Ringworm Treatment for Cats

Ringworms in cats refers to a fungal infection that invades the skin. As a result, skin lesions (circular portions devoid hair ) develop especially around the limbs and head. These patches of hair loss make the skin itchy and flaky. In some cases, the infection spreads over the whole body due to which the cat's health is severely affected.

Ringworm Treatment for Cats

Cat ringworm treatment plays an important role in accelerating the healing process. Treatment is generally not required for healthy cats that have a small affected area as the infection resolves on its own. Topical treatments involve use of creams that are generously applied on infected portions of the skin. Thiabendazole or miconazole are some of the most effective topical creams for the treatment of ringworms. Depending upon the breed, in case the cat has long hair, then the veterinarian usually suggests clipping the hair in order to make the treatment more effective.

Even ointments such as Novasan, Conofite, Tresaderm and Lotrimin are also helpful in this regard. If the infection has spread over a large area, then the vet will either suggest shampooing or a lime sulfur dip. Dipping the infected cat in the lime sulfur solution prepared by the veterinarian is considered to be very effective. Topical therapy involves shampoo being applied to the entire body of the cat, and the product considered to be safe for this therapy is chlorhexidine and miconazole shampoo. Before applying the shampoo, water is poured on the coat to make it wet. The shampoo is lathered and then massaged properly. Allow the shampoo to remain for a period of 10 minutes and then rinse it. Most cats respond quite well to shampooing when applied twice a week. Make sure that the cat does not lick its skin after shampooing or dipping. This can be prevented by putting an e-collar around the cat. It generally takes 3 hours for the skin to become dry so till then the collar should not be removed.

When the infection does not respond to topical therapy, then oral medications also known as anti-fungal agents are used. Oral medicines are recommended only in severe cases when skin creams fail to provide any relief. The most useful drug for treating ringworm in cats is Itraconazole. For serious fungal infections, this medication is quite beneficial and has fewer side effects if any. Terbinafine is another drug that can be used for cat ringworm treatment. Griseofulvin, another drug was often prescribed, but due to its adverse effects, currently its usage is not recommended. One more product that is considered to be safe in ringworm treatment for cats is lufenuron. This flea control product does not cause any adverse side effects. In some cases, a combination of topical and oral treatment is helpful to treat ringworm in cats.

Duration of Treatment

The treatment for ringworm in cats has to be continued until the fungal infection has been eliminated. In some cases, the skin lesions clear away but the infection is still present in the skin. Hence, the treatment should be stopped only when repeated tests confirm that the cat's skin is free from the ringworm infection. Depending upon the severity of the disease, the cat may require 4 - 6 weeks of treatment.

Decontaminating the environment is also necessary and it can be achieved by vacuuming the cat's room daily. Along with the treatment, good nutrition can help to reduce the recovery time. Feeding the cat with good quality cat food is an integral part of ringworm treatment for cats, and must be strictly followed.