Does this look like Ringworm or something else?

Hi,

About a month ago I brought a cat inside to live permanently (she lived in my backyard for 7yrs and never left, she is now 10) her vet check up and blood test came back fine.. A few days ago I noticed that she had a small patch of missing hair on the back of her neck (I assumed another cat got into a fight with her when I wasn't home). Yesterday there was a scab crusted in a straight line over the area  - but now there is a bald patch about 1 1/2" below the initial bald patch with little scaly spots, scabs and puss- it appeared suddenly. I just started giving her antibiotics last night.

I know taking her to the vet is best and she'll go if it gets any worse, but through the weekend I'd like to try some sort of topical- antibiotic cream as it looks infected with the puss, or a fungal cream if it seems to be ringworm.  (I don't have a black light)

The first pic is last night - the second pic is right now

Thank you! - All help is appreciated!!

Due to the pus, I'd recommend a vet visit. The wound looks like it's rather large, and high? Like something is infected under the skin, where a topical ointment wouldn't reach?

I have had cats with ringworm but it sure didn't look like this. Yep, I'd get to the vet.

I agree that this does NOT look like ringworm.

I can't say just WHAT it seems to be, but it looks painful

mrsgreenjeens said:

I agree that this does NOT look like ringworm.

I can't say just WHAT it seems to be, but it looks painful

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It does look painful. I'm a little concerned it could be a botworm infection, or even a tick imbedded in there.

misterwhiskers said:

It does look painful. I'm a little concerned it could be a botworm infection, or even a tick imbedded in there.

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Yes, it does look painful - it is more crusty today, I did put antibiotic cream on it, hoping maybe it will slow the infection from getting worse until I can take her to the vet. 

A bot fly or tick infection? oh gosh. I have 4 other cats that are indoor only.

Well, botfly would be unlikely even if your cat was outdoors before you saved her. (Ty!!)

I imagine a tick is more possible; if so, I wouldn't worry too too much about your indoor cats, especially if you treat them with a topical flea/tick med.

Does she have fleas? One of my cats, when he catches fleas, if I'm not careful to give him his advantage on time, he will pick sores all along his back and tail. This might be a tick, I'm not sure. Could you wash the area with a warm washcloth to get a better look at it, and if you have any plain, neosporin, no pain relief, apply it until you can get to a vet, it would help.

This is exactly what one of my feral cats had on the back of his neck. It was an abcess from a cat bite. His did get worse, raw and bloody, so I trapped him and he received an antibiotic injection. It took a few weeks to heal up. Since this kitty was an outdoor cat recently, then I assume it is from a bite and it can take a couple of weeks to fester and abcess. Cats will grab other cats from the back of the neck to dominate. Outdoor cats are much more aggressive with this behavior. If it gets more nasty looking then antibiotics would be needed. Definitely not ringworm, IMO.

misterwhiskers said:

Well, botfly would be unlikely even if your cat was outdoors before you saved her. (Ty!!)

I imagine a tick is more possible; if so, I wouldn't worry too too much about your indoor cats, especially if you treat them with a topical flea/tick med.

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That's good to hear! I was looking up bot fly infections and countless things ran through my head!  Yes, I treat the other inside cats with Advantage II.

nansiludie said:

 
Does she have fleas? One of my cats, when he catches fleas, if I'm not careful to give him his advantage on time, he will pick sores all along his back and tail. This might be a tick, I'm not sure. Could you wash the area with a warm washcloth to get a better look at it, and if you have any plain, neosporin, no pain relief, apply it until you can get to a vet, it would help.

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She doesn't have any fleas that I can find- the vet checked her for them last month and she didn't have any (I was previously treating her as well when she was outside- but haven't put anything on her since she's been inside yet)  she doesn't scratch her body at all. I applied neosporin this morning but, yeah I'll clean the area with a washcloth and apply neosporin again.

Feralvr said:

This is exactly what one of my feral cats had on the back of his neck. It was an abcess from a cat bite. His did get worse, raw and bloody, so I trapped him and he received an antibiotic injection. It took a few weeks to heal up. Since this kitty was an outdoor cat recently, then I assume it is from a bite and it can take a couple of weeks to fester and abcess. Cats will grab other cats from the back of the neck to dominate. Outdoor cats are much more aggressive with this behavior. If it gets more nasty looking then antibiotics would be needed. Definitely not ringworm, IMO.

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Ouch - I was thinking it was from a bite too because she had a chunk of hair missing- but then it got ugly 1.5" below the original area, I wasn't aware that an abscess could form below a bite!  There has never been another cat in my backyard besides her sister who died 7 weeks ago.. but, I there is a dominate male cat inside... I brought her brother (from the same litter) inside about 18 months ago, he picks on her and their other 1/2 sister often (1/2 sister was brought inside after almost dying a year ago) (he doesn't let them walk by, he hisses, gets lost in the corner, the dark, the bathtub and begins meowing very loud- he has issues)  They are all fixed and all have rabies shots..If this is from him I wonder why he would hurt her, she is super gentle and minds her business.

dovefries said:

Feralvr said:

This is exactly what one of my feral cats had on the back of his neck. It was an abcess from a cat bite. His did get worse, raw and bloody, so I trapped him and he received an antibiotic injection. It took a few weeks to heal up. Since this kitty was an outdoor cat recently, then I assume it is from a bite and it can take a couple of weeks to fester and abcess. Cats will grab other cats from the back of the neck to dominate. Outdoor cats are much more aggressive with this behavior. If it gets more nasty looking then antibiotics would be needed. Definitely not ringworm, IMO.

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Ouch - I was thinking it was from a bite too because she had a chunk of hair missing- but then it got ugly 1.5" below the original area, I wasn't aware that an abscess could form below a bite!  There has never been another cat in my backyard besides her sister who died 7 weeks ago.. but, I there is a dominate male cat inside... I brought her brother (from the same litter) inside about 18 months ago, he picks on her and their other 1/2 sister often (1/2 sister was brought inside after almost dying a year ago) (he doesn't let them walk by, he hisses, gets lost in the corner, the dark, the bathtub and begins meowing very loud- he has issues)  They are all fixed and all have rabies shots..If this is from him I wonder why he would hurt her, she is super gentle and minds her business.

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Sometimes, even a little knick of the teeth can set an infection in motion and cause an under the skin abscess. Since you brought this girl in a month ago, then the brother may have inflicted the bite on her being the newbie in the house thus taking a couple of weeks for it to show itself visibly to you. I think the wound looks like it is healing well though but keep an eye on it. Thank you, btw, for taking in these cats and giving them a good home.

Hi! I'm CarlaLou. It doesn't sound like ringworm to me. I had my oldest cat of 10 yrs.old get a ringworm and it was just a bare patch of skin with a white colored rind in it. I have pictures,if I had a way of sending them to you. Hope my input helps. God Bless.

Oh my!!! I just seen the pics... That is definitely NOT RINGWORM.