Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis, is a fungal skin infection common in cats, but also transmissible to humans. The symptoms of ringworm mainly manifest as round or oval patches of hair loss on the skin, with scales in the center and red papules around them. Cats may experience itching, scratching, hair loss, and other symptoms.

I. Symptoms of Ringworm in Cats

1. Round or oval patches of hair loss: This is the most typical symptom of ringworm, the center of the patches of hair loss usually has scales, and there are red papules around them.
2. Itching: Cats may constantly scratch the affected areas due to itching, leading to skin damage.
3. Hair loss: Due to scratching and fungal infection, cats may experience significant hair loss in the affected areas.
4. Skin crusting: Long-term scratching of the affected areas may lead to crusting and secretions.
5. Other symptoms: Some cats may also experience decreased appetite, lethargy, and other symptoms.

II. Treatment Methods for Ringworm in Cats

1. Medication: This is the most common way to treat ringworm, and common antifungal medications include:
Medicines containing terbinafine hydrochloride: This type of medicine can directly act on the fungal cell membrane, inhibiting fungal growth. Common drugs include terbinafine ointment, terbinafine cream, etc.
Medicines containing itraconazole: This type of medicine can inhibit the cell division and growth of fungi. Common drugs include itraconazole tablets, itraconazole capsules, etc.
Medicines containing ketoconazole: This type of medicine can inhibit the growth and reproduction of fungi. Common drugs include ketoconazole lotion, ketoconazole ointment, etc.
Other medications: Some other antifungal medications can also treat ringworm, such as griseofulvin, etc.

2. Medicated baths: For cats with larger affected areas, medicated baths with ketoconazole can be used to help control the condition quickly.

III. Care Tips for Cats with Ringworm

1. Cleaning and disinfection: Before applying medication to the cat, you need to remove the hair from the affected area and clean the area with disinfectant or soap to remove scales and lesions, allowing the medication to penetrate the skin more effectively.
2. Isolate infected cats: If there are multiple cats in the household, infected cats should be isolated to prevent infection of other cats.
3. Disinfect the environment: Places where cats often move should be disinfected regularly, such as cat beds, cat toys, etc., to prevent fungal transmission.
4. Human protection: Ringworm is a zoonotic disease, so owners need to be aware of their own protection when interacting with cats, wearing gloves, washing their hands frequently after interacting with cats, and avoiding fungal infections.

IV. Prevention of Ringworm in Cats

1. Regular deworming: Internal and external parasites in cats can increase the risk of ringworm infection, and regular deworming can reduce the risk of disease.
2. Pay attention to environmental hygiene: Keep the cat's living environment clean and dry, regularly disinfect the cat's nest, toys, etc., to prevent fungal growth.
3. Strengthen nutrition: A cat's low immunity is also a reason for ringworm. Strengthening a cat's nutrition and improving immunity can prevent ringworm.
4. Regular checkups: Regularly taking your cat to the veterinary clinic for checkups can help to detect ringworm early and treat it promptly.

V. Personal Experience Summary

If your cat has ringworm, don't panic, seek medical attention promptly, and follow the doctor's advice for treatment. During treatment, you should take good care of the cat, prevent it from scratching the affected area, and prevent the infection from worsening. At the same time, owners should also pay attention to their own protection to avoid fungal infection.

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