Anyone with experience with ringworm?

T

Trinba

Forums Regular
Hi, so I am in need of some advice! In just 2 days I will be adopting an 11 week old persian kitten. It will be my first time owning a cat. I was nervous about how I was going to introduce the kitten to my 3 dogs, two of which are shelties. Just today I have been told that the kitten has two spots of ring worm, one in its tail, the other in its foot. Now I am even more apprehensive about adopting it. I had been searching for a long time for the perfect affordable persian kitten, and this one is it. I have decided to go through with the adoption, and I have arranged for a friend to keep the kitten in his home for the two weeks of treatment so that my dogs and his dog won't get infected (I will be keeping his dog).

I have been doing lots of research online. But what I mostly want to know, typically how long does it take for ringworm to be fully cured if medication and anti fungal shampoo is used? Are there any ways of knowing besides getting a culture done? Do I need to wait until the ringworm if fully cured with proof of a cultures before introducing the kitten to my dogs? For sure it will be two weeks until the treatment is finished, but I was told by my clinic it takes 2 weeks for the results of the culture to come in, and by then it will be a whole month before I can even bring the kitten to my home. And the critical point of introducing the kitten is NOW before he gets too old and it becomes harder to do so! What do I do, does anybody have any tips to help this fungal infection from being passed on to my dogs?
 
Trinba said:
Hi, so I am in need of some advice! In just 2 days I will be adopting an 11 week old persian kitten. It will be my first time owning a cat. I was nervous about how I was going to introduce the kitten to my 3 dogs, two of which are shelties. Just today I have been told that the kitten has two spots of ring worm, one in its tail, the other in its foot. Now I am even more apprehensive about adopting it. I had been searching for a long time for the perfect affordable persian kitten, and this one is it. I have decided to go through with the adoption, and I have arranged for a friend to keep the kitten in his home for the two weeks of treatment so that my dogs and his dog won't get infected (I will be keeping his dog).

I have been doing lots of research online. But what I mostly want to know, typically how long does it take for ringworm to be fully cured if medication and anti fungal shampoo is used? Are there any ways of knowing besides getting a culture done? Do I need to wait until the ringworm if fully cured with proof of a cultures before introducing the kitten to my dogs? For sure it will be two weeks until the treatment is finished, but I was told by my clinic it takes 2 weeks for the results of the culture to come in, and by then it will be a whole month before I can even bring the kitten to my home. And the critical point of introducing the kitten is NOW before he gets too old and it becomes harder to do so! What do I do, does anybody have any tips to help this fungal infection from being passed on to my dogs?
Click to expand...

You do know that you can also get ringworm from this cat right?

I have a dear friend in NY,that not only battled this with her cat..which got ringworm from her mothers cat.Both were persians.

Lauries mom had such a case of ringworm it was just terrible.And then top it off with two cats undetgoing treatments.

I did at one time have a remedy that was givin to me,when I was on a cat & kitten Yahoo group. But I don't know now if I can find it.
If it were me...I would stear clear from the kitten...until its gone. And it can take awhile.

My Earnhardt had it when he was a wee pup,but we caught it early. I thank heavens,that in all the pups here,we have not ever had a battle with ringworm.Nasty...
 
I would say wait until the ringworm is treated and gone. I got it as a child from a cat and it was not fun at all. My mother got it from using Zest soap back in the 70's and she was not the only one in our area to do so. She had an awful case of it.

It is not worth the risk to yourself, your family or your dogs to bring in a cat with known ringworm. You are also putting your friend at risk for contacting ringworm as well.
 
Ringworm in cats can be very hard to treat especially in Persians. Persians can also develop in to asymptomatic carriers. Hard if not impossible to clear. It is recommended to have two negative cultures at 21 days using a full body brush with a toothbrush. The only way to make sure that they are still not carrying the ringworm organism is to culture.

You also have to worry about environmental contamination and other animals and people around the cat. I have gotten ringworm twice myself and personally I would pass on the kitten. not of fun disease to treat
 
Thanks for all your input. I know that ringworm can be easily passed on to humans as well. I have actually bought a large dog kennel to keep the kitten isolated during the treatment so it won't contaminate my friend's house. My friend opted to keep the kitten at his place as opposed to watching my 3 dogs, which I can understand they are a handful and he knows it haha

But now it's got me thinking even more : / The kitten is adorable it's such a shame it has ringworm.

Justicemom, do you know how the ringworm could have been passed to you? As in, were you spending too much time playing with the dog or cat? I ask because
I have read tips online on how clean everything with bleach and to use gloves and I don't plan on handling the kitten without gloves I just really don't want
to catch this thing!
 
Trinba, of course it is up to you. I once caught ringworm from a cat and it took me years to actually get rid of it. I would put cream on one spot and then it would come back a few months later in another spot on my body. A kitten likes to be cuddled and hugged, I don't know if I could pet it, just using gloves, without it touching my body. Also, if your friend gets it, he could also give it to you. I love persians too, so I know how difficult this could be for you. Good luck.
 
Exactly as the previous poster said...it comes & goes...and takes forever to really rid yourself of it. Honestly to me personally...I would steer clear.Cuteness or not..There are always kittens that need homes.

I don't think it would sway me one bit even if the other person offered anything to keep the cat. And having it in a crate 24/7,it aint' happining. Kittens/cats want to be held & want your attention .Just doing basic stuff for the kittten like cleaning a litter box/feeding it is opening yourself up to the ringworm.

I guess its your choice,but I would'nt even go there.
 
It can be transmitted by a few seconds touch. I got it on my wrist just below the glove line. I swear the cat never touched me. Took 6 months to get rid of. If you are getting this kitten because it is affordable think again it may turn out to be very expensive. The second they told me the kitten had ringworm the deal would have been of. Are you prepared to pay your friends medical bills if they get it? Just saying. The rescue should keep the kitten until all the cultures are negative.
 
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