Like humans, cats’ skin is also an important organ of the body. It can block foreign objects or external irritants and act as a protective barrier. When your cat has skin problems, it may be the most direct signal to you that he is uncomfortable.

What is cat moss?

Clinically, more than 80% of cats have suffered from catnip, which shows that catnip is a problem that most owners have encountered. What’s even more annoying is that if a cat gets catnip, there is a great chance that it will be transmitted to the owner or other cats living together. Therefore, cats suffering from catnip must be actively treated, otherwise it is easy to relapse or cannot be completely eradicated. Ringworm is a skin disease caused by fungal infection. Current research shows that there are four types of fungi that can cause catnip, the most common clinically being Microsporum canis. When immunity is weakened, malnutrition or the living environment is damp and tidy, it may cause the outbreak of cat moss.

How to tell if my cat has catnip?

If a cat gets catnip, the affected area will have broken hair, hair loss, a lot of dandruff, scabs and knots, and some cats will have scratching symptoms. If you are unable to make an accurate judgment, you should seek medical attention promptly. Nowadays, hospitals mostly use fungal culture, Wood's lamp and other methods for diagnosis.

It should be noted that hair loss does not necessarily mean that you have feline tinea. Allergic dermatitis, cauda equina, and bacterial infection may cause hair loss. If there is still no improvement after a round of antifungal treatment, please seek help from your veterinarian at this time.

Treatment methods for cat moss:

At present, the most effective treatment plan for cat moss is to combine treatment from the following two aspects, both of which are indispensable.

1. Oral drugs

Itraconazole and fluconazole both have good therapeutic effects.

Usage are:

· Itraconazole: 10 mg/kg (10 mg per kilogram of body weight), once a day.

Fluconazole: 10 mg/kg (10 mg per kilogram of body weight), once every two days. Do not take it together with cimetidine, amphotericin B, corticosteroids (more common anti-inflammatory drugs), rifamycin and other drugs.

It should be noted that Dr. Donna Stewart believes that this drug is stronger than other antifungal drugs, and she recommends it for cats over two years old. Please avoid using the above drugs on pregnant female cats. Please consult your doctor for specific treatment options.

Some owners may be worried about using it easilyWill the medication put a strain on your cat’s kidneys? A large amount of clinical data shows that the correct use of drugs not only has a very good therapeutic effect on feline schizophrenia, but also puts an acceptable burden on the kidneys. If the cat itself has certain diseases, it should be sent to the doctor in time to seek help from a doctor.

　2. External medications (lotions)

In addition to oral medications, appropriate medicated baths are also one of the necessary means to treat cat lice.

There are many kinds of antifungal lotions on the market to choose from. In principle, using lotions with antifungal effects or lotions containing lime sulfur compounds can achieve a certain effect. This also has a certain relationship with the owner's personal preferences. Choosing formal channels to purchase, correct and consistent use are more important than which brand to use.

When taking a medicated bath, let the lotion stay on the skin for 5-10 minutes. After rinsing, it is best to use a disposable towel or a clean and highly absorbent paper towel to dry it to prevent reinfection. If the towel needs to be used repeatedly, be sure to thoroughly sterilize it after use. Medicated bathing twice a week is more effective. It is also recommended to maintain medicated bathing for 2 weeks after recovery to ensure complete recovery.

It should be noted that unless there is a large-scale infection, it is not recommended to give the cat a full-body bath or shave. These actions may cause the diseased area to spread again or cause the fungus to infect other parts. Local medicated baths are a better choice.

The treatment course for cat moss is about one month. Two negative fungal culture results can confirm the complete recovery of cat moss. Please strictly adhere to the medication during treatment. The owner's occasional laziness is also one of the reasons why cat moss is easy to relapse.

How to prevent the recurrence of catnip:

Up to 20% of cats are asymptomatic carriers of T. felis, which means they carry chronic T. feliformis but do not show symptoms. Taking this into consideration, if one cat gets catworm in a cattery environment or a multi-cat household, it is recommended that all cats use the drug together, otherwise they are likely to face another outbreak. Proper isolation is also necessary for families with many cats.

The living environment is closely related to cat moss. To prevent the recurrence of cat moss, in addition to thorough sterilization and disinfection of the environment after cat moss is diagnosed, regular daily disinfection is also one of the essential preventive tasks. It needs to be emphasized that cat hair may carry a large number of fungal spores. The blankets, mattresses and quilts originally used by cats are difficult to thoroughly clean. If conditions permit, discard them when conditions permit. You must also ensure that the original shed cat hair is thoroughly cleaned at home. eradicate.

Regarding the selection of disinfectants: (Information from Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine)

Bleach is almost the only option for Mossporum felis spreading in the environment. However, there are also many breeders and cattery owners who think that “DuPont Virgo"It can also have a good sterilization effect on spores. Considering that bleach products have a greater impact on cats, it is more recommended to use DuPont Guard for sterilization and disinfection. (Note: DuPont Guard may cause fabric fading.)

What should I do if a person is infected with cat moss?

When a cat gets catnip, the theory is that you should try not to touch it until it recovers to avoid being infected. But looking at such cute cats, I believe many owners can’t help but pet them. If a person is accidentally infected with catnip, you can use clotrimazole ointment, ketoconazole ointment and other antifungal ointments. Just use it according to the instructions. It can usually be cured in 2-3 weeks.

It’s interesting to say that when you get sick and treat your cat together, you feel like you are in sympathy with each other.

A complete cure for cats suffering from cataracts is not as difficult as imagined, but it requires more patience from the owner to cooperate with the treatment. Allowing cats to live in a clean and tidy environment and get regular exposure to the sun can play a very good protective role.