How can I tell if my adult long-haired cat has a ringworm infection?

I’m sorry your little kitten is having a problem. It is not possible to decide if this skin issue is a bacterial or fungal infection from the photo. Your kitten should see a vet ASAP in order to properly diagnose it. Due to the very young age and small size, it is important to know exactly what type of infection it is, what medication is safe and the proper dosages. The veterinarian can also give a good general exam and possibly check for intestinal parasites as the kitten appears to have a round bloated belly. Please do not attempt to treat this at home because the infection looks quite extensive. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

That could be a ringworm patch on Tinsel. Unfortunately without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. Don't touch it, as ringworm is highly contagious to humans as well. Have her seen by a vet on Monday who can confirm if she has ringworm and can prescribe an oral anti-fungal medication. If she does has ringworm, you will have to disinfect your home because the spores can live in it up to 18 months. I will put a link below on how to do this. I hope this helps! http://www.livestrong.com/article/49666-rid-home-ringworm/

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cats. Yes, it definitely could be ringworm. I recommend that they see their veterinarian. A procedure known as a fungal culture is common performed to test for ringworm. I hope this information helps!

This doesn’t look suspicious for ringworm; however, I would recommend getting this area tested through your vet to confirm. This could be a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics for resolve. I hope that Thor’s skin resolves soon! Best of luck moving forward! Take care.

Can be but may not be. Your vet can use a woods lamp to see if it glows green. If it does then it is ringworm. If it does not then it still can be ringworm but may not be. There is a fungal test to confirm if it is or not. Does anyone in your home have lesions? I would also recommend skin scraping the area looking for mites if it is just hairloss and not scabbing also. Mia needs to have a vet physically examine this area and the rest of her to see exactly what is going on. Ringworm can be treated topically if just one location with an anti-fungal cream. I also recommend ecollars after applying the cream so they do not lick the areas. If it is more than one location then I recommend oral anti-fungal medications. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! I would recommend a visit to your vet for a test to see if this is truly ringworm. You do want to know if this is ringworm because it can be transmitted to people if so, and to other pets. Your vet can use a special light to examine the area and if it doesn't show any infection they may pluck some hairs to do a ringworm culture. Griseofulvin used to be the common treatment for ringworm but now there are other medications we often use which we feel are more effective with fewer side effects. Here is an article with information on ringworm http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=559 . It is possible this is ringworm, but we can also see bacterial infections or insect bites that can show circular bald areas like you are seeing so it is best to find out for sure!

I am so sorry but the picture is too out of focus to see exactly what it is. It can be a bacterial infection but it absolutely can be ringworm. Your veterinarian will be able to let you know which one it most likely is and go over treatment options with you. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.