Introduction
Despite its name, ringworm infection is not caused by a worm, it is caused by a type of fungus. In the case of ringworm infection in cats, 98% of ringworm infections are caused by the fungus Microsporum canis. This is a highly contagious fungus that can be spread between pets and even to people. If your cat is displaying any of the following symptoms of ringworm, take your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Ringworm
Kittens are normally affected by ringworm the most, but in some cases adult cats will also show symptoms of ringworm infection. The most common place for symptoms of ringworm to develop is on the ears and face. These areas may become crusty and scaly, lesions can begin to develop, hair loss may occur, and the cat may also develop ear infections.
In some cases the ringworm occurs on different areas on the body. In this case, the symptom may begin with a small round lesion or sore where hair loss has occurred. The skin in the center of the lesion is often scaly in appearance, and in some cases small bumps or pustules can be seen on the lesion. Overtime, the lesion may begin to grow. Some cats will itch from a ringworm infection, and other cats do not itch at all even though their skin is showing symptoms. In some cases, the cat’s coat may feel greasy or the pet owner may notice a lot of dandruff or flaky skin throughout the coat.
Cat’s can recover from a ringworm infection without the use of medication, but it may take months. If treatment is necessary, topical treatments are available to treat cats with ringworm infection.