How to Treat Cat Ringworm

Cat ringworm is a fungal skin disease, and the most effective treatment is to take both oral and topical antifungal drugs simultaneously. First, the owner needs to take the cat to the hospital for a fungal examination to determine the specific location of the ringworm before starting treatment. If it is a local infection, topical drugs containing terbinafine can be used. If the cat is infected with ringworm all over its body, oral drugs containing ingredients such as itraconazole must also be combined for treatment. During the treatment, the cat should wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from licking itself.

Initial Treatment of Cat Ringworm

In the early stages of cat ringworm, the symptoms are mild and the ringworm has not yet spread to a larger skin area. It is generally easy to treat. You can first trim the hair around the affected area, then use a hot towel to soften the scales and crusts before cleaning them off. Finally, apply a topical drug containing terbinafine to the infected area.

Advanced Treatment of Cat Ringworm

When the cat's ringworm develops to the advanced stage, it often leads to systemic infection and massive hair loss. At this point, oral drugs containing ingredients such as itraconazole must be combined for treatment. If necessary, the cat can also be bathed in a medicinal shampoo with antifungal properties.

Precautions

The treatment cycle for cat ringworm is relatively long. Adult cats need to be treated for three to four weeks before they can recover completely, while kittens may need up to two months. Therefore, it is necessary to put an Elizabethan collar on the cat to prevent it from licking and spreading the ringworm all over its body.

Before complete recovery, continue to apply medication to prevent repeated infections and feed the cat some B-group vitamins to help with the recovery of its skin and hair.