Ringworm in Cats – Causes And Prevention
Ringworm is a contagious infection of the skin that is characterized by round, reddish lesions. The
root causes of the disease are spores called dermatophytes, which are produced by M canis. They are
usually located around infected hairs where they form clusters, and each spore can only be seen through
a microscope.
Cats can pass on the spores to one another and to humans via infected hairs that they shed. Ringworm
can also be picked up from direct contact with infected animals or contaminated objects such as grooming
tools, bedding, and even the carpet. The spores responsible for ringworm are quite hardy, and they can
remain infectious for more than two years. Trouble begins when they attach themselves to the skin and
produce hyphae that invade the skin and hair in large numbers.
Contrary to what many people think, ringworm doesn’t occur easily on otherwise healthy skin, which is
quite resistant to fungal attacks. In order for the infection to occur, there will have to be a break
on the skin of some sort. It is thought that the action of self-cleaning practiced by cats can actually
rid the coat of fungi spores that can cause a ringworm infection.
Even so, there are cats that are particular prone to ringworm attacks, such as Persians and other long
haired breeds of cats. It is thought that the long hair of these cats may have a role to play in their
predisposition to ringworm, since the spores are provided a greater degree of protection against the
rays of the sun, which can be fatal to them. Younger cats are also more likely to catch ringworm than
full-grown cats since their immune systems haven’t developed to a degree sufficient to provide protection
against infestation. Nevertheless, cats of any age and any breed can pick up ringworm if the conditions
are right.
While ringworm often results in the typical round shaped lesions on the skin, the actual appearance
of these lesions may vary in severity from animal to animal. In fact, some cats will appear almost normal
and may show no lesions at all, or only a few minor ones. Some cats on the other hand may have severely
reddish, itchy and inflamed lesions that can be quite bothersome.
In most cases, these lesions will have a relatively smooth and hairless area in the middle, while the
ring itself will be rough and scaly. In addition, the hairs around the infected area will be broken
and/or stunted.
While ringworm may not actually cause any serious complications, there is a risk of a more serious infection
if the disease is left untreated. And of course, passing on the infection to other animals as well as
humans is an ever-present threat.