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Cats And Ring Worm
Ringworm is a very common form of skin disease that is found in both
dogs and cats. Although its name makes you think otherwise, this s
kin disease isn’t caused by any type of worm. It’s actually caused
by fungi known as Dermatophytes that feed on dead tissues found in t
he surface of the skin, spreading them around the skin of the animal
.
With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is
found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get
the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clipper
s, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are anim
als in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease,
your cat could very easily contract it this way.
If you have kittens or cats that are under a year old in your home,
you should always use precaution, as they are more susceptible to ri
ngworm. Kittens can easily contract the disease, especially if you
allow them to go outside. They can easily come in contact with a co
ntaminated object or another cat that has the disease. Kittens take
a long time to build their immune system up, and in the meantime th
ey are more apt to get common disease such as ringworm.
The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hair
s, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be
identified by a patch of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy an
d inflamed. There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scal
y skin. This area is very sensitive, and you should never try to tou
ch it, as it will hurt your cat.
If you notice any of the above symptoms with your pet, you should im
mediately schedule an appointment with your vet. If the vet diagnos
is your cat with ringworm, he may prescribe ointment or tablets. Wh
at he describes however, will determine on how serious the ringworm
is. If he prescribes tablets to your cat, you should give them with
meals. Ointment on the other hand, is normally spread