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How to prevent ring-worms?

post #1 of 11
10/18/11 at 6:13pm
Thread Starter 
ok, I started volunteering at a second shelter this evening. They failed to tell me that most of the cats are affected with ring worms (and are undergoing final stages of treatments).

I don't want to stop volunteering just because of ring worms.. they've lost a lot of volunteers because of it.

Now, how can I prevent bringing the ringworms home with me? I've been wearing gloves and put new ones on often. I washed and rewashed and sanitized my hands and arms often.

Soon as I got home, I took a shower and tossed all the clothes in the hamper BEFORE I touched and fed my kitties.

Any other advice on how to prevent ringworms?
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post #2 of 11
10/18/11 at 6:24pm
Ringworm isn't worms. . .it's a fungus. Washing (yourself) with an antifungal will work. Look for a soap made for jock itch or athlete's foot (same kind of fungus). Washing (other stuff) with appropriately diluted bleach will remove the fungus from those surfaces.

But healthy, unstressed cats with strong immune systems can usually fight off the fungus. So probably your cats won't end up with a bad case of it even if they do pick up a few spores. But of course try not to let them be exposed just in case.
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post #3 of 11
10/18/11 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 
I will have to look for anti-fungal soap tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. my two cats are very healthy.. I'd just hate to see them infected.

if they happen to do gain a few spores, it's a vet trip, regardless, right?

EDIT: Doing a bit of research.. I am not sure if it's Google that's scaring me, or if it's better off not to take the risk of the ringworms at the shelter. I really doubt the shelter would be clear of it, unless they do a 110% spotless cleaning (even then, it still can be there)
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post #4 of 11
10/18/11 at 8:03pm
I can only say that I've had kittens with ringworm (no s ) in the home a few times, allowed to associate with the other cats before I saw the lesions, and none of the other cats have ever gotten it. I did get a small spot on my arm, but Lotrimin cleared it right up. I know other people have had a lot of trouble with it, but I just never have, for whatever reason. For whatever that's worth.
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post #5 of 11
10/19/11 at 4:56am
Thread Starter 
thanks Willowy The leader of this shelter said she had a small spot as well, but (so far) no issues at home.
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post #6 of 11
10/19/11 at 8:17am
I would be very, very careful. I have also volunteered and worked in the quarantine room many months back when we had some kittens come into the shelter from down south with ringworm. When I got home, I always took those clothes off in the garage with the garage door down. Put the clothes in a bag. The shoes always were sprayed with bleach and left in the garage. Those were my shelter shoes anyway. Then I would go take a shower. The bag of clothes were kept in the garage in the bag until they were washed/bleached. The spores can (hair follicles) stick to your clothes and I would not bring those clothes into your house. I go overboard protecting my own cats because about twenty years ago I adopted two kittens and did not know they had ringworm. I don't ever want to go through that again.

It is very true that some cats can get exposed to ringworm and not ever get it. But is some do.... it is a nightmare to get rid of and the drugs are very, very hard on their liver/kidneys. So just take precautions. AWW those poor kitties at the shelter. Ringworm can be cured, it just takes diligence and time.
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post #7 of 11
10/19/11 at 8:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post
I would be very, very careful. I have also volunteered and worked in the quarantine room many months back when we had some kittens come into the shelter from down south with ringworm. When I got home, I always took those clothes off in the garage with the garage door down. Put the clothes in a bag. The shoes always were sprayed with bleach and left in the garage. Those were my shelter shoes anyway. Then I would go take a shower. The bag of clothes were kept in the garage in the bag until they were washed/bleached. The spores can (hair follicles) stick to your clothes and I would not bring those clothes into your house. I go overboard protecting my own cats because about twenty years ago I adopted two kittens and did not know they had ringworm. I don't ever want to go through that again.

It is very true that some cats can get exposed to ringworm and not ever get it. But is some do.... it is a nightmare to get rid of and the drugs are very, very hard on their liver/kidneys. So just take precautions. AWW those poor kitties at the shelter. Ringworm can be cured, it just takes diligence and time.
thanks for posting! I don't have a garage.. I live in an apartment, and I really doubt my neighbor wants to see a show of me undressing in the hall, LOL.

THe kitties are going to get their last pills today, and 3 or 4 more baths I think. I am wondering if I should have the leader call me back when it's all cured?
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post #8 of 11
10/19/11 at 8:59am
That is really up to you. Don't listen to me because I get a bit over-the-top when I hear the words "ringworm". I would just take all precautions. Could you bring a change of clothes to the shelter? Just use their bathroom and change your clothes before you leave (since you can't strip down in the hallway of the apartment complex - well, you could, but neighbors ). I would do that sometimes too. They also had bleach in the bathroom for the shoes too.
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post #9 of 11
10/19/11 at 9:20am
Thread Starter 
thats a good idea.. bring a change of clothing and extra bags to store the soiled clothes in. genius!
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post #10 of 11
10/19/11 at 10:43pm
You are already taking the proper precautions. Changing the clothes before you leave the shelter is not a bad idea either. If you do these things I wouldn't worry about it. The most important thing is wearing gloves when you handle the shelter cats and practice good hygiene. Also keep in mind that healthy, adult cats are at a lower risk of catching ringworm just like heatlhy, adult humans are.

A lot of people freak out when they hear ringworm because it is contagious and takes a long time to treat. But imo ringworm isn't something that is so horrible to warrant the reactions. Ringworm isn't dangerous, it's just a pain in the behind. It's a fungus just like athlete's foot and jock itch. It's not the end of the world.
The worst part about ringworm is the time it takes to treat it. If it's only on a small are you can use an over the counter cream. But if it's on a bigger area you can treat it with once or twice weekly dips from about 5-7 weeks. This should not affect the kidneys like the oral meds do and it's very effective.

I wouldn't let the ringworm scare me away from helping the cats that need me. Just continue doing what you're doing and you and your kitties will be fine.
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post #11 of 11
10/20/11 at 5:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ziggy'smom View Post
You are already taking the proper precautions. Changing the clothes before you leave the shelter is not a bad idea either. If you do these things I wouldn't worry about it. The most important thing is wearing gloves when you handle the shelter cats and practice good hygiene. Also keep in mind that healthy, adult cats are at a lower risk of catching ringworm just like heatlhy, adult humans are.

A lot of people freak out when they hear ringworm because it is contagious and takes a long time to treat. But imo ringworm isn't something that is so horrible to warrant the reactions. Ringworm isn't dangerous, it's just a pain in the behind. It's a fungus just like athlete's foot and jock itch. It's not the end of the world.
The worst part about ringworm is the time it takes to treat it. If it's only on a small are you can use an over the counter cream. But if it's on a bigger area you can treat it with once or twice weekly dips from about 5-7 weeks. This should not affect the kidneys like the oral meds do and it's very effective.

I wouldn't let the ringworm scare me away from helping the cats that need me. Just continue doing what you're doing and you and your kitties will be fine.
thank you for posting! That is very comforting to hear. I don't want to let this fungus deter me either, but it's really the thought of it taking forever to go away and I have a kitten (7-month-ish).. she's not an adult and she's more prone to getting it
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