If your kitten has ringworms, you may be wondering if you should get rid of her.
This is not an easy decision to make because no pet parent wants to see their kittens suffer.
On one hand, you want to give them their best life but on the other hand, you want to protect the rest of the family from the infection.
So what should you do?
Well, for the most part, you shouldn’t be worried about ringworms in kittens because the fungal infection can be managed easily.
Granted, there are some severe cases but these are very rare.
So, what should you do when your feline friend gets those characteristic ugly patches on her coat?
Well, you have so many options in your arsenal. Let’s have a look at some of these below:
Take Your Kitten to the Vet
Before you think of getting rid of your kitty, take her to the vet for a check-up.
The vet will be able to diagnose the infection and prescribe the most effective treatment.
You may be pleasantly surprised at how easy this condition is to manage.
The vet will most likely prescribe an antifungal medication that you will need to apply to your cat’s skin. These are very effective in treating ringworm and should clear up the infection within a few weeks.
Oral antifungal medications are also available, but they are not as commonly used.
Once you adhere to the treatment protocol provided by the vet, your cat should get back to normal in a couple of weeks.
And don’t worry about the cost of veterinary costs or overall costs of treating ringworms in cats. It is manageable! Learn more here: How Much Does It Cost To Treat Ringworm In Cats?
Try Some Home Remedies
Ringworm is not a fatal condition, so it shouldn’t scare you.
In fact, you can easily manage and treat the cat by using some home remedies that have been proven to work.
One home remedy that is commonly used is the application of diluted Apple Cider Vinegar to the affected areas. This will help to soothe the skin and also kill any fungus present.
You can also make a paste out of baking soda and water and apply this to the lesions. This will help to dry out the area and speed up healing.
Herbs such as Goldenseal and Oregon Grape are also effective in treating ringworm. You can make a tea out of these herbs and apply it to the affected areas using a cotton ball.
Check out this post for more remedies you can leverage to get rid of ringworms from your cat: How to Treat Ringworm in Cats without Going to the Vet (15 Strategies)
Even though these home remedies will take slightly longer than medication treatment, they are still effective in controlling the infection.
Isolate the Infected Kitten
One reason why pet parents consider getting rid of an infected kitty is the fear that she may infect the rest of the cats.
But there is a simple solution to this – quarantine.
Just isolate the infected cat from the rest of your cats by keeping her in a separate room and making sure that she doesn’t have any contact with the other cats.
If your cat somehow manages to break quarantine and mingles with other pets, there is no need to panic.
Ringworm is not highly contagious and can only be passed on through direct contact.
You can also test the other cats using a Wood’s lamp or backlight just to make sure they are out of the woods.
Leave It to Go Away On Its Own
Contrary to common belief, ringworm can actually go away on its own.
In most cases, the infection will clear up within a couple of months without any treatment.
Granted, this is not the best approach because your cat will have to stay with the infection for longer than necessary.
With treatment, the infection typically disappears in less than a month but leaving the fungi to die a natural death will take longer.
It will also increase the risk of exposure to the other members of the family.
But even though leaving the infection to go away on its own is not the best way to deal with it, it sure beats getting rid of the cat.
Remember, It’s Easy To Handle a Cat with Ringworms
Another reason people think of getting rid of cats that have ringworm is that they don’t know how they are supposed to handle the cat.
But handling an infected cat is safe and easy.
The most important thing to remember is to maintain high levels of hygiene.
This means that you should always wash your hands after coming into contact with the cat.
You should also avoid sharing anything with the cat such as bedding, clothing, or food.
Additionally, make sure to give your cat weekly bathes with an antifungal shampoo.
This will help to keep the infection under control and also reduce the chances of the infection spreading.
Check out these posts for further insights on how to handle a cat with ringworm:
How to Bathe a Cat with Ringworm
Petting a Cat with Ringworm: A Quick Guide for new Kitty owners
Ringworm will clear in a couple of weeks/Months
The duration of ringworm in kittens can range from a couple of weeks to a few months.
It depends on the severity of the infection and also the treatment being used.
In most cases, antifungal medications are prescribed for two to four weeks.
However, the length of time may be extended if the kitten is not responding well to treatment.
If you do not take any control measures, ringworm will still disappear in a couple of weeks or months.
Even in severe cases, the infection should have cleared off in a maximum of 12 months.
The Worst-Case Scenario
As we have already established, ringworm is not fatal and can go away on its own.
However, there are some situations when the infection becomes severe.
For instance, the infection may spread to cover a huge area of the skin. This typically happens if lots of cats live together and the infection is not treated or quarantine is not enforced.
Once it starts spreading, the infection may cause open sores which may result in opportunistic infections, especially if the kitten has weak immunity.
The good news is the kitten can still be treated and get back to good health, so this is still not a reason to get rid of the kitten.
However, if you cannot treat your cat for whatever reason, it is best to drop her off at a good shelter where they can help get her back to good health.
Final Thoughts
My kitten has ringworm should I get rid of her?
There is no need to get rid of your kitten just because she has ringworm.
With the right treatment and care, the infection will go away within a few weeks.
Even if you do nothing, the infection should disappear in a couple of months.
Just remember to practice good hygiene and maintain quarantine measures to prevent the infection from spreading and all will be well.
Image sources: 1, 2, 3
Hi! I am Eleanor Price. I started this website after my cat, Louie, almost died from a case of botulism (a type of food poisoning often caused by bacteria that grow on food items). Turned out that my cat’s diet was the problem. I have made it my duty to provide the best information and recommendations about everything cat lovers need to know about their felines’ health and wellbeing. My goal is to find the most informative content on anything feline-related and share it with fellow hardworking kitty lovers.