Cradle cap on 4 week old kitten?

Yesterday two of 5 kitties developed scaly bumps on their heads.  Looked like cradle cap, but I wondered if it could be scratches from sharp claws as they play quite roughly.  Today, two more kitties have the scales.  When I scrape off a scale, the skin underneath looks perfectly normal...it is not red or irritated.  Otherwise, kitties are eating great, exploring, and very active.  Does anyone have any ideas about this?  Just wondering if it is a normal kitten development or something more. Thanks in advance.

Not something I've seen in my litters, mine play rough but don't scratch or hurt each other. They're old enough to have their claws clipped too.

Where did these kittens come from? The mother? Are you familiar with ringworm? Could that be it?
Can you post pictures?

Carolina said:

Where did these kittens come from? The mother? Are you familiar with ringworm? Could that be it?
Can you post pictures?

Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing

I don't think I can get a good picture.  It is hard to see because they all have dark heads.  One kitty is still without the rough spots.  I can only think of two possible exposures to ringworm or anything else: the kitties went to the vet for a 3 week check up, and I bought a cat condo that they are all playing in.  Mom was a stray, but she has been vet checked and has no symptoms.

Today the kittens started eating mom's food and drinking from the water bowl.  Looks like a good sign for the weaning process!

Was the cat condo pre-assembled? Maybe someone bought it then brought it back.

I'm not sure how long ringworm can survive on surfaces, regardless I would take them to the & vet find out for sure what the issue is.

Ringworm (it's a fungus) can stay in the environment for a long time--up to 16 months or so--very similar to athletes foot infection in humans. Possibly could have been picked up at the vets, the pet store, other places, or the mother cat could also have been a carrier and not show signs of the infection.  The vet can take samples of  the hair to culture for a positive growth (can take up to 2 weeks) or use a Wood's lamp to test for it (not as accurate).  In the meantime, the vet will probably have you treat it as if it were ringworm and use topical creams twice a day (Miconazole-- you can buy over the counter for athletes foot or vaginitis)  He/she may also send you home with an oral medication--Itraconazole and also a Lyme Sulfer dip. Ringworm is zoonotic, so people can get it too.  Keeping the kittens confined to an area where you can clean and disinfect easily (one part Chlorax to10 parts water) would be best.  At any rate, if it is ringworm--it is curable and will just take some time for the kittens to clear it--4-8 weeks. 

Thanks!  This is crazy, but before I made an appointment for the vet, one kitty had most of the scales go away almost completely.  I decided to wait a couple of days an now all kitties are clear of the scaly bumps.  

Ringworm probably wouldn't have shown up in the exact same place on every kitten, I'd still be getting them checkout out. 

Could just have been mum over grooming her little ones too. 

We go Friday for their 6 week check up anyhow, so I'll have the vet take a look at it then.