Cat Paw Ringworm

The skin around these lesions is often flaky and bald.

Cat paw ringworm.

Visiting a vet is the only way to ascertain the state of the cat s skin and deduce if it is ringworm infection. They can manifest behind the ears on the front or back paws and anywhere on the head. Dermatophytosis is the medical term for a fungal infection affecting the skin hair and claws of cats the most common of which is ringworm. Humans can catch ringworm by touching an infected cat or dog or other animal with ringworm.

Most environments will have low numbers of dermatophytes particularly in soil but this becomes a problem if an infected animal whether that be a pet pest or native. To recognize and treat ringworm in cats start by looking for symptoms such as patches of hair loss and scaly patches on the face paws or ears. The most common symptoms of ringworm on cats are rough hairs or broken hairs and hair loss around the head and also around the paws most usually in a circular pattern. Ringworm is highly contagious and can spread to other pets in the home as well as to people.

The symptoms can also indicate other underlying medical conditions that subject the cat to poor health. Infected areas may look like the hair has been shaved or broken in a circular area with skin looking red and crusty. Learn more about symptoms causes and treatments of ringworm here. A ringworm infection in a person typically occurs after a person has pet an infected or carrier cat but it can also occur after simply handling items that were used by an infected cat.

Cats with ringworm can either naturally fight off the fungus the fungus can continue to live on the cat with no symptoms or the skin can become inflamed. Ringworm is another type of fungus that affects cats especially if they are under age 1. Children are more likely to become infected by ringworm from cats and dogs than adults. Immune compromised individuals such as the elderly and very young are more prone to contracting ringworm.

Ringworm in cats is diagnosed largely in kittens and younger cats rather than in older adults. Spores are very resistant and can survive more than a year in the right conditions either indoors or outdoors. Ringworm can affect all kind of animals including dogs cats cows goats pigs rabbits birds guinea pigs and horses. Ringworm is transmitted by direct contact with an infected cat or dog s skin or hair.

Ringworm can come directly from a cat or from the environment. Ringworm can be easily identified by a piece of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy and inflamed.