Does a cat have to have a lesion in order to be carrying ringworm?

Question

We adopted a cat about a months ago that was rescued from a drain pipe on a very busy road. The cat recently got a round patch of hair missing from him and my first thought was ringworm. We took him to the vet and the vet wasn't sure so he did a culture on him to see if it is ringworm and we are waiting the results. The reason iam asking if they have to have a lesion is because my 2 other cats show no signs of ringworm and this vet is insisting he must have gotten this from one of my other cats along with ear mites! Neither of my other cats or dogs have earmites either. Iam just not understanding how supposedly this cat got all these problems from my other animals meanwhile my other animals do not have these problems.

here is the whole story:The week after our dog passed away i was contacted to be a foster parent for a young feral cat. We really care about the cat and decided we would just keep him because he has had a hard life so far and wanted him to know what a warm forever home feels like. This kitty and my kitty i already had became best friends. We was told if anything ever happend and we couldn't keep the kitty to contact the ladies we got him from and they would take him back no questions asked.
3 days ago the kitty was laying on the couch and was allowing me to pet him, which doens't happen to often concidering he is still getting used to us after being a rescued from a drain pipe on a very busy road. While petting him i noticed he had a perfectly round circle of fur missing and the area was really red and irritated.My first thought was OMG he has ringworm!I called my vet and made him an appt.The more my husband and I discussed this we both agreed that we can't put my other animals at risk

I sent this email to the ladies i got the kitty from: I've tried getting in contact today with Wendy in regards to Vinnie. It seems Vinnie might have ringworm. In all honesty my husband and I do not have the funds to treat this right now after spending a few thousands of dollars getting our dogs well recently. We truly care about Vinnie but we are scared that he may get us and or our other animals sick with this. I really hate to do this but iam afraid we cannot keep him. I know when you guys gave him to us you told us if things didn't work out to please let you know and that you would take him back. if one of you would please give me a call back i would appreciate that.
Thanks,Kassandra
Their reply:

Hi,
I'm really sorry to hear about this! Has he been to see the vet? Maybe we can take him and find out just what's wrong...
Wendy is in Texas visiting her daughter, but will be back on Saturday. Could you email your telephone number to me and I'll call you and we can talk about this.

Then:
We agreed that would work for us. Yesterday I met Judith at the vets office and was not impressed what so ever with this vet. He basically said that there was no ands if's or buts about it that this cat had to have gotten sick at my house from my others cats or dogs. His whole attidude was really negitive. He claimed all the meds that this cat needed just happend to be out of stock and back ordered so i ended up paying for these meds elseware out of my pocket after i was told they would cover his treatments. They also said this cat has ear mites that had to have came from my house! I was so upset that iam being accused of not having a heathy home and enviroment for these animals! I made a appointmet for both cats i have here at the house besides this cat. I took them in this morning and neither of them show any kind of signs of ringworm OR ear mites! This cat had to have had this when he came here!

What iam asking advice on is would it be terrible for me to insist they take this cat back. I really just can't put my other animals at risk getting sick after what we just went through with the dogs. I also can't put my husband and I at risk for ringworm either. I had it when i was younger from a cat and it took my mom 4 months to get it out of my system and right now my husband and I have a high deductable insurance, our deductable is 4,000 we havent even met half of that. Every dr's appt we go to just for a checkup its automatically 140 bucks. I guess it would be comepletly different if i knew for a fact that he contracted this sickness from my home but i just know he couldn't have. I have no problem paying for vet fees, sure i don't like it but to save my animals i know i have to but i don't think it was right for me to pay for this cat that was supposedly suppost to be healthy. Both of my cats have been raised in doors go to regular vet appts,are up to date on shots.

This cat on the other hand was born and raised outdoors, they claim he has his rabies shot and got nuetered during a "round up" where they take in several ferals on one day a year where they nueture them free. Honestly i know its not impossible but what are the chances that my cats have always been healthy then boom not even a month after getting this cat all of a sudden this cat has problems and my other cats are fine yet he supposedly got sick from them?

Answer 1

Sometimes ringworm doesn't looklike ringworm and the hair folicles won't flouresce, but it's still ringworm.

I had a spot show upon one of our cats last year, he's indoor 99% of the time, but he picked it up somehow. None of the outside cats had it. Fred ended up with one spot--he promptly gave ME one spot on my leg as well. I treated us both for ringworm with a 4% tube of $8 Miconazole. He and I both got the cream put on three times a day. His cleared up in 4 weeks, mine took 8 weeks. None of the indoor cats got it, my significant other didn't get it, it didn't spread to anyone else.

I have to say that the first time I noticed it was when I pet his side and some hair seemed loose. I plucked at it and an area the size of a quarter suddenly went bald. That's when he got taken to the vets. They weren't sure, did a culture and in 10 days it came back positive on the petrie dish.

Answer 2

Ringworm is a fungus that can be picked up almost anywhere. Cats are usually blamed, but not always at fault. Cats do not always show signs of ringworm. They can carry it without showing obvious signs. Your new cat could have picked it up anywhere and it is common in strays as are ear mites. Unfortunately you get to deal with it now. Treatment isn't difficult, but it is time consuming and ringworm is highly contagious. Get your other pets treated as well and keep an eye on yourself and family members. Lamicil is great for people and usually takes care of the problem in a few weeks. If it spreads to the scalp or is extreme you should go to a doctor for oral griseofulvin. Do lots of laundry and try to take all outbreaks in stride. It does go away, but you may get to a point where you aren't so sure. I have been there with a house full of cats and a bald son. It's been about 8 years now and the pictures are still pulled out to laugh at, but the ringworm is gone.

Don't stress over where it was picked up. Most likely kitty brought it with him. Find another vet. There are many out there that are much kinder and more helpful. Your vet should be your pets best friend, not your enemy or someone you don't want to see.

Answer 3

you can usually tell just by looking at it if it is a ringworm. The vet should have been able to tell. He could have got is from the drian pipe alot of times it comes from dirty places. Watch the other animals and your family because ya'll can get it if thats what it is.

Answer 4

I'm pretty sure if you look at your cat under a black light you can see the ringworms.