Ket baths & daily griseofulvin for almost 7 weeks & thought we had 2 (-) tests but the second test came back (+) and about 8 weeks after hair had grown back, one of my cats showed lesions on his feet. Our golden retriever 11 month old puppy actually never showed signs or was tested.

Cat with lesions is now on Fluconozole. Both cats are getting lime sulfur dips weekly. Puppy is getting weekly baths with Mal-A-Ket. So far, no clinical signs in puppy or kitten, just my cat. Vet (derm specialist) said I didn't need to isolate and clean like crazy yet. I did that the first time! I still am cleaning quite a bit though & have isolated the cat.

Anyway, any words of encouragement and hope that this too shall pass would be greatly appreciated

Very happy to hear this news. I know what an absolute nightmare ringworm can be. Thank goodness all is FINALLY well with you and your furbabies.

Mine are all still on fluconazole. The last culture for the cat who possibly had lesions was still positive. I've been considering switching him to a different anti-fungal and am starting bathing him with Mal-A-Ket.

It's odd though because I only have one cat who showed possible lesions, and he also has severe food allergies and eosinophilic granuloma complex so we don't know for sure if any of his sores were actually ringworm, or were due to the other issues (they did not look like classic ringworm.) He did test positive for ringworm, though. None of the other cats has showed any clear appearance of ringworm, and none of the humans in the house either. I thought I had one spot on my leg but the doctor said it was actually eczema (which explains why the anti-fungal cream wasn't working!)

We've had multiple cases of ringworm over the years (multicat household) and I used to treat it. I used lamisil at first on us and the cats. Then I just let it run its course when we had another outbreak.

Happy to say it's been years since anyone furred or not has had ringworm. Good luck!