Adopted Animal Rescue--RINGWORM!!

UGH!  I adopted a kitten today (Ragdoll mix) that has one spot of missing fur, RINGWORM!  That's what the animal shelter lady told me anyway.  She stated that she gave him a lyme bathe before I picked him up.  My heart broke when I seen him, and she gave me a topical pink solution that she told me to put on it twice a day.  He seems fine, eating and drinking water, and is roaming the room where I have him confined at the moment, poor thing.  The spot is pinkish in color but doesn't really look bad, like descriptions I have read online.  It does not look dry, patchy, or have the black dots in it or around it? 

I have a Chihuahua dog that is 6 years old and I do NOT want her to get infected and neither do I want to contract it.  I hate that we cannot bond with the kitty right now though, and feel bad for confining him. 

Any advice greatly appreciated.

I responded to your other post, but I'll repeat what I said there here.

Ringworm is a fungus, and it can be treated with almost any of the medicines designed for human athlete's foot.  If you use a cream, be sure to rub it in well so the kitten can't lick it off. 

The two little fosters we had last year both had one spot.  It didn't spread, and none of the other cats got it.  We used both a cream and a spray and treated them several times per day.
 

mrblanche said:

I responded to your other post, but I'll repeat what I said there here.

Ringworm is a fungus, and it can be treated with almost any of the medicines designed for human athlete's foot.  If you use a cream, be sure to rub it in well so the kitten can't lick it off. 

The two little fosters we had last year both had one spot.  It didn't spread, and none of the other cats got it.  We used both a cream and a spray and treated them several times per day.
 

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Thank you SO much!  I will pick up some of the cream today for athlete's foot!  I have read SO much info online and am scared to death of him now, I wished I wouldn't have done that!  It is scary how people are saying they burn their belongings, washing walls with Clorox, etc etc.  Wow.  It is just one spot, so I shouldn't worry so much I guess. 

I was also going to stop by the farm supply store right here near my apt and pick up some of the lyme dip, do you think that is necessary?

I think the lyme dip would be over doing it. Try with the cream first, that should do the trick with far less stress and hassle for both you and the cat.

pushylady said:

I think the lyme dip would be over doing it. Try with the cream first, that should do the trick with far less stress and hassle for both you and the cat.

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Thanks so much!  I feel much less stressed about it now, after the replies I have gotten here!  Love this site already

AngieKay3000 said:

Thanks so much!  I feel much less stressed about it now, after the replies I have gotten here!  Love this site already

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I just wanted to say, welcome to TCS!!! Hope the ringworm clears up!!

The lime dip would be very stressful for the kitten.  I just wouldn't do that at this point.

It would be best if you could keep her in an area that IS easy to clean, like a room with a tile floor, etc.  A bathroom, for example.  It takes several weeks to be sure you've solved the problem; the first sure sign will be hair growing back in the bald spot.  If you're really concerned, get a smock or robe or some such thing to wear while you're handling her, and latex gloves would not be a bad idea for the first few days.

For what it's worth, our shelter generally puts to sleep any cat or kitten with ringworm, not because it's such a terrible disease, but because it spreads through our crowded conditions so rapidly and makes the animals unadoptable for a while. It is eminently treatable, topically if possible, internally if necessary.
 

kittylover23 said:

I just wanted to say, welcome to TCS!!!

Hope the ringworm clears up!!

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Thank so much, going well thus far I think it is almost gone already, it's not red or anything any more?

Just keep treating it.

It's not impossible it was something else, but the treatment won't harm the cat.  As I said, when you see hair growing back in the bald spot and you don't see any new bald spots, the kitten is on the mend.