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Cats Ringworm And Your Children Ringworm is quite common in cats, particularly those that are not groomed or looked after well enough. However, even the most cared-for cats can get ringworm because it is so contagious. However, ringworm is not caused by a worm. Sorry, for telling you how to suck eggs, if you already knew that, but a great deal of people do not. Ringworm is actually a fungus called dermatophytosis and is extremely contagious for most animals including humans. Cats often pass it on to each other when rubbing and pass it onto humans during grooming or stroking. Not only that, but once you have the infection on your hands, you might get ringworm on your body wherever you touch yourself or you might pass it onto someone else, another cat or your dog. If you spot the tell-tale catherine-wheel shaped mark on your cat, you must take it to the vet immediately for treatment. Similarly, if you or your children pick up the infection, you must see a medical doctor or dermatologist. You should see an improvement in a few days and complete recovery within a week or so, although treatment might go on for a fortnight to ensure complete recovery. Occasionally, you may not see the ring-like mark, but if your cat or child is itching or scratching in one place and there are no fleas, suspect ringworm. Being a fungus, spores will drop off the host all over the house and might even become blown about in the aircon system. This could easily infect every living thing in the house, so it is horrible. Therefore, if you think that something is wrong, but you cannot explain it, suspect ringworm, be on the look out for the signs and see to it as soon as it reveals itself.

Cats' Ringworm and Your Children

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Some tips on dealing with cats' ringworm

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Page 1: Cats' Ringworm and Your Children

Cats Ringworm And Your Children

Ringworm is quite common in cats, particularly those that are not groomed or looked after well enough. However, even the most cared-for cats can get ringworm because it is so contagious.

However, ringworm is not caused by a worm. Sorry, for telling you how to suck eggs, if you already knew that, but a great deal of people do not.

Ringworm is actually a fungus called dermatophytosis and is extremely contagious for most animals including humans. Cats often pass it on to each other when rubbing and pass it onto humans during grooming or stroking.

Not only that, but once you have the infection on your hands, you might get ringworm on your body wherever you touch yourself or you might pass it onto someone else, another cat or your dog.

If you spot the tell-tale catherine-wheel shaped mark on your cat, you must take it to the vet immediately for treatment.

Similarly, if you or your children pick up the infection, you must see a medical doctor or dermatologist. You should see an improvement in a few days and complete recovery within a week or so, although treatment might go on for a fortnight to ensure complete recovery.

Occasionally, you may not see the ring-like mark, but if your cat or child is itching or scratching in one place and there are no fleas, suspect ringworm. Being a fungus, spores will drop off the host all over the house and might even become blown about in the aircon system. This could easily infect every living thing in the house, so it is horrible.

Therefore, if you think that something is wrong, but you cannot explain it, suspect ringworm, be on the look out for the signs and see to it as soon as it reveals itself.

Whilst you have your cat on your lap, inspect it for symptoms of ringworm. These are very often on the head, where it has nuzzled a cat.

Look around the eyes, the ears and on the paws for balding spots, the ring mark or merely red, flakey dry skin. The cat might lick it or scratch the area frequently and there may be dandruff.

The first thing to do is don gloves and inspect the cat for fleas. If you do not see a heavy infestation of fleas, your cat almost certainly has ringworm so take it to the vet as soon as possible.

In the meanwhile, isolate it from your children and do not touch the patch, although it may already be too late.

Page 2: Cats' Ringworm and Your Children

The treatment for ringworm in cats is quite simple. It usually involves washing your cat every other day and applying anti-fungal cream once or two times a day to the infected areas wearing rubber gloves.

Applying the cream is not a problem, but a lot of cats actually hate being bathed, so this could become difficult. If your cat hates water, place it in a pillow case and fasten it at its throat with an old flea collar. This should stop the cat from clawing you and running away.

A similar treatment should be undergone by every member of the family, but you will only exchange your normal soap and shampoo for an anti-fungal one for a couple of weeks.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is now involved with feline distemper vaccination. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Distemper Vaccines