Well, the long-dreaded thing has hit my home...RINGWORM!!!

On August 1st, I handled a 3-4 month old kitten in a home that I went to pick up a TV set from. He had some lesions that presented strangely, and appeared to be a yeast infection. I urged his foster mom (she helps rescues out) to get him to the vet ASAP, which she did, but she was not able to get an appointment right away.

At that time, upon first contact, I was certain it had to be something else. I've had ringworm twice before and did NOT look like it to me. But I'm no vet. I helped her get this little guy to a vet on the 8th, and under the Wood's lamp, there it was. Darn it!!!

So now I'd been exposed and not only that, exposed ALL MY CATS to it!!!

I watched and waited, watched and waited, and on Wednesday the 15th, I got what I thought was a bug bite on my forearm - not uncommon, I'm in NC and get eaten alive every time I step out of the house after dusk. However, on Saturday the 18th, I woke up scratching the heck out of it, took a close look, and sure enough - ringworm on me!!!

So I covered the spot with a bandaid immediately. Bought & started treating with CVS brand Lamasil that afternoon. Caught it early enough that it is responding well. Keeping it covered with bandaids.

But today, I noticed a spot on Max's forearm, going hairless, and is a little crusty. Very small, hard to see. He loses fur when he gets scratched, but I think this is ringworm also.

I am in serious trouble, folks. If Ferris gets it, too, I am completely unable to bathe him or pill him unless I want to bleed to death, and I am here all alone with no assistance in holding him. I am on unemployment AGAIN, and cannot afford to take all 5 to the vet. I can't use the antifungal cream I have on Max, as it cannot be ingested. I am going to call a reasonable vet in town in the morning and see about getting a prescription for him, but I know it will be $80 to have the visit with the script. They prescribe an oral pill, I do not know what it is called, but it also supposedly kills fleas. And that doesn't cover the 4 other cats in the house.

I have read that it can sometimes go away on its own, but that it doesn't always and can spread horribly. I am terrified that I am now looking at a year ahead of ringworm in the house!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!



What can I do?! OBVIOUSLY, get Max to the vet. OBVIOUSLY get him treatment if I need to. But what about the 4 others that don't show any signs yet? What do I do about Baby, who wrestles with Max daily? He grooms her multiple times a day! I don't think confining Max will help - I'd have to confine me, too!!!

Suggestions, please??? (AGAIN, I KNOW he needs to go to the vet, I am looking for alternative suggestions to help in the home, now that this is ringworm central)

DARN that adorable little foster kitten!!!!

I am sorry what you are going through.  I don't have experience with ringworm, but I hope someone else can help you.  I will ask you if you have ever tried pill pockets to use in pilling your cats.  They are worth the money.

OH NO.... that is just awful news and I am so sorry. Yeah - it is true that RW will run it's course but then you have the spores in the environment and in times of stress it could be a recurring problem. I have only had RW one time, years ago. Had to shave down my cats, bath them a couple of times a week, and give the oral meds. I know you said that Ferris is impossible to handle. I really don't have any other suggestions.... other than using Colloidal Silver on the lesions at 500 ppm. You can order it online and I use this one http://www.vitacost.com/Amino-Acid-Botanical-Supply-Liquid-Colloidal-Silver I would apply it four times daily for RW directly on the lesions. It really works. Shaving the cats is what I always recommend because RW is spread by the spores on the hair follicles. So sorry you are dealing with this. I hope that it is a mild case and that most of your cats don't get it. If they have good and strong immune system - they probably won't. :cross:

I'm soooo sorry that you have to go through this! I don't have any experience with ringworm in cats, but as far as pills go, have you tried the pill pockets? Also, I bought a piller because Naku will do the same and scratch you like crazy, since it allows you to get closer to the back of their throat without getting your fingers bitten. I have one like this: .

Sending vibes your way!

I may be wrong, but I'm almost certain that Revolution, the flea and tick preventative, treats ringworm.  Again, I'm not certain, but I also think you treat once every 2 weeks for two or three treatments? It seems to be in my mind as something the rep told us when Revolution was new. Also, the tablet Program has an off-label use for treating ringworm. Yes, it's a tablet, and no, I haven't tried it.  Perhaps, though, it would be a good alternative to treating with pills daily? It is a chewable tablet, so maybe you can hide it (yeah right...).  The off-label use is to just double the normal dose recommended for the cat for a one-time treatment.  I had ringworm go through my 3 kitties (and I had it too), and I know that the route we took cost a FORTUNE to treat... sigh... we had to have Ketoconazole compounded at a local pharmacy into capsules that I had to shove down their precious little throats every 24 hours for like, 3-4 weeks.

KatieKates said:

I may be wrong, but I'm almost certain that Revolution, the flea and tick preventative, treats ringworm.  Again, I'm not certain, but I also think you treat once every 2 weeks for two or three treatments? It seems to be in my mind as something the rep told us when Revolution was new.

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Revolution will not treat RW, as that is a fungus. Revolution will treat mange and mites though. Program will help (the injectable form) with mild cases of RW, from what I understand. I think there are many more treatments available now for RW than when I dealt with it 20 years ago. Which is GOOD

Thanks Feralvr, I must have been thinking of the Revolution protocol for mange.

Hi, I know your post is a few months old but just wondering how your cats are doing and how you finally got rid of the ringworm? I have a cat that had it, had her on oral and topical antifungals for what seemed like forever. Then someone suggested Vetericyn Wound & Infection Care which I purchased from a farm store. Within 2 weeks crusties were gone and hair was growing back, it's amazing stuff. It's steroid free, antibiotic free no rinse and not sticky or smelly. PH neutral so doesn't sting and can be applied 4 times per day. With the topical anti-fungal I was using from the vet I was always nervous about my cat ingesting it. Vetericyn is completely non toxic. Just an idea if you run across ringworm again and for others who might read this and get the problem

Just a reminder to check with you vet before using an over the counter product on your cat.