Some cats, especially longhaired breeds, may have ringworm without any clinical signs or hair loss. These cats are called 'asymptomatic carriers'. These cats may infect other animals or people, especially in shelters or multi-cat environments, without caregivers knowing they are infected.
What can be mistaken for ringworm in cats?
In many cats, it can be tricky to tell whether they have ringworm. It can look like a lot of other common skin conditions in cats, such as flea allergy dermatitis and mange, says Jessica Lowe, DVM, medical director of VCA Beacon Hill Cat Hospital.
What does the beginning of ringworm look like on a cat?
The "ring" of ringworm looks like a small circular lesion on a cat's skin. These rings are usually accompanied by hair loss and commonly appear on the head, ears, back, or front legs of their body, although they can appear anywhere. Other noticeable signs and symptoms of ringworm include: Circular areas of hair loss.
Can I touch my cat if it has ringworm?
People with weaker immune systems are more at risk of catching ringworm from cats, including young children, elderly people, people undergoing chemotherapy or treatment involving transplants or transfusions. We recommend that you don't let children touch your cat if he or she has ringworm.
How do you know if a cat is a carrier of ringworm?
This method is the most accurate way to diagnose feline ringworm. After some hair is plucked from a lesion on the skin, it is placed on a special gel (culture media) to watch for growth of the fungus. Also, the color of the gel will change from yellow to red as the fungus grows. These cultures are checked daily.
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