Ringworm, Lice & Fleas in an Immunosuppressed Cat

Immune-suppressed cats have weakened immune systems due to disease, such as feline leukemia and distemper. Cats with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to secondary infections, such as ringworm. This also makes cats more likely to attract diseases spread by lice and fleas than healthy cats. Non-fatal ailments may become fatal for immune-suppressed cats and therefore you must take extra precautions to keep your cat well.

  1. Ringworm

    • Ringworm is a result of infection from a fungus known as a dermatophyte. Ringworm is a zoonotic organism, meaning it is able to spread from animal to human. An infected cat will infect at least 60 percent of the humans within the same household. Cats with weakened immune systems are likely to attract infective spores from blankets, brushes, clippers, cages and air filters. Long-haired cats from multi-cat households are also more likely to contract ringworm. Once an immune-suppressed cat has ringworm, it is difficult to get rid of.

    Lice

    • Immune-suppression makes cats predisposed to contracting lice. You find biting lice feeding around body orifices, such as the eyes, nose, ears and anus of a cat. Sucking lice cause anemia and debilitation that can threaten the lives of cats with weakened immune systems. Cat lice are host specific and do not transfer to humans. Your cat may exhibit symptoms, such as dry fur, hair loss, severe itching and twitching, dermatitis and pale gums. Your veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo for your cat.

    Fleas

    • Fleas are a nuisance for healthy cats, but for a cat with a compromised immune system, they can be deadly. Fleas transfer diseases such as tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and cytauxzoonosis. It is common for fleas to transfer tapeworms to cats, leading to severe anemia and death.

    Ticks

    • It is not common for healthy cats to get heartworms from ticks, but sick cats contract the disease quite easily. Since there is no effective heartworm treatment available for cats, preventatives are the only hope. It is nearly impossible for Immune-suppressed cats to fight off the effects of heartworms. The very disease causing your cats suppressed immune system could have come from a tick.