What is ringworm?
Ringworm is the most common fungal skin infection seen in cats. Contrary to the name, ringworm is caused by a microscopic group of parasitic fungal organisms known as dermatophytes (which means “plants that live on the skin”). Ringworm invades the dead, outer layers of the skin, claws & hair. Are there different types of dermatophytes? Yes there are. In cats & dogs, there are three most common types of dermatophytes which may cause ringworm. Microsporum gypseum (M. gypseum) This species of ringworm is usually from dogs and cats that dig into contaminated soil. Microsporum canis (M. Canis) The source of this species of ringworm is almost always a cat & accounts for approximately 75 – 98% of ringworm seen in cats * Trichophyton mentagrophytes This species infects dogs and cats when they are exposed to rodents or the burrows they live in. Microsporum canis is the most common form of ringworm in cats. It is believed that up to 20% of cats are asymptomatic carriers. This means that they car
