How to Judge if a Cat has Ringworm

There are three main methods to determine if a cat has ringworm: touching, checking for hair loss, and using a Wood's lamp inspection. First, if you feel hard masses on the cat's skin, it may be ringworm. Secondly, if you notice abnormal hair loss, accompanied by redness, increased scales, itching, and other symptoms, the probability of having ringworm is higher. Finally, if the infected area shows green fluorescence under the Wood's lamp, it is almost confirmed to be ringworm. It is recommended that owners consult a veterinarian in time and use antifungal drugs for treatment.

Touching

Ringworm is a skin disease caused by a fungus that causes local skin crusting and ulceration. Therefore, owners can touch the suspected ringworm area on the cat's body. If you feel hard masses on the skin, it may be ringworm. Note that ringworm is contagious and can be transmitted to dogs, cats, or owners. So it is necessary to wear disposable gloves when checking manually.

Checking for Hair Loss

Normal cat hair loss is generally uniform throughout the body, without local hair loss and no bald spots. If you find that the cat has local hair loss and can see the skin directly, it is likely to be ringworm. At the same time, due to the cat's constant scratching of the affected area, hair loss will be exacerbated.

Wood's Lamp Inspection

If the owner cannot visually distinguish ringworm with the naked eye, they can use a Wood's lamp to determine it. By irradiating the suspected infected area, if a apple green fluorescent reaction is found, it indicates a high probability of ringworm infection, with an accuracy rate of about 70%.