Early Symptoms of Ringworm in Kittens

Ringworm in kittens mainly presents as local skin redness and swelling, along with a small amount of hair loss. As ringworm can cause itching, cats will often scratch their skin frequently. Since ringworm is contagious, timely treatment with antifungal drugs is necessary and the cat should be isolated during treatment. It is recommended that the owner wear gloves to apply the medication to the affected area and disinfect the home environment daily.

1. How to Tell if a Cat Has Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin disease caused by fungal spore infections. First, you can judge by the symptoms. It usually presents as itching and hair loss, with circular hair loss patterns and later develops into crusting. Secondly, you can judge by using equipment. A preliminary examination can be done in a dark room using a Woods light. If the affected area shows a blue-green fluorescence, it indicates a ringworm infection and further microscope examination of the hair is needed.

1. How to Treat Ringworm in Cats

Cats with ringworm need to be treated with topical medications containing ketoconazole, which has an antifungal effect. It is generally recommended to use it continuously for 1 month. If the cat has scratched the affected area until it bleeds due to itching, you need to disinfect the area with iodine first, and then apply the medication. If the infection area is small, you can directly apply the medication to the affected area. If the cat has long hair and the infection area is large, you need to trim the hair first and then apply the medication. After using the medication, you need to put an Elizabeth collar on the cat. You can also provide the cat with a compound of vitamin B to enhance its skin resistance. It is necessary to disinfect the cat's daily necessities and environment comprehensively.