Help for Feline Ringworm

Ringworm in cats and other animals is a fungal infection. It is the most common contagious skin infection in cats, and it can develop on an animal's skin, hair or nails. Feline ringworm is especially common in cats and kittens less than 1 year old because their immune systems have not fully developed. In most cases, ringworm will clear up on its own. However, because it can take a while to clear and it is easily transmitted to other cats, dogs and even humans, veterinarians often advise treatments.

  1. Antifungal Creams

    • In many cases, feline ringworm is treated very similarly to human cases. Your veterinarian may prescribe an antifungal cream containing an active ingredient such as miconazole or thiabendazole. These creams can be applied to the area affected by ringworm as prescribed by your vet. In some cases, the creams may have to be applied for a period of several weeks for the infection to fully clear. While undergoing treatment for ringworm, it's important to take steps to avoid allowing the infection to spread to other animals. If you have other pets, you may have to separate them from sleeping or playing together.

    Oral Medications

    • In severe cases, your doctor may recommend that your cat take an oral antifungal medication to better eliminate the infection. You may even need to give your cat both oral and topical drugs to clear up ringworm. Oral antifungal drugs include itraconazole, griseofulvin and terbafine. Most veterinarians will recommend oral antifungal drugs to treat ringworm if the infection is in the nails because it is typically more effective. In addition, cats who have been treated with topical drugs for two or more weeks and do not show improvement may be put on an oral antifungal medications in addition to topical medications.

    Shaving and Sulfur Dips

    • In some cases, it may be necessary to shave at least some of your cat's fur to properly treat a ringworm infection. In fact, many veterinarians recommend that long-haired cats be fully shaved if they are being treated for ringworm. Removing the fur is necessary so the topical medications can be better applied to the affected skin. Shaving the cat also makes it easier to determine the full extent of the infection and what the proper course of treatment will be.
      When a cat is shaved, doctors will often suggest that the cat be given a lime sulfur dip to treat the infection. This is an effective treatment, but it has as strong and distasteful odor and may temporarily turn a cat's skin a yellowish hue.