Cat Ringworm Causes: From Contact Transmission to Low Immunity, a Comprehensive Analysis of Ringworms Contributing Factors

Ringworm, a common fungal skin disease in cats, has caused a lot of trouble for cat owners. When a cat gets ringworm, not only will it make the cat feel uncomfortable, but it will also affect the cat's appearance and may even be contagious to humans. So, what exactly causes cats to develop ringworm?

1. Contact Transmission: Common Infection Routes of Ringworm

The spread of ringworm is mainly through the following two routes:

a. Direct contact: Direct contact with infected cats is the most common way ringworm spreads. When a healthy cat comes into contact with an infected cat, the fungal spores on the infected cat can be transmitted to the healthy cat through skin contact, leading to ringworm.

b. Indirect contact: In addition to direct contact, items used by infected cats can also become a medium for transmitting ringworm. For example, food bowls, water bowls, cat beds, towels used by infected cats may carry fungal spores. When a healthy cat comes into contact with these items, it can also become infected.

2. Low Immunity: Contributing Factors to Ringworm Susceptibility

Besides contact transmission, the cat's own low immunity is another important reason for ringworm. In general, cats with low resistance, malnutrition, and those who are weak and prone to illness are more susceptible to ringworm.

Low Resistance: Immunity is the key for cats to fight off diseases. When the cat's immunity is low, its ability to resist fungal infections will weaken, making it more susceptible to ringworm.
Malnutrition: Malnutrition can lead to a decline in the cat's immunity, making it more susceptible to ringworm.
Weak and prone to illness: Cats suffering from other diseases, such as feline distemper, feline leukemia, etc., their immunity will also be affected, making them more susceptible to ringworm.

3. Clinical Symptoms of Ringworm

When a cat gets ringworm, it will show the following symptoms:

Oval-shaped ringworm patches: The most typical symptom of ringworm is the appearance of oval-shaped ringworm patches. Ringworm patches are usually round or irregular in shape, with clear edges, hair loss, and skin redness, scaling, etc.
Dandruff: The skin of a cat with ringworm will have a lot of dandruff. Gently stroking the affected area of the cat, a lot of dandruff will fall off.
Itching: Ringworm can cause itching in cats. The cat may scratch the affected area constantly, leading to skin damage and infection.
Scratching and licking: Due to itching, the cat will constantly scratch and lick the affected area, causing ringworm to spread throughout the body.

4. Treatment of Ringworm

When a cat is diagnosed with ringworm, timely treatment is necessary. The main treatment methods for ringworm include:

Drug treatment: Common ringworm treatment drugs include drugs containing terbinafine hydrochloride, itraconazole, etc.
Medicated baths: For cats with severe ringworm, medicated baths can be used in conjunction with treatment.
Elizabethan collar: To prevent the cat from scratching and licking the affected area, an Elizabethan collar should be worn to prevent the medication from being licked.

5. Prevention of Ringworm

The key to preventing ringworm is:

Avoid contact: Avoid contact with infected cats as much as possible.
Regular checkups: Regularly observe the cat's skin for any abnormalities and treat them promptly.
Keep clean: Regularly clean the cat's living environment and disinfect items used by infected cats.
Strengthen nutrition: Feed the cat a nutritionally balanced diet to improve the cat's resistance.

Summary of Experience

Ringworm is a common and prevalent disease. The key to preventing ringworm is to maintain the cat's healthy state and clean environment. Once the cat shows symptoms of ringworm, timely medical treatment is key. At the same time, owners should also pay attention to their own hygiene to avoid being infected.

This article is original, please keep the link when forwarding:https://www.5zo.net/showinfo-4-76590-0.html

Previous: Cat Ringworm: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention and Tips for Owners


search