Antifungal Shampoo for Cats

The problem of fungus infections in cats is common, especially in free-roaming cats that are in an outdoor environment for long periods of time. There are a variety of fungi present in nature at all times, and cats who are in or near areas where fungal spores exist are susceptible to infection. Treatment with an antifungal shampoo is one way to address this problem.

  1. Fungus in Cats

    • The primary fungal infection source for cats is dermatophytosis, more commonly referred to as ringworm. Contact with this fungus will result in a skin infection that is easily transmitted from one animal to another, as well as to human beings. The infection will generally appear as lesions on the skin (not always ring-shaped) and loss of hair. Ringworm infections can spread over the entire body if left untreated, causing the cat to scratch persistently. Cats younger than 1 year old or those that are immune-deficient are much more susceptible to severe reactions to ringworm infections.

    Cryptococcosis

    • Cryptococcosis is another common infection source for cats. It is present as a yeast in decayed material and bird droppings. This fungus is found more often as a deep fungal infection in cats, which may become a chronic infection affecting the skin, sinus cavities and nose. These fungal spores are commonly inhaled, yet spores also can infect the eyes and eventually the brain of a cat. One noticeable symptom of this infection will be a bump on the bridge of the nose when nasal tissue becomes infected.

    Antifungal Treatment

    • A veterinarian will likely prescribe an antifungal medication to be administered, either orally or topically, to treat ringworm and other fungal problems. Griseolfulvin is one of the stronger medications for fungus, and has more severe side effects such as diarrhea and vomiting. Miconazole and itraconazole are two topical treatments that are among the ingredients listed in many over-the-counter antifungal products.

    Antifungal Shampoo

    • Bathing a cat with an antifungal shampoo is one part of an overall treatment program to address fungal infections. A controlled study of two antifungal shampoo types conducted by the Department of Dermatology at Rutland House Veterinary Hospital tested the effectiveness of these shampoos as part of a treatment program that included daily oral doses of itraconazole. The two types of antifungal shampoo were a boric acid/acetic acid mixture and a chlorhexadrine/miconazole mixture. Both test groups showed positive results.

    Home Remedies

    • Antifungal treatments are more likely to be successful when administered by a veterinary professional. However, there are a few home remedies that people have used to treat fungal infections, such as ringworm, with reported positive results. Apple cider vinegar, garlic and papaya may produce good results when rubbed directly on the lesions. Grapefruit seed extract is another natural product that has been found to be helpful as an antifungal ingredient generally, and may be used as a topical treatment when diluted with water. Any of these approaches should be discussed with a qualified veterinary professional before applying them.