Should I treat both cats for ringworm if only one shows symptoms?

The treatment is with an oral antifungal, it's not recommended if your kitten is asymptomatic as this medication can have severe side effects. The medication is prescription only and can be given only by your vet, in this specific case I do not believe any vet would recommend this treatment though.

I would guess that it's a little more likely that the kitten acquired ringworm at the shelter. Some cats can be asymptomatic carriers, and can be diagnosed by getting a sample for fungal culture using a brush technique - you can make an appointment with your veterinarian. If your cat tests positive she should be treated, and some veterinarians choose to treat all cats in the home regardless of testing because of the difficulty in controlling ringworm in the environment.

Hello. Yes, sometimes ringworm can be stubborn. If your cat has numerous lesions, or they are along the eyes and mouth, your cat should be on an oral antifungal medication. Also, cats will often lick the medication off as soon as you apply it, so it is not effective. If you are not using an Elizabethan collar, that could help prevent licking. Cases that do not respond to topical treatment often do better with a prescription oral antifungal. I would also make sure that it is actually ringworm. It may need to be rechecked by your veterinarian. Thank you

I am so sorry you having to deal with ringworm. It can be very frustrating to cure, because even cats that don't have symptoms can still harbor the fungus in their coats. Healthy adult cats will usually clear the fungus on their own with time, though it could take several months. You may talk to your vet about options, such as medical boarding, where Milo could be kept and treated so that you didn't have to chase him around the house. This will hopefully help clear the fungus sooner than later. Another option is to compound the oral medications into a cat treat that you may be able to feed to Milo, though you will have to watch him closely to make sure he eats it and not one of the other cats.

The cream isn't harmful but I have never come across a topical medication that has been effective for treating ringworm in cats aside from prescription-based lime sulfur dips. The concern is that the Microsporum canis (fungal organism causing ringworm) is spread diffusely throughout a cat's entire hair coat, such that an isolated topical spray will not cover all surfaces of every hair, and lead to frequent recurrence. Since the topical treatment isn't working and Nova's spots are worse, I would go back to the vet to get an oral treatment. I hope that all goes well!

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!

The cream should be applied always with gloves and extra care should be payed regarding hygiene. It would be best to avoid close contact with the cat and the infected area. Systemic medications are available but that would depend on the severity of the infection (if your vet prescribed an ointment that means it will be enough to resolve the infection).