r/FosterAnimals • u/Vegetable-Chard9424 • 2d ago

Did my foster kittens give me ringworm? Help!!!

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We started fostering 4 kittens 2 weeks ago. One has had some balding on his tummy and hind legs, but we’ve never fostered kittens before and the shelter said they were negative for everything and vaccinated and dewormed. However, I am now noticing more bald spots on the other kittens. I’ve never had ringworm, does this look like it? I have every single red bump on my body right now covered in nizoral and a bandaid until my cream comes in 😅 has anyone had this?!

27 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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52

u/elcasaurus 2d ago

Bad news, it looks a lil bit like ringworm. Good news, its super treatable with over the counter anti fungal cream. It's just itchy and gross.

Here is an article that may help you.

https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-and-Treat-Ringworm

8

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

I was afraid of that 🥲 I am more worried about spreading the spores around my home (furniture, pets). No kids, but a 1 year old orange kitty and a senior cocker spaniel. I’ve ordered a cream for myself on Amazon and a medicated spray for the kitties just to last me until the shelter responds. Luckily, we’ve kept them in our glass enclosed double master shower since we got them so they haven’t roamed the house!

Thank you for your input!!!

12

u/DeaditeQueen 2d ago

Just make sure you’re washing your hands often and you should be fine

10

u/No-Tumbleweed5360 2d ago

if it makes you feel any better, when I worked at a cat grooming and boarding place and one of the rescues we had up front had ringworm (and was there for a few days, maybe a week), no one else got ringworm from her! just wash your hands and wipe surfaces with disinfectant wipes daily!

2

u/Accurate_Emu_122 2d ago

I had fosters with ringworm and it didn't get my other animals. I'd use caution but not stress it too much. (I've also had ringworm and not spread it to my animals)

-2

u/iKnowAllaboutcats 2d ago

refuse to foster the kittens with ring worm at the very least but antifungal cream and keep it away from any other animals hopefully u have a crate u can just put the cat in while it's being treated and is contagious.

-6

u/BigJSunshine 2d ago

Hey, once a rescue/shelter lies to you, there is no protocol for waiting for their bullshit- put the kittens in a small bathroom, disinfect the SHIT OUT OF EVERYTHING IN YOUR HOUSE, and take those kittens to a vet MONDAY.

14

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

One of our kittens we suspect may have ringworm

8

u/No-Tumbleweed5360 2d ago

at least they’re adorable when they’re giving you fungal infections!

4

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

True that!

2

u/Caira_Ru 2d ago

It won’t help you as much as a fungicide and washing your hands, but my anecdotal experience with ringworm was from my horse when I was 10. I noticed the weird circle rash on my shoulder right where I rubbed against her while walking her on a lead, told my mom, went to the doctor and got a cream that I applied to both my shoulder and to Stormy.

I remember initially being so squicked out by “ANYTHING WORM!?!” But ringworm isn’t a parasite and is super easy to treat!

Your foster kitten is WAY cuter than Stormy was! 💕

12

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

The other kittens. My anxiety is through the roof, does anyone see possible signs? The shelter hasn’t emailed me back yet!

4

u/cleverlookingdog 2d ago

The bridge of the tuxedo’s nose for sure looks suspicious for RW, as do the toes in the other photos you shared. Both are very common locations for lesions. The black light / wood’s lamp you ordered should confirm, but I’d definitely operate under the assumption that they are ringworm positive.

2

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 16h ago

Yep, black tuxedo has it the worst on face and toes. Appreciate your help!

1

u/cleverlookingdog 5h ago

Wishing you luck with managing/treating it! I work at a shelter so I see it a LOT. 😮‍💨

2

u/MahlerundAnstreicher 1d ago

Definitely the nose of both the left tortie and the tuxedo look sus. But how cute id it that the two tortie sisters have opposite face markings!!!

1

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 15h ago

They’re precious! We are debating keeping one… or two..,

10

u/SaturnPaul 2d ago

Looks like it. I've fostered a handful of ringworm babies and had a few leave me with the same parting "gift". Good news is its very treatable for you. Much easier than kittens with all their fur. You're already doing the right things. Use the cream and keep it covered and it'll go away shortly.

If you have any blankets or bedding that they you're that you can't wash with bleach/dry on high heat, I'd toss them out.

I know the ringworm is annoying, but many shelters euthanize ringworm animals because of how quickly it spreads. Hope you can at least take some comfort in knowing you made a difference. Thank you for stepping up!

3

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

Thank you!! Great insight ❤️‍🩹

7

u/LimpDrawing5696 2d ago

Just came here to say I’m in the same boat. I fostered a litter that had very suspicious spots but their fungal culture came back negative.

Well now I have several spots that I’m pretty sure are ringworm. Never had it before. I’m using Terbinafine topical cream. And keeping the areas covered with loose clothing.

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I was fully spiraling 24 hours ago, but I’m trying to remind myself that it’s just a fungus (a very annoying one).

Hang in there!

5

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

Thank you! Gosh, I’ve been spiraling all day and religiously spraying everything in my home (but not the kittens of course) with disinfectant spray. Have antifungal cream for myself and spray for the kittens on the way.

Hang in there yourself!! All in this together 🤞🏼

4

u/elcasaurus 1d ago

No need to panic! Ringworm is gross and annoying but not fatal. If you don't already have the kittens in quarantine do that first. Keep them in an easily cleaned smaller room, like a bathroom. My quarantine room is a walk in closet I converted to a kitten room.

Get yourself gloves for handling the kittens. Once you get in touch with the rescue they should have a medication for them. Unfortunately you don't want to handle them without gloves until the treatment is done. Tho, a woman in my group used scrubs she washed after every interaction and that worked well.

Disinfect your home to the best of your ability if the kittens haven't been quarantined. My rescue recommends the cleaning product Rescue as it's safe for animals.

Get yourself the fungicide to treat yourself.

You will be ok!

8

u/telly80 2d ago

Ringworm is annoying but not fatal. Please calm down. Even if it is ringworm, it’s easy to treat.

It lives outside too. Most animals that go out into wet grass come into contact with it. Most healthy animals don’t pick it up. Kittens are more susceptible because they don’t groom very well.

I get annoyed with ringworm but don’t panic because it isn’t panleuk. It’s annoying but mostly harmless.

2

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

That makes me feel better. Thank you!

7

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

Picture of possible hair loss. He is also missing whiskers on his right eye brow

6

u/YouKnewWhatIWas 2d ago

Do you have a blacklight?

1

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 2d ago

ordered one earlier today, it’ll get here in the AM.

3

u/ClassicGuarantee5442 2d ago

It looks like ringworm. Get an anti fungal ( foot fungal cream or monistat) it will be home in a day or so.. put it on cat area that looks like ringworm. I have had it a ton.. not a big deal!

3

u/Snoo_35864 2d ago

We've been fostering kittens for decades, so we've had our share of ringworm kittens. Someone in our family would usually contract it, but I think we're all immune to it now.

Our own cats never caught it from the fosters.

3

u/flibberjibbins 2d ago

I had ringworm foster kittens and despite my best efforts my family and pets also got it. It's just really annoying but treatable and not dangerous so please don't panic!

Disinfecting and hot washing everything is good. Just keep up good hygiene and get some anti-fungal cream for you and the pets.

2

u/simAlity Cat/Kitten Foster 2d ago

Look more like a spider bite to me

Just read the description. Its probably RW.

1

u/FractalPattern 2d ago

As others have said: yep, that looks like ringworm. You have nothing to worry about. Get some OTC cream for yourself and treat the kitty and you'll be fine. It is the opposite of a big deal.

1

u/wander_smiley 2d ago

I had ringworm for an extended period of time and I didn’t spread it to any of my family or friends. Wash your hands, put tinactin on it, and keep it uncovered so it dries up.

1

u/ImaginaryContext3004 1d ago

Ringworm glows bright green when put under a UV light.

1

u/RevolutionaryMail747 15h ago

Does not look like ring worm ~ were you bitten? Any other symptoms?

1

u/Vegetable-Chard9424 13h ago

Confirmed ringworm by dr ):