Ringworm Shampoos for Cats

Ringworm in cats can be treated in a variety of ways. According to the Feline Advisory Bureau, an organization that advocates the "health and welfare of cats," there are two main methods of treating ringworm: systemic and topical. Depending on the severity of the case, the infected cat may be treated with one form of therapy or a combination, as veterinarians Dr. Race Foster and Dr. Marty Smith explain in an online article "Ringworm in Cats." One widely used topical therapy is medicated shampoo.

  1. Dermisil

    • Dermisil for Pet Ringworm is an all-natural product that can be used on cats and dogs. The product contains lime sulfur, which has been approved by the FDA and the EPA for treating ringworm according to Dermisil's website. Dermisil for Pet Ringworm is a heavily concentrated liquid that you mix with shampoo before applying it to your cat. (Essentially, you make your own medicated shampoo). Dermisil recommends combining the ringworm treatment with its own herbal pet shampoo.

    Mal-A-Ket

    • Malaseb, which had been the only ringworm shampoo for cats approved by the FDA, was discontinued as of July 31, 2009, due to failures by its manufacturer, Teva Animal Health, to follow manufacturing regulations. However, the medicated shampoo Mal-A-Ket, from DermaPet, contains the same antifungal and antimicrobial agents that were the active ingredients in Malaseb. Bullwrinkle.com, a website that used to sell Malaseb, recommends Mal-A-Ket as a "cost effective alternative for Malaseb products."

    MalAcetic ULTRA

    • MalAcetic ULTRA is another product from DermaPet. The company claims it is an "ideal topical product for the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections." In addition to its antifungal and antimicrobial properties, MalAcetic ULTRA contains hydrocortisone which helps relieve itching, a symptom that may be present in a cat infected with ringworm. Certain ingredients in MalAcetic ULTRA have proven to be essential in curing a feline of ringworm.