Fungus in Cats

Fungus can grow anywhere on or in a feline, including the ears, bladder, lungs or skin. Any cat with a potential fungal infection should be seen by a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

  1. Types

    • Different types of fungal infections that can infect a cat include blastomycosis, aspergillosis, candidiasis or malassezia (yeast), cryptococcosis, coccidiodomycosis, histoplasmosis and ringworm.

    Causes

    • While some types of fungus are normally present in small amounts, such as yeast, other types of fungus are found in the environment and must be inhaled or physical contact must be made to cause an infection.

    Symptoms

    • Various symptoms of a fungal infection in cats vary based on the location and type of fungus present. Symptoms can include skin lesions, lethargy, seborrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, hair loss, feline acne, redness, scratching, drooling and inflammation.

    Diagnosis

    • Any potential fungal infection will require a sample taken by swab or biopsy to determine the type of fungus infecting the cat. This may also be accompanied by a physical exam, urinalysis or blood tests.

    Treatment

    • Depending on the type of fungus present, a variety of antifungal oral or topical medications are available. Some fungal infections, such as yeast, may require treatment of primary conditions, such as diabetes, to resolve and prevent future reoccurrence.