Here we go again.... RINGWORM!!! Arrrg!

[kimlovescats]

Thank you AbbyMom and QS....

Yes, I do have to be very concerned about little Jenna. That is another reason why I have to really re-think my rescue at this point. The ideal would be for her mom to marry her dad and move out ... but I don't see them being able to afford their own place for a loooooooooong time. Trust me, if hubby and I could afford it, we would gladly pay their rent! Unfortunately, we have our own bills and are blessed to make our own house payment each month.

I'm just feeling really discouraged about these remaining kittens ... as they are growing, and I was hoping that the holiday season would get them adopted before they got out of their kittenish stages. Now this ringworm epidemic is going to most likely ruin that. I wish there were more educated people out there who would adopt a kitty in less than perfect condition .... but unfortunately that isn't the way it goes in our "perfect" society!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I'm so sorry, Kim, I know this is the last thing you need right now with baby Jenna around, but please, you can't beat yourself up over it, and you don't have to worry about anyone judging you or the rescue work that you do. You do the best that you can and give so many cats a chance they would never have had before. If anyone was to judge you, just let them walk in your shoes for one single day and they would think twice about judging anyone again! You do such good work, and when you have that many cats, there are bound to be health issues that spread from one to the other. You can't keep them all separated all the time - what fun would that be for the kitties?

Just work on getting yourself and your babies healthy again, and don't worry in the least about others judging you.

[kimlovescats]

Thank you, Debbie. I have taken the babies off to themselves, and have put some anti-fungal on their itchy patches. I hope this will help them heal faster. They are as playful and happy as ever, but I'm sure they have to be itching! Just when I think everyone has been tested and is safe to mingle, this happens!

[jazzcat]

I'm so sorry Kim but don't get down about yourself or your rescue, PLEASE! If it weren't for you I wouldn't have two of the sweetest kitties that ever lived!

Poor Jazz had ringworm along with several other things when we adopted her and it certainly didn't stop me from keeping her and loving her. I had to keep her in isolation for over a month to get her healthy and luckily Ripley didn't catch her ringworm but unfortunately he did get the URI. Anyway, I didn't see the ringworm as a big deal at all and hopefully there are others out there that will feel the same way and see these babies as perfect holiday additions. Maybe it will have run it's course by Christmas time. Prayers on the way.

[catfamily]

I'm so sorry for you troubles with Ringworm.I don't know much about it.It does seem like a pain in the butt.Isolation and all.But like others said it isn't life threatening and hopefully it will be out of your house by the Holidays.(Not the cats...the round worms.LOL)Good Luck Kim.

[mina'smomma]

Kim,

You're a wonderful person and I don't know what we would do without you. You have a beautiful heart and that is what is important. You're doing everything you can for these wonderful pets, and that makes you even more special.

I also am going to pm you about Rebecca.

[K & L]

Oh poor Kim! Hopefully you just take a break for a while and then get back into full swing with rescue. You're doing such an excellent job!!

[cruisetime]

I haven't read the other posts yet so this may have been mentioned but I got ringworm from a friend's new kitten she bought from Animal Control. (Matter of fact found out everyone at Animal Control got it from the kitten too- glad she was adopted to my friend before they found out or they would have killed her.) She wasn't showing any signs and nobody knew till we all got it from playing with her - my friend and her family were covered! I had two spots. I did the Lotriman thing - over the counter for a month and then finally switched and tried BlueStar Ointment. Then just gave up and it seemed to go away - but it has been two and a half months and it seems to linger - another spot came up a month ago and I tried the BlueStar Ointment right away and it worked!! Try the BlueStar ointment - it is for ringworm - even says it on the conister and I used a Qtip to really rub it in and the spot was gone in a week! Hope this helps! My friend took her cat and her other one that got it to the vet for weekly dunkings in something. She says they are free and clear now but it was $15 a cat a week for the dunkings..... Immune system has a lot to do with it.... Mine is down. But my ringworm was really really itchy so I had to put something on it and the BlueStar worked the fastest and the best... It is over the counter... I asked the pharmacist and he said to just use over the counter Lotriman because the persription stuff doesn't work as well. I vote for BlueStar! Debbie

[mina'smomma]

I agree with Debbie on this one Kim, I have psoriasis on my right knee, and I used BlueStar to clear it up, and just keep using it everytime it flares up.

[cruisetime]

OK - only read posts on page two so far - BUT - EVERYONE said that I was going to spread it to my hubby and everyone else. My firend is a paramedic that got it from her cat - and she said that wasn't true. Well suffice it to say that didn't happen and he rubbed on the spot a lot - don't ask! Anyway it seems to be transfered from the animal to the human - not the human to the human so Baby Jenna should be fine if you keep the kitties away from her. She shouldn't get it from you. I would wash clothes more that touch it because as a fungus it likes to go on clothes but this didn't seem to be a problem with us. My doctor said to make sure I wash my sheets and my hubby's sheets separately! hahaha We sleep in the same bed!!!! My hubby got a kick out of that one! I didn't wash anything separately but I did use a lot of bleach on the whites and wash as much as I could. Baby should be fine. Again at least it is only a fungus. When I got it I was camping for a week on vacation and knew what it was as my friend told me she got it before I left but she didn't tell me it was a fungus and I really thought it was a worm and thought it might move to another spot!!! hahaha - ignorance isn't always bliss@!!!

By the way things happen as they are meant too so maybe the kittens need to stay with you a while and not get adopted until the right people come for them so maybe that is why they got it so the wrong people won't adopt them... My kitty - nobody wanted her except one lady that wanted to make her a barn cat. The Animal Control people fell in love and begged the owner and got 4 weeks for her to raise her kittens she had the second day she was there and then she would be killed. They adopted her kittens and she was next up to be killed. Perfect timing for me to get her!!!! She was kept for me - meant to be!! Debbie

[cruisetime]

Kim,

By the way - yes the Animal Control (kill shelter) will kill the kitten if they find it has ringworm.

My friend got a kitten from them and she was going to adopt an older cat and I felt real sorry for the older cat as I thought it got killed. BUT the older cat got sent to a cat adoption shelter and got adopted and my frined's kitten had ringworm so it all worked out - the kitten would have been killed quick! The vet even assumed my friend was going to have it put down - she couldn't believe it! It seems that not only the shelters but the people here think that ringworm is a cause to kill....... Sad

So glad they are with you and not at a shelter. Debbie

[cruisetime]

The doctor, a paramedic and someone at my friend's school all admitted it would take someone rubbing real hard on the spot you had for a long time to catch it from another human - hubby didnt' get it from me and if this was the case he should have -

Also my friend is a paramedic and had one she covered so no questions would be asked but that one took a long time to heal - it is moist under a bandaid and it is a fungus so it is best to leave it uncovered by a bandage.

I read page one of the posts finally and have to say I ADMIRE YOU BUNCHES AND BUNCHES AND BUNCHES!!! These cats need people like you. I will not rescue a lot of cats - I'm happy I did the one even though she is on my nerves but I talked hubby around - he was just stressed and we both love her. But that is enough for us - maybe a playmate one day - but I can not and will not (selfish) save a bunch more. I am so glad you do all you do and really do admire you. Please don't feel anyone here judges you because as far as I can see after 2 months on the board here - everyone is so very nice and EVERYONE here has bunches of cats!!! One lady posted about having enough with two but wanted to rescue the one behind the dumpster and what everyone thought about having three cats - and you all seemed to laugh and say this wasn't the right board to ask as you all have at least 6! I think this is awesome and the cats are so lucky!!! Keep faith and listen to what He tells you - and love all He has given you. By the way someone else mentioned that perhaps this was a way to give you a break because you just simply can't take anymore with the ringworm in your house - maybe that is true. It sounds like you need a break to look around and see how happy the cats are remember they do pick up on our stress a lot so stay happy!!! Debbie

[kimlovescats]

You all are too kind! Thank you so much for the support ... I surely need it right now! I've got all the kittens isolated again, and put some antifugal medicine on them last night. However, I will take the great advice and go buy some BlueStar ointment today!!! I sure hope it works, and fast!!!

I was having a really "down" morning ... really feeling discouraged, and down right fed up! I was ready to throw in the towel and pull my hair out all at the same time. Then I came here and got my dose of love and kindness from all of you!

(((BIG HUGS))))

Kim

[mina'smomma]

That's because we LOVE YOU KIM

[mina'smomma]

Can you post some more pictures of gorgous Rebecca?