So you've discovered the kitten you recently brought home, whether as a foster or family member, has ringworm. You do a quick Google search only to find out you're probably going to need to burn your house down now. Not only will you get it, but your pets and your pet's pets will get it. At the very least, you'll need to rip out your carpet, (and throw away your vacuum!) and have your vents cleaned after months of ringworm treatment.
If that sounds ridiculous to you, it's because it is. The internet is a cesspool of over-reaction to ringworm, and what's more unfortunate, is a lot of people buy into it.
And thus, the panic begins.
Of all the things a kitten could catch, let me tell you, a fungus similar to athlete's foot is not among the worst. Have you ever thought to gut and remodel your bathroom after your child got athlete's foot just to make sure those little spores were no longer in the house? Of course not! Because just like ringworm, it's actually not that big of a deal.
So what's the fuss about?
The most annoying thing about ringworm actually has to do more with rescues and fosters. The treatment can indeed take weeks and months to clear the fungus on a cat, which means that foster/rescue can't take in any other kittens during that time. If it spreads to other rescue cats in the home or shelter, those animals are then taking up precious space for a non-deadly illness. If a kitten gets it, it means it's at-risk of missing it's "most adoptable" period in life, when it's at its smallest, which can then make adoption take longer, and thus, again, take up space for other rescue animals.
BUT, when it makes sense, rescues should consider adopting out cats and kittens with ringworm to those who are willing to adopt them - at the very least as a foster-to-adopt. They should not be hidden in the back in iso until they clear. Adopters should be allowed to visit with them (albeit last and with proper PPE) like any other cat. Fosters who are otherwise adoptable should be listed on the website. In the winter, when kittens are scarce in a lot of states, you will find adopters open to it because they really want a kitten. If you need to, make adopters sign a "ringworm" waiver, but not adopting them out feeds into the myth and fear surrounding ringworm. Ringworm is not deadly or even debilitating in any way, and it needs to stop being treated as though it is.
Is ringworm contagious?
If you're not a foster worried about other fosters currently in your home, you really don't have a ton to worry about. Can you catch it? Maybe. I've fostered dozens of cats with ringworm and only ever caught it with my very first litter. There's some thought that you become immune to it, and it seems like that's happened for me. I treated the two small spots with over-the-counter anti-fungal cream, and it went away in about three days.
Could your other pets get it? It's very unlikely. Although it's possible for any pet to get ringworm, those most at risk are those with weakened immune systems like kittens or any adults with severe health issues or otherwise under a lot of stress (for example, those at a shelter), which can weaken the immune system. Outside of that, your pet is very unlikely to catch it. Your dog has probably already encountered it on her walks, but thanks to a developed immune system, her body easily fights it off. In 6 years, I've never had a resident pet get it.
So, let's break it down:
What is ringworm?
It's a fungus similar to athlete's foot or a yeast infection. It is NOT a worm.
How is ringworm diagnosed?
Ringworm typically pops up suddenly. Overnight, you'll find a small bald spot with flaky skin. The simplest way to diagnose it is to get ahold of a black light and see if the fur (not the skin) on the spot glows neon green. If you look closely, as ringworm is cured, the glowing fur will grow out, so the base will be normal and only the tips will glow. Alternatively, your vet can do a skin scrape or PCR test, though they'll also probably be able to diagnose it with a Wood's Lamp (which is essentially a black light).
What's the treatment for ringworm?
Every rescue or vet will have their own protocol, but the one I like best is prescription itrafungol oral meds plus ketohex wipes once a day. The oral meds stops the current fungus from reproducing and creating spores, while the ketohex kills those already on the cat. Some people do lyme dips or full on ketohex baths, but I find these to be very stressful for the cats, and as we just learned, stress weakens the immune system further. After 2 weeks on oral meds, the cat should be significantly less contagious or not contagious at all, which means you can relax a little bit (as long as environmental disinfection is kept up with).
How do I keep Ringworm from spreading?
Regardless of their fungal status, I keep all my kitten fosters either in a room with floors that can be cleaned easily (like LVP or tile) or in a small room with the carpet covered in plastic floor tiles or bed sheets that can be removed and washed frequently. I vacuum any exposed carpet and wipe down the tiles and any other surfaces with Rescue Disinfectant every other day. I try to use only toys I can easily disinfect or wash. I have one cat tree that's the ringworm cat tree, which I'll also spray with Rescue every other day. I have a UV air purifier I use year-round.
My biggest concern is making sure all spores in the environment are killed, so there's no reinfection once oral meds are finished.
After they're clear and adopted, I use the same disinfecting routine I use after all my fosters. Though ringworm can be tricky because the spores spread through the air, it's not very hardy, so it doesn't take a ton to kill it. The things that kill Ringworm are: Rescue Disinfectant, UV light, and very high heat. I run a UV lamp in the room for one hour. I spray and wipe down all surfaces with Rescue. I wash all bedding, clothing, and anything fabric they may have touched with concentrated Rescue or bleach in hot water. All toys are disinfected and sent home with adopters or thrown away. I put any cat trees or larger items outside for a few days to sit in the sun. I then steam clean all surfaces.
Using this routine, I have never spread ringworm from one foster group to the next. And yes, I even have (the dreaded) carpet!
Because of the fears about ringworm, many kittens and cats are euthanized in shelters, especially in warmer states where ringworm is extremely common. People are not willing to foster or adopt them, rescues aren't willing to transfer them, and some shelters don't have the resources to isolate and treat them. Our panic is literally costing lives, and it's time to stop.
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