Cat ringworm and awkward neighbour. Advice needed please.

acequion · 12-10-2024 11:35am #1

This is a tricky one and I'm posting more in hope than expectation that somebody might be able to offer advice, but thanks for reading.

I have a 13 year old cat who caught ringworm last June. An otherwise healthy female cat, indoor/outdoor, mainly the former. She had sore bald patches on both ears, nothing else visible. Both of us in the household caught it from her. She was taken to the vet and immediately put on an oral anti fungal,Diflucan, in 3 cycles of week on week off lasting 6 weeks. In addition, we followed all the protocols of thorough constant house cleaning/sanitising, a nightmare. But she recovered or so we thought. We didn't get a culture done to confirm cure but all seemed well. But at the end of September the ears started to go bald again. Back to the vet who said the ringworm had either not fully left her system or thet she had got reinfected. Back on the oral meds, Diflucan, which are heavy on the liver but she's tolerating it well, touch wood. This time I'm also giving her a lime sulpher bath twice weekly, as the American approach is to treat inside out and outside in, which makes sense. Back cleaning and sanitising again like a lunatic.Very stressful and time consuming but it is what it is.

But here is the big problem. We have a neighbour a few houses away who feeds stray cats, magpies and all sorts of wild creatures. There are constantly dirty looking bowls of dodgy food left outside her house. Also, she keeps her doors open by day and allows animals to make free with her home. Her house is all carpets and cloth furniture, a paradise for fungi spores. I'm convinced that this is where my cat picked it up first day and may have got reinfected. We live in an urban suburb where there are no other wild animals and just a few well looked after family pets, mainly dogs, who my cat doesn't have anything to do with. We have no other pet.

I have tried to approach this neighbour to appeal to her. This is an elderly, rather eccentric individual and unfortunately gave no sympathy. Denied that my cat might have picked up anything on her property, got defensive when I gently suggested that leaving food out for all sorts of potentially disease carrying wild creatures was not a good idea and that all cats will stick their little snouts into a tempting looking bowl. She basically poo pahed away the seriousness of ringworm,told me I was over reacting and that vets and doctors are all in a conspiracy to make money from us all. This person was a big Covid denier and anti vaxer during the pandemic. So I'm basically talking to a brick wall.

Is there any recourse for dealing with people like this? Any environmental health organisation she could be reported to? I have come to the conclusion that I'll have to keep the cat in for the foreseeable. Very difficult as this little cat has a slightly wild streak, was born outdoors, literally craves the outdoors and is very reluctant to use a litter tray. Her twice daily ramble around the street here and in the garden has always been her life line. Unfortunately the garden is quite open so I can't contain her there without huge building trouble and expense.

On a side note, does anybody know if ringworm spores are very active outdoors in soil and shrubbery in an urban street?

My apologies in advance for this long post and any suggestions would be much appreciated as we are at our wits end trying the battle the unknown.

TherapyBoy · 12-10-2024 1:59pm

Keeping the cat inside is your best option to stop the ringworm issue. Not ideal but it’s your only valid choice. 👍🏼

acequion · 12-10-2024 9:31pm

Thanks TherapyBoy for your reply. I forgot to mention in my original post that of course I keep her in while she's contagious, 3 weeks the vet recommends. But does anybody think I need to keep her in longer? My worry is that ringworm is obviously in the neighbourhood and reinfection likely. Not helped by this neighbour leaving out food for all and sundry.

But apart from my cat craving the outdoors, another complication is that she is an arthritic cat that needs exercise. Which is not easy when she is confined to a small area indoors.

TherapyBoy · 12-10-2024 9:48pm

I meant keep the cat indoors permanently.

It’s likely the cat is picking up the ringworm either from whatever food they are being fed while away from you or maybe from the other cats. The most straightforward way to avoid this happening repeatedly again in the future is to separate your cat from both the local cat population & the crazy neighbours house. Not going to be easy.

airy fairy · 12-10-2024 9:52pm

Could you let the cat wonder around the house once the 3 weeks is up? Free reign would help with mobility. I've also seen cat exercise centres on Tenu for around €50 to keep her busy. At 13 she wouldn't be madly active.

How adaptable would she be to a harness and you walking her in the garden ?

I'd be concerned about the meds at her age, so inside it would have to be for me at this stage

I think there's nothing you can do about the neighbour though...unless she's creating a hazard with exposed rubbish, then I'd be calling council.

Etc · 12-10-2024 9:56pm

Your cat, your responsibility.

mulbot · 12-10-2024 9:56pm

A healthy cat generally won't get ringworm, if their immune system is compromised then they can, that's why alot of stray carry it, and yes ringworm can lie in soil,. We only ever treated ringworm on cows, or the odd time on cats with applecider vinegar. Works really well for it

AndrewJRenko · 13-10-2024 10:19am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058373988/cat-ringworm-and-awkward-neighbour-advice-needed-please

Is it really fair to ask someone to stop feeding a load of strays just to suit you? It sounds like this person is doing some good for the wildlife population. It would be better if they were doing TNR of course, but you don't get to control other people.

The only feasible solution lies in restricting your cat. Could you like into the protective fences that stop cats from getting in or out of your garden? Or a catio?

acequion · 13-10-2024 11:05am

Some very helpful replies here, thanks so much for taking the time.

My cat, though almost 13, is fit and healthy and still loves to jump and climb and adores doing that outdoors. Whatever it is she just craves the earth, the soil, the air and I've never managed to keep her in for more than a few weeks at a time.I have tried a harness and long lead but she goes awol, so for her little wild instincts the freedom is a must. She does have issues though. She's arthritic, though as yet no major slowing down. And has always had FIB, requiring a low dose steroid every second day which has probably compromised her immune system. But I agree that keeping her indoors, at least for the foreseeable, is my best hope of beating the ringworm. And yes she can have the run of the house when this is cured and I can get her all sorts of toys and exercisers, but she will still crave the outdoors as she has always done. I'll just have to see how it goes.

@AndrewJRenko do you not think that there are more sanitary and more effective ways of helping stray animals and wildlife than leaving plates of food out and never washimg the bowls? I would think this lady is the selfish one as she doesn't appear to care about the health hazards to the neighbourhood pets, not just mine, from her actions.

Jim_Hodge · 13-10-2024 11:22am

Your cat, your problem. Keep the cat on your own property and you'll not have any issues. And, you're just looking at the neighbour for somebody to blame.

AndrewJRenko · 13-10-2024 11:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714262#Comment_122714262

Did you offer to help her at all to find those more sanitary and effective ways over the years, or just when you went down accusing her of infecting your cat (with zero supporting evidence)?

acequion · 13-10-2024 3:51pm

Thanks again to those posters who gave genuinely helpful advice. Unfortunately some posters seem merely interested in starting an argument which is rather sad really.

apache · 13-10-2024 4:05pm

If you have a back garden you should try making a catio. It dosen't have to be mad expensive

Danzy · 13-10-2024 4:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058373988/cat-ringworm-and-awkward-neighbour-advice-needed-please

Ringworm can last years on a indoor surface.

Jim_Hodge · 13-10-2024 4:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714995#Comment_122714995

I read that as you only appreciate being told what you want to hear, to be perfectly honest. Just because you don't like what somebody thinks, does not mean they are argumentative.

One Who Waits... · 13-10-2024 4:48pm

I've got an indoor FIV+ cat that is prone to a ringworm outbreak twice a year.

Short version of a long story is that I picked these up by chance in a vet clinic and the cat hasn't had a ringworm outbreak in 2 years. No other treatments have been required. He has other health issues but ringworm is no longer a problem. He gets wiped down with a single wipe every 2nd day.

Just posting in case you want to try them.

acequion · 13-10-2024 5:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715151#Comment_122715151

Wow! That's great to hear about that and it seems so simple. Thanks a million for sharing that, really appreciate it.😀

One Who Waits... · 13-10-2024 5:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715223#Comment_122715223

No guarantee they'll be effective on your cat but would definitely recommend trying.

ebbsy · 13-10-2024 5:34pm

I have neighbours cats that troop around the house, roll over, chat,have some milk and then leave.

You can't stop cats from doing this. They love that ****.

Your elderly neighbour is a fantastic person for looking after animals. Maybe it keeps her happy ?? Maybe it's the one thing in this world that she looks forward to ???

Who is the eccentric person here I wonder ??

DBB · 13-10-2024 6:40pm

Alright folks,

Just going to interject here before this thread goes down the pan.

If you have advice to help the op, fire away. I don't see any further need to discuss the rights and/or wrongs of what the neighbour is doing.

Thanks,

DBB

acequion · 13-10-2024 6:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715273#Comment_122715273

Nothing at all wrong with creatures coming into your house or any house that don't pose a health or hygiene risk imo. Can't stop cats coming into your garden but you can certainly stop them from coming into your house.But if you want them all in your house regardless of what they may be carrying, good for you!

My elderly neighbour is a "fantastic person." Really? She knows that at least one of these cats she feeds is a carrier of ringworm, she even identified the culprit cat, yet she said she didn't intend to change anything. And fine if she wants it in her house, her business there if she wants to expose herself to this highly contagious condition. But do you think she's a "fantastic person" for leaving the bowls outside and never washing them, thereby blatently risking contamination to other people's cats!

A fantastic person for refusing to empathise with a neighbour whose pet is suffering from ringworm, most likely caught on her property where these stray cats congregate?

A fantastic person who thinks the pandemic was all made up and doctors and vets are the baddies? Yet took advantage of kind neighbours' help in doing her shopping and looking out for her during lockdowns.

I have no problem whatsoever with whatever floats anybody's boat and gives them a reason for living, but I have a big problem when their activities impact so negatively on their neighbours.You must never have had to deal with something as awful as ringworm, lucky you!

If being eccentric means being pssed off by the actions of a selfish, unneighbourly person,then call me eccentric all you want!

Jim_Hodge · 13-10-2024 7:02pm

You keep ignoring the advice to keep your cat on your own property if you don't want it catching anything from other animals.

The following is some advice from a vet

"There are measures that can help reduce infection risk. Since cats with healthy skin are highly unlikely to develop ringworm, feeding your cat a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients can help keep their skin in tip-top shape.

Additionally, ringworm spores can live in an environment for up to 20 months. Maintaining good hygiene and cleaning practices can prevent fungus spores from taking hold and reduce (re)infection risk"

acequion · 13-10-2024 9:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715547#Comment_122715547

You might want to think of your tone in your posts! Can you please show me where I "keep ignoring" the advice to keep the cat on my property? Just please show me! Perhaps you didn't see where I posted the following earlier today:

"But I agree that keeping her indoors, at least for the foreseeable, is my best hope of beating the ringworm. And yes she can have the run of the house when this is cured and I can get her all sorts of toys and exercisers, but she will still crave the outdoors as she has always done. I'll just have to see how it goes."

Jim_Hodge · 13-10-2024 9:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122716223#Comment_122716223

I'm sorry but that still means the cat will, eventually, be let roam at will. I'll leave it at that, as there's only so many times something can be said.

acequion · 13-10-2024 9:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122716248#Comment_122716248

You're obviously on a wind up here. Enjoy! 😂

acequion · 14-10-2024 7:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715151#Comment_122715151

One Who Waits, I hope you don't mind my asking how your cat repeatedly contracted the ringworm when he's indoor? I know you said he's FIV but how did he keep getting reinfected? And did you have to go through the whole sanitising rigmarole every time? Must have been awful, my two recent experiences of ringworm outbreaks are bad enough.

I've ordered those wipes and will give them a try when the lesions have cleared up. It would really be great if they were successful with my cat as they have been with yours. Fingers crossed.

One Who Waits... · 14-10-2024 10:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122719767#Comment_122719767

FIV cats have a weaker immune system which leaves them more prone to stuff like ringworm is what I've learned but why it kept reoccurring I don't know.

The space he was initially in was decontaminated and the furniture (human & cat) went in a skip. He's never been back in that room for even a second.

Since first confirmed clear of ringworm he was restricted to a different part of the house that he had never been in before but, even with regular cleaning, it flared up again & again. Treatment (imaverol / itrafungol) would clear it but it always came back every 6 months or so.

I was constantly looking for a solution when I spotted those wipes in a vet clinic and just tried them. Can't guarantee their efficacy on any other cat but they solved my guy's ringworm problem.

One Who Waits... · 15-10-2024 10:34am

Forgot to mention that he was a neighbourhood cat, in poor health and with nobody really looking after him when I moved to the area. I took pity on him and eventually took him inside because he was fighting with a feral. He wasn't showing any sign of ringworm at first but it must have been there.

AndrewJRenko · 15-10-2024 2:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122721259#Comment_122721259

It's great to see someone looking after the neighbourhood cats.

hamburgham · 07-11-2024 10:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714125#Comment_122714125

Yes, could you suggest to that lady that she try to get those stray cats neutered?

AndrewJRenko · 08-11-2024 10:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814404#Comment_122814404

That doesn't seem like a feasible option. Maybe there's a local cat rescue group who might get involved, with a bit of hands-on support from the OP.

Cat ringworm and awkward neighbour. Advice needed please.

Comments