Ringworm - really need some support

Y
Yadou Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone, I really need some comfort and, above all, some reassurance.

I took in a kitten and didn't realise he had ringworm.

Now my older cat has caught it, and so have my husband and I.

I’ve been following the treatment to the letter, which means:

- Vacuuming every single day

- Mopping the floors with bleach every 2 days,

- Giving the cats a bath every 4 days with Imav****. For my big cat, it’s a total nightmare; I have no choice but to wipe him down with a cloth soaked in the solution. Even then, he gets so stressed he pees himself and salivates like crazy. He's such a sweetheart and has never scratched me, but it breaks my heart to see him so distressed when I clean him.

- Deep cleaning the sofa and cat trees once a week

- Daily tablets for the big cat (Fumvid***m) + a liquid med for the kitten every other week (Itraf***gol)

Honestly, my social life has taken a massive hit!

I thought we’d finally got rid of it...

After 6 weeks of treatment and no more symptoms on the cats or us, the vet told me to stop the treatment for 2 weeks and then come in for a check-up.

I did as I was told. We went to the vet and they did a skin brushing to send off to the lab.

I didn't even need to wait for the results; that same evening, I noticed those little ringworm spots on myself (the ones that don't quite develop).

I had a closer look at my cats; the kitten seems fine, but I noticed the older one has very slight flaky skin around his eyes.

Then I brushed him and—horrible surprise—he has quite a bit of dandruff over the rest of his body.

So, without even waiting for the results, I’ve restarted the treatment for both cats because they’re always together.

But I’m at my wits' end. I just don't have the strength to follow the protocol to the letter anymore. I’m just going to mop the floors with a standard antibacterial cleaner like Dettol from now on.

I'm a bit of a clean freak by nature, so I don't understand why we can't get rid of it!

Not to mention the cost of these treatments—I’ve spent nearly £350 already, and I still have to get the kitten vaccinated and neutered.

We’re in the middle of moving house, and I’m so worried because my husband and I were planning on starting a family soon, but in these conditions, it’s just not possible or even responsible!

Anyway, how long did it take for you to finally beat it?

Were you really that strict with the cleaning?

The vet didn’t suggest any foggers or smoke bombs—is that normal? I’ve heard they might not be effective?

Do you think I should replace the cat trees? If so, when? I can't take them away right now; the poor things have already lost all their cushions.

Do you think ringworm can just go away on its own?

I really need some positive stories from people who have come out the other side.

Please help!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Yasmine

Translated from French
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25 answers
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    • M
    Maho86 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, if you still have the bill, would you mind attaching a photo (hiding your personal details, of course)? It’s just so I can see the full course of treatment, as my vet only gave me a lotion and, after reading your post, it doesn't seem like enough. Otherwise, here’s my email: profits25mahonia@gmail.com

    Thanks so much.

    Mahonia

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    L
    Lena2013 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone!

    Just a quick update to let you know how things are going.

    After 6 weeks of treatment, and especially some very intensive cleaning, I took my cat back to the vet for a check-up to see if the ringworm was still there.
    And thankfully, it’s all cleared up! 🥲 I am so incredibly happy and relieved.

    I really want to reassure anyone who might come across this post and be feeling just as anxious as I was at the start. It does go away! It takes a lot of time spent cleaning and restricting your pet's movements, but it does clear up.

    Thanks to everyone who replied when I needed some words of encouragement.

    Translated from French
    L
    Lena2013 Icon representing the flag French
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    I promise I’ll be back to give you an update, hopefully with some good news! We should have the results around Christmas time. Fingers crossed!

    Thanks for the tip about apple cider vinegar, I’ll definitely look into that.

    Translated from French
    N
    Neptiza Icon representing the flag French
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    Please keep us posted! It’s always lovely to get an update, and it can be quite difficult to find stories where you actually hear the full outcome and how long the recovery took. Ringworm can be such a stressful thing to deal with, so it’s really helpful to find complete accounts rather than just the initial cries for help from worried owners. If you happen to have any apple cider vinegar, it’s a powerful antifungal. You could perhaps use it on the carpet. You can also apply it directly to your cat—either neat, if there are no open sores, or diluted. Make sure to dab it well beyond the edges of the affected area. I know quite a few rescue centres use it, and it’s a good supplement to the treatment from your vet.
    Translated from French
    L
    Lena2013 Icon representing the flag French
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    I have to admit, I’d gladly pay around £45 if it gives me the peace of mind that my cat is all clear! Thank you so much for your kind words and advice, anyway!
    Translated from French
    N
    Neptiza Icon representing the flag French
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    Worth checking with the vet.

    I have to say, the ones we use for the rescue routinely do a brush culture to avoid false positives or negatives. It’s the most reliable test.

    I’d be inclined to say that doing a final brush test would be safer, just to be certain that nothing else comes back.

    Translated from French
    L
    Lena2013 Icon representing the flag French
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    So, since I already know the strain, is there any point in doing the carpet test?

    Because if I’ve understood correctly, the Wood's lamp doesn’t always pick it up; it only detects things on the ‘surface’.

    Translated from French
    N
    Neptiza Icon representing the flag French
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    If it was done with the Wood’s lamp, she’ll probably just do a direct recheck like that then.

    Yes, the lab cultures cost about £45. The advantage is that you’ll know the exact strain. This is because both M. canis and T. mentagrophytes can be passed on to humans, but T. mentagrophytes doesn’t show up under the Wood’s lamp.

    Translated from French
    L
    Lena2013 Icon representing the flag French
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    Yes, the first time it was done using a UV lamp.

    When I went to see my GP for my own treatment, she ran a test to identify the strain; that’s how I found out it was M. canis.

    Right, I see what you mean about the bit of carpet. Mind you, I imagine that’s going to be quite pricey...

    Translated from French
    N
    Neptiza Icon representing the flag French
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    A blood test? But you don't check for ringworm with a blood test. You can check liver levels, but not a skin parasite... Was the ringworm confirmed like the first time? Using a UV light? It’s a piece of carpet that gets rubbed all over the cat and sent to the lab for 10 to 15 days to see if the fungus grows. This identifies the specific strain and the colony count if dermatophytes are present.
    Translated from French

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