Ringworm in multiple cat household - update 9/27

[Reachoutrescue]

Lizzie, I know what you are going through...I have three kits here with ringworm. I am worried my boys are going to get it....let's hope we are in the clear. Keep me posted, and I will do the same.

[Lizzie]

After a lot of thought, and after seeing that two of the kittens are having rather loose stools, I decided to wait on giving the oral medication and treat topically for now. I accidentally left the shampoo at the vet's last night so tonight was the first application - not easy because the lesions are very close to the top and side of his eye. Then I had to apply Conofite which really stung him. He now has a second small lesion above his left eye and a bloody mark in his ear - so back to the vet to check on that tomorrow. I'm checking everyone in the household each evening and have found no ringworm on any of the other cats so far, but it's early days yet.

My own lesion is clearing up nicely with the lime juice and aloe vera treatment. I must remember to buy betadine or a chlorhexidine soap tomorrow, and some soft gloves to wear in this isolation room, my hands are already red and sore from constant washing.

[smokey the elder]

I had an outbreak 3 years ago. My vet prescribed Program (high dose, I forget what it was) and Trezaderm for the spots. It took about 2 months to clear up. One of the kittens never got it, even though she was in with two infected kittens.

[Lizzie]

I brought up Program with my vet since so many PT'ers had mentioned it and he said it didn't really help. I wish I could use lime juice and aloe vera on Cattulus as well as myself but, besides being "alternative" medicine that I don't mind experimenting with on myself but believe I shouldn't on a cat, the poor kitten would literally go up the wall if I put lime juice on the open lesions.

[Reachoutrescue]

I really hope all goes well for you Lizzie. I hope I do not get that as well. Yes, I beileve the kit would go bonkers if you were to put lime juice on the wounds...but then again, it may work. My mom used to use lemon juice on my cuts and scrapes as a kid....it hurt, but the wound was better in a day or two. Crazy huh? Good luck hun.

[kimlovescats]

I've heard / read of other "home remedies" as well .... one of which is to put a small dab of BLEACH on the spot!!! You think lime juice would burn????? Don't think I would want to burn my kitties with bleach! Again, all I can stress is try not to stress .... even if you do nothing, it will clear up on its own!

[Lizzie]

Tracy - you may well not get it. My vet told me he'd handled hudreds of cases in both cats and dogs, some very severe, and all bare handed but he'd never got it himself. I think I am prone since I got it on my arm from my first cat about 30 years ago, and now this one.

Kim - I'm working on it all but not stressing. When I checked online, I found out that the reason it's bad for FIV+ cats to get ringworm is because they can't take the oral medication, so that made me feel better since I've decided that I prefer the topical approach. I may, of course, be proved very wrong in my approach. It's difficult dealing with something that you can't see even though you can see the results.