Ringworm Wars

We recently adopted a kitten to give our other kitten some company for when my husband began his job, and because I work 32 hours a week as well. We have a total of 3 now; 9 year old Autumn, 7 month old Tazo, and the new guy- 5 month old Domino. Little did we know, the animal shelter has an infestation with Ringworm and did not let us know, so all three of our critters, and my husband and I, have ringworm. 

It only took 3 weeks to figure out what was going on and to start tackling it. Now it's been 5 weeks, and we're still tackling it. Cats are separated, threw out a lot of stuff, been washing clothes like crazy, but still don't feel like it's enough.. 

Cats have been to the vet, and we just got the culture back (positive,) and now waiting a week for the pills. We have been using athlete's foot cream up to about a week ago, when we just fell out of the routine (and it seems Tazo is healing on her own now. Domino's ears are better, but I'm dubious, and Autumn's lesion hasn't spread, but nor is it healed...) We'll get back into it if we have to, which leads me to this post.

I have a lot of questions for the right way to treat them. So, here goes...

We just got Lime Sulfur dip in the mail, and I need to know the right way to use it; I heard we can dilute it (8 oz per gallon of water?) and spray it onto them if they are too unruly for a bath. Is this true?

How many times should they be "dipped"? (or sprayed?) 

Should we keep applying athlete's foot cream once a day on their lesions, regardless of the oral meds they will be getting?

We don't have carpeted floors, and there is a lot of dust bunnies and such on the floor. I've been staving off sweeping for fear of putting more spores in the air. Is it alright to sweep, or is there another, better (cheap) method? Could I use a cheap vacuum cleaner?

I buy Lysol spray, which lists it kills ringworm fungi, and I spray all surfaces that the cats linger on; the couch, futon, desk, and cat tree. Is it enough to do this once every 1-2 days? 

Also, any information on curing it on humans? I had two known ringworms, and only one has seemed to healed. The other appears to heal after a week of treatment, then appears, then fades, and goes on and off again. This has been happening for 4 weeks. I've been using the Equate brand Athlete's foot cream, 4-6 times a day. A couple days I've used it only 3 times in a 24 hour period, but is that enough to cause it to come back? I've heard Apple Cider Vinegar does wonders, and bought some, but I have no idea how to use it, and I'm almost scared to stop using the cream, for fear of the ringworm of coming back fully...

You can use the athlete's foot treatment--liquid, spray, powder, or cream--on your lesions, and they should heal up.  You can dilute some bleach, say about 10% (10:1 water to bleach), and use it on the lesions.  This should kill them, but it may cause some skin irritation.  Failing all that, the doctor can give you an oral medication that is about 100% effective.

It's not a serious health problem, and it usually sorts itself out on the cats, but it can be a pain in the meantime.
 

Oh my friend I have been there and I so feel for you!   Thankfully it's not life threatening but it is absolutely frustrating to get rid of. 

I didn't use the sulfur dips when my girl brought it home from the shelter but instead used a special shampoo 4x/week. I would call your vet to get specific advice on how to use the dip. 

As for clearing it out of the house this is what I did: I would start by spraying down the bathroom with the diluted bleach formula mentioned above (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) and let it air out. Then, I would put on clean clothes and bathe Ella. Once she was dry I put her in the bathroom, changed my clothes, and sprayed down the apartment. Once that was dry I would let her back out. I sucked, but it worked. 

For you, I would sweep since your floors are hardwood but do that first. Then spray everything down as it will mix it back up into the air. Maybe getting something like the swiffer mop would help? It will clean the floors just as well (and quicker than an old fashioned mop which is important given how often your having to do it) without sending as much airborne. A cheap vacuum would work too, although you would need to change the bag often and that may be more trouble than it's worth. 

The big thing is to be careful of the re-infecting process. You don't want to have on dirty clothes, dip them, and then just have them pick it up off of you again immediately. Unfortunately, as it is an airborne fungus that's not totally avoidable but being consistent can help eradicate it quicker. 

As for treating the lesions: I was lucky that I didn't get any lesions but the vet said if I did to use the athlete's foot cream like you are. I'm not sure about how often or for how long you are supposed to use it though. DId the vet say it was also safe for use on the cats? I got a topical gel from the vet that was similar but I think more concentrated and without the additives. I would call and be sure the cream is safe for animals. I did continue to use the gel until all the lesions had cleared up even after she was on oral antibiotics. 

I also wouldn't recommend spraying the diluted bleach on you or on them. Bleach is harsh stuff, even diluted. And, remember, whatever you put on their fur they likely ingest some as well (through the grooming process). 

A note on the bleach: before using it, make sure you do a test patch first. I just bought an empty spray bottle at the grocery store but found if it wasn't on the "mist" setting it was too strong and stained the carpet. You can also use this formula to wash your clothes, ect but again, test it to be sure. You may need to water it down even more. Also, be aware of it's toxicity level and make sure you air out the rooms really well after spraying. It doesn't take much, just a light misting to kill the fungus. The fumes are bad for you and bad for your cats. So be careful! 

I know, it's all very overwhelming. Just try to be consistent and I promise you can get rid of it. I did the cleaning process about every other day so I think you are good there. 

Good luck and post more questions if you have them! You WILL get through this I promise! 

EB24 said:

Oh my friend I have been there and I so feel for you! 

 Thankfully it's not life threatening but it is absolutely frustrating to get rid of. 

I didn't use the sulfur dips when my girl brought it home from the shelter but instead used a special shampoo 4x/week. I would call your vet to get specific advice on how to use the dip. 

As for clearing it out of the house this is what I did: I would start by spraying down the bathroom with the diluted bleach formula mentioned above (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) and let it air out. Then, I would put on clean clothes and bathe Ella. Once she was dry I put her in the bathroom, changed my clothes, and sprayed down the apartment. Once that was dry I would let her back out. I sucked, but it worked. 

For you, I would sweep since your floors are hardwood but do that first. Then spray everything down as it will mix it back up into the air. Maybe getting something like the swiffer mop would help? It will clean the floors just as well (and quicker than an old fashioned mop which is important given how often your having to do it) without sending as much airborne. A cheap vacuum would work too, although you would need to change the bag often and that may be more trouble than it's worth. 

The big thing is to be careful of the re-infecting process. You don't want to have on dirty clothes, dip them, and then just have them pick it up off of you again immediately. Unfortunately, as it is an airborne fungus that's not totally avoidable but being consistent can help eradicate it quicker. 

As for treating the lesions: I was lucky that I didn't get any lesions but the vet said if I did to use the athlete's foot cream like you are. I'm not sure about how often or for how long you are supposed to use it though. DId the vet say it was also safe for use on the cats? I got a topical gel from the vet that was similar but I think more concentrated and without the additives. I would call and be sure the cream is safe for animals. I did continue to use the gel until all the lesions had cleared up even after she was on oral antibiotics. 

I also wouldn't recommend spraying the diluted bleach on you or on them. Bleach is harsh stuff, even diluted. And, remember, whatever you put on their fur they likely ingest some as well (through the grooming process). 

A note on the bleach: before using it, make sure you do a test patch first. I just bought an empty spray bottle at the grocery store but found if it wasn't on the "mist" setting it was too strong and stained the carpet. You can also use this formula to wash your clothes, ect but again, test it to be sure. You may need to water it down even more. Also, be aware of it's toxicity level and make sure you air out the rooms really well after spraying. It doesn't take much, just a light misting to kill the fungus. The fumes are bad for you and bad for your cats. So be careful! 

I know, it's all very overwhelming. Just try to be consistent and I promise you can get rid of it. I did the cleaning process about every other day so I think you are good there. 

Good luck and post more questions if you have them! You WILL get through this I promise! 

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Wow, that sounds like an absolutely horrible ordeal to have to live through.

EB24, do you know if spraying Lysol will do for everyday disinfectant, and perhaps use the bleach solution twice a week or so? I have a solution already made, and have been using it about twice a week, wiping down all surfaces the cats sleep on. 

I honestly don't know from personal experience. But, as you said in the original post the product says it works on killing Ringworm so I would assume that would be true. If what you are doing seems to be working then keep it up, these are just other ideas to incorporate if you need them. 

Just be careful. Lysol and bleach are harmful to a cat's health. Ringworm is not. I understand it is a huge aggravation, but you don't want to make your cats ill just to get rid of ringworm quicker. I wouldn't use Lysol or bleach around my cats for any reason. Especially lysol on their cat tree where they will breathe in the fumes and lick their paws and fur after walking on a bleached floor. There was a thread on here about an owner trying to get rid of ringworm with bleach and her cat got bleach poisoning. The cat eneded up being okay, but was very seriously ill and took months to get better. I wouldn't want to see somebody else go through this.

I hope you are all feeling better soon.

smitten4kittens said:

Just be careful. Lysol and bleach are harmful to a cat's health. Ringworm is not. 

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An excellent point worth reiterating. However, I am going to disagree slightly that Ringworm is not harmful based on my experience. 

If left untreated, Ringworm can cause extreme lesions that can cover the cat's entire body and the pads of their feet. Not only is it very itchy and painful but can lead to permanent hair loss and other skin based problems. Also, when the fungus is present the body is naturally going to divert the immune system to fighting it. This leaves the cat at a much higher risk of picking up other illnesses that are potentially fatal. With Ella, having Ringworm weakened her immune system and she also caught an upper respiratory infection and an eye infection. Because her body was fighting so many things it wasn't able to eliminate any of them, and all three were amplified. She's lucky that she only suffered the damage that she did. She has areas of permanent hair loss on her head (by her ears) as well as permanent scab marks. Also, her eye never fully healed. Whether it affects her vision or not I can't tell (if it does she's adapted to it fine), but it doesn't open fully (a constant "squinty eye"). 

So, I think it's a balance. You have to weigh the risks of long term Ringworm exposure to potential risks from chemical products. Personally, I felt that by using such a diluted concentration and airing out the room fully before putting her or I in there was a happy medium. 

Tali, I don't want to scare the stuffing out of you but I will say that, as a foster, the illness I dread above all is Ringworm. The immune suppression factor is a big reason why, as is it's persistence and zootonic nature (transmittable between species). Remember that you are a carrier too, and try to avoid contact with high risk groups such as infants, the elderly, or anyone who is sick or otherwise has a compromised immune system. 

Eradication is key not only for Tali's sanity and the health of the felines, but for the safety of the other people and pets in her life. This is NOT your fault Tali, and neither you nor your home is "dirty" (I felt like mine was). Unfortunately, Ringworm is common in catteries follows people home. You can get rid of it, just be consistent and watch toxicity levels carefully. If any of the cats start exhibiting signs of illness (diarrhea, vomiting, ect) get them to the vet ASAP for possible chemical poisoning. 

By the way, ringworm and other fungal infections are considered "ubiquitous" in the environment.  That means they're everywhere and are almost impossible to avoid completely.
 

MrBlanche, while they are present at all times, my use of the word "eradication" refers to killing off the high concentrated levels of spores that cause ringworm infection. I understand (having Google'd my mind out, which is pretty much why I'm fighting myself with being paranoid...) that ringworm spores are ever-present, and all cats have it. But spore concentration causes infection. And that's what I'm trying to rid of. 

I really appreciate the support; I've been trying so very hard not to get paranoid and go nuts over this. We live, temporarily, with my family who has 2 cats and 2 dogs, and I'm so scared of passing it on to them. It's taking so long to get rid of it on myself and the cats, I can't begin to imagine my family going through it. My husband and I live in a garage that has been converted into two rooms; our cats are in one, and we, the other. In March, we're hoping to move into a house we bought; but I'm worried sick we won't be able to kill this problem before then, and will end up keeping them isolated in one of the rooms there. And yes, I do feel dirty and I feel like everything around me is dirty. Despite trying to fight it, and seemingly getting a little better, I'm still paranoid. And a new ringworm on me has just flared my anxiety and is threatening me with depression. I just want it gone.

However, I don't want to hurt the cats. I hate having to use bleach, it gives me a head-ache every time if the fumes get strong enough. As a remedy, I've put a window fan facing outward to pull the fumes out ASAP whenever I use it. It's a 1:10 solution, but it smells horrible. As for Lysol, it dries pretty fast and the cats run away from it. If it gets strong, however, I open the window and air it out. The cats have been acting fine, energetic as always (except for my eldest cat, she's always sleeping. It's normal, though.) The only case of vomiting were hairballs, which I assume is from her ringworm. 

Yesterday after I swept the floor and did a little mopping, I checked the cats; the kittens are doing much better, but the eldest looks far worse. She is bald along her spine, though her long fur hides it pretty well. It's a clean-looking baldness, with absolutely no hair growth, but has tiny red dots that are hard, and touching them irritates her (I wore plastic gloves). Because she seems to have it worse, I've put her in a kennel to help isolate her from the kitties and prevent further re-infection of them. 

I've looked more into the Lime Sulfur dip, and realize that there's no way I can hold still an unruly feline long enough for the stuff to dry and prevent them from ingesting it; so I need to get "cones of shame"...they're going to hate me for it. Not sure where to look for them, but I'll check the local convenient stores...

At least it only needs done once a week... Gah.

Tali said:

MrBlanche, while they are present at all times, my use of the word "eradication" refers to killing off the high concentrated levels of spores that cause ringworm infection. I understand (having Google'd my mind out, which is pretty much why I'm fighting myself with being paranoid...) that ringworm spores are ever-present, and all cats have it. But spore concentration causes infection. And that's what I'm trying to rid of. 

I really appreciate the support; I've been trying so very hard not to get paranoid and go nuts over this. We live, temporarily, with my family who has 2 cats and 2 dogs, and I'm so scared of passing it on to them. It's taking so long to get rid of it on myself and the cats, I can't begin to imagine my family going through it. My husband and I live in a garage that has been converted into two rooms; our cats are in one, and we, the other. In March, we're hoping to move into a house we bought; but I'm worried sick we won't be able to kill this problem before then, and will end up keeping them isolated in one of the rooms there. And yes, I do feel dirty and I feel like everything around me is dirty. Despite trying to fight it, and seemingly getting a little better, I'm still paranoid. And a new ringworm on me has just flared my anxiety and is threatening me with depression. I just want it gone.

However, I don't want to hurt the cats. I hate having to use bleach, it gives me a head-ache every time if the fumes get strong enough. As a remedy, I've put a window fan facing outward to pull the fumes out ASAP whenever I use it. It's a 1:10 solution, but it smells horrible. As for Lysol, it dries pretty fast and the cats run away from it. If it gets strong, however, I open the window and air it out. The cats have been acting fine, energetic as always (except for my eldest cat, she's always sleeping. It's normal, though.) The only case of vomiting were hairballs, which I assume is from her ringworm. 

Yesterday after I swept the floor and did a little mopping, I checked the cats; the kittens are doing much better, but the eldest looks far worse. She is bald along her spine, though her long fur hides it pretty well. It's a clean-looking baldness, with absolutely no hair growth, but has tiny red dots that are hard, and touching them irritates her (I wore plastic gloves). Because she seems to have it worse, I've put her in a kennel to help isolate her from the kitties and prevent further re-infection of them. 

I've looked more into the Lime Sulfur dip, and realize that there's no way I can hold still an unruly feline long enough for the stuff to dry and prevent them from ingesting it; so I need to get "cones of shame"...they're going to hate me for it. Not sure where to look for them, but I'll check the local convenient stores...

At least it only needs done once a week... Gah.

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That was the way I was using the word 'eradication' as well- because of the high concentration.  

I totally understand all the feelings you are having and all the fears and anxiety that go along with it. Hopefully it won't spread to the rest of the family (it's a really good sign that it hasn't yet). When you move maybe you do keep them in one room for a week or two just to be on the safe side. But, that's still two months away so you have a lot of time to get it back under control. 

Even though it doesn't feel like it it does sound like you are doing everything right. You are treating them (and yourself) and treating the house which are the most important things. Just keep doing what you're doing and you WILL get through it. It sounds like the Lysol doesn't smell quite as strong but still kills the fungus so keep up with that. I hate harsh cleaning products too (the only time I have ever used them was with the Ringworm) but to a certain extent it just has to be done. Just keep a close eye like you have been.  

Hang in there. If you need anything just send me a PM and we can talk about it in more detail. That includes cleaning tips as well as if you just need to vent about how frustrated you are and how gross you feel. I'm here for whatever you need! 

Just a note, spraying the surface with bleach or Lysol will only work on hard surfaces that are clean. They will not work on couches and the like (unless you're running them through the wash).
A vacuum is a good idea for the floors if there is dust, but only if the vacuum has a good filter, and you will also need to clean the vacuum if it is bagless.
Also, ringworm does not like sunlight so if you can open the curtains up this may help a bit, you can also place things out in direct sunlight to help kill spores on things that can't be bleached or washed.

Nekochan said:

Just a note, spraying the surface with bleach or Lysol will only work on hard surfaces that are clean. They will not work on couches and the like (unless you're running them through the wash).
A vacuum is a good idea for the floors if there is dust, but only if the vacuum has a good filter, and you will also need to clean the vacuum if it is bagless.
Also, ringworm does not like sunlight so if you can open the curtains up this may help a bit, you can also place things out in direct sunlight to help kill spores on things that can't be bleached or washed.

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See I have been told (and experienced) different. By setting the spray bottle to the "mist" setting I was able to get good coverage of the furniture and carpet. Of course I did vacuum them as well but then misted everything with the bleach mixture and had really good success. It is strong enough to still kill spores on impact but diluted enough to help keep the toxicity down. 

I suppose it's all trial and error, and about what works best in the space that you have. 

Here is some more info on ringworm and what works on it:
http://www.sheltermedicine.com/node/56

Updating because it's been a while.

We're still dealing with it, but things have gotten a LOT better.

I've failed to deep clean as often as I need, but have been spraying Lysol ever other day as I remember. We got the medicine from the vet two weeks ago, and got rid of a lot more stuff, swept and mopped some areas and bleached all the crevices and corners where dust particles like to hide but brooms, mops, and vacuums can't reach a couple of times. 

We just inspected the cats, and Domino looks 100% better, Tazo is about 90%, with her tail being the last stubborn part to heal, and Autumn appears about 90%, with the bald spots slowly growing back. Also, we suspect most of Autumn's problems were caused by her past of being infested with fleas so often (which she appears to have little, if any - I didn't see any signs of them, only little specks of red scrabs from her scratching so much.) 

So, the felines are looking healthier and happier every single day. The downside appears to be me. I thought it was easier to treat humans, but it looks like I'm having more trouble than the cats. I've recently developed a ringworm on my eyelid, under the brow where I previously got infected (which is about 90% healed), my right and left upper arms, my right forearm, my chest has three infections, and I may have one on my back where I can't see. I now have it on my feet, too. So...it's gotten better for the cats, worse for me - despite washing all my laundry, a load every day, washing all the bedding two to three times a week, washing my hands constantly, never re-wearing clothes, and often changing pants after being in the cats' area several times a day if we're preparing to go out somewhere or going to work. I spray Lysol on my jeans if the cats rubbed against me while I fed them and cleaned the area. I've been treating every infected area on myself and trying to be very careful not to spread it - and I'm getting to the point I'm trying apple cider vinegar more often because old infected areas keep coming back and I'm so tired of buying more and more anti-fungal cream... 

I'm sure I'll get through this, it's just so aggravating. At one point, I was depressed, but now I'm just angry. It's a stubborn fungus, and anything I do either makes it worse, spread, or just doesn't do anything at all. It's exhausting. The more frustrating part? My husband only had ONE ringworm in the beginning, and now has NONE. Zero. Zip. He is less cautious than I am, too. The only difference I see between us is that I'm stressing - he is not. So, I guess it's my stress causing this high susceptibility. Not sure how to "cure" that, though. I try not to think about these infections, I just focus on them whenever I need to treat them. Maybe it's not an overnight thing, I dunno... I just want to avoid going to the doctor at all costs. This is just not the time to rack up a huge bill because some dumb fungus won't get out of my skin... Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of it - besides bleach, since I'm too chicken to use it on my eye or anywhere near it.

Any help would be great.

Lastly, to keep to the topic of the cats - anyone know when or how to know for certain that the cats are noncontagious anymore, and when we could let them roam without fear? I know that ringworm could linger on them for a couple weeks before showing, so should we keep them isolated even when they've all healed, for at least a couple weeks? Do we absolutely need to bathe them in some special solution, or any regular shampoo, or at all?

Some people are also more susceptible, some can be exposed and never show any signs while others may get it every time thy are exposed. So you may be more susceptible. You may need to go to the doctor unfortunately, if you keep getting it you may need to get an oral medication or a stronger prescription ointment. If you want to keep trying home treatment, maybe try a cream that has a stronger concentration or a different active ingredient? For example, Miconazole cream is supposed to be effective or if you're already using that you could try a stronger one or a different antifungal.

My vet says when they have had two negative cultures they are considered clear of ringworm.

I don't often click on ringworm threads because I don't want to relive the horror. But I saw the human in this case was having trouble getting rid of it. That was me and my sons (husband never got it even though he snuggled the cat frequently.). You mentioned you had it in your eyebrow? At that point it is considered scalp ringworm and you really need oral meds from the doc. My sons and I all had to take griseofulvin to finally get rid of it. After four weeks of athletes foot cream it is time to see the doctor (package usually specifies this.). In addition to oral meds they can prescribe better creams. Apple cider vinegar used three times a day did do wonders for zapping a lesion but did not keep new ones from appearing. In areas with multiple lesions I made a paste of apple cider vinegar and sea salt and applied it. I also never reused washcloths, towels or pjs without washing and washed sheets twice a week. It was a horrific time. The fungus triggered a secondary dermatitis that still makes me itch occasionally and may for the rest of my life according to the doc. Funny thing is is that I had caught it from a student a decade earlier and it went away with the athletes foot cream, no problem. Anyways, no more ringworm here...so hang in there. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks... 

If it isn't gone by March, I'm definitely going to see a doctor. I hate to do so, but I'm spending more money anyway just trying to do it any other way. 

I'm not even sure if it's "in" my eyebrow - it's just a hair above it. That eyebrow isn't as thick as the other, but I'm not sure if it's always been that way or if the ringworm did that. At any rate, the treatment seems to have curbed the infection. It's just a little pinkish, itchy a couple times, and that's it. The ones on my chest appear to be fading, and it's as if the ones on my arms are going away without treatment - maybe my body's natural defenses are taking care of it. That's why I'm holding onto hope until March... if it spreads further, I may go sooner, but let's hope not lol.

The cats are doing better, but it's only been a handful of days so the improvement isn't noticeable since last update. Autumn and Domino appear great, but Tazo still has a chunk of hair missing in her tail - looks like it's growing back, though. So, hooray on that.

Thanks for all the help and insight. Really appreciate it~

I second the reccomendation of using apple cider vinegar (diluted with water to take the edge off any burn). Just wet a cotton ball with some warm water, then lightly dip it in vinegar. Depending on how raw the skin is, you can judge how much or how little to use (use less on more irritated skin). After lightly pressing the vinegar cotton ball onto the affected area for a few seconds, take a second ball with only warm water on it and press that onto the area to get rid of any sting (I actually add a little olive oil to sooth the skin). Then take a soft towel or another dry ball and dab the area.

This has worked better for me than anything I've gotten from the vet, and it's a lot cheaper. It does work best at the start before things get too out of control. I also use a tiny amount of diluted apple cider vinegar on the comb when I comb the cats, to help ward off further ringworm attacks.
 

Update!

We have no idea if the cats have ringworm or not, now! As it appears, Tazo still has a chunk of hair missing in her tail, and it still appears as if it's growing back - although now there is a scabby thing there. It could be ringworm, it could be a wound from constant itching the area. Domino, on the other hand, looks 100% ringworm free. Autumn's hair has regrown for the most part, only to lose it on her hind legs and under her tail area; the vet believes she may have ringworm more severely, alongside with flea allergies. She received a shot for it. We were denied a culture test, because the medication they've been on would tamper the results, so he suggested a Lime Sulfur Dip treatment, twice a week for a month, and then we can get them re-cultured. Woot.

As for me, most of my infected areas are healed. The eyebrow is a bit more stubborn, though as of yesterday it seems to have disappeared, and I'm not sure how or why. I haven't done anything out of the norm, besides miss a day with applying antifungal cream on it. I haven't lost any hair to the ringworm, either - so it's kinda weird. I'm wondering if I have something else. -shrugs- I'm still going to apply the antifungal for a couple weeks, to make sure it's gone. Worst case, it shows itself again and I go to the doctor and get medicine for it. Which will suck, but oh well. 

Anyway, I really hope to have this stupid ordeal done with soon. Wish us luck. Just one month to go!