Don't take any notice of Trish, she's a troll, killfile her as most
others have done.

I didn't keep the original post so I'm responding to this one, kilikini
I offer my apologies when I read your post, it appeared to me that you
were considering leaving the cat outside til the cat healed, I've seen
this alot and reacted as I did.

As for you Evelyn, I have three cats, all of whom "prefer" to stay
indoors, actually the outdoors scares the sh.t out of them, they were
all rescued from the big bad outdoors, and I've had cats my entire life
so I think its safe to say I know how to care for a cat.  And no I
wasn't being obtrusive or unpleasant, I read more into her post than she
meant.  Let me tell you a story and then you tell me why I hate seeing
cats outdoors.

When I was working with seals we had one of our favourites die suddenly
so we took her for an autopsy (as was our mandate).  After we were
finished the autopsy (she died of a twisted bowel, and I assisted at the
autopsy as I did on all our seals that died).  Well the vet asked me to
help place Emma (the seal) in the freezer until Monday morning as the
autopsy was performed on a Sunday and the company that performed the
cremations did not do their runs on Sundays, plus this was a government
vet area, not a local vet.  I opened the wrong freezer door by mistake
and no need to guess what I saw, literally dozens of cats and dogs
stacked in the freezer waiting for pickup.  I asked Dr. Ron what was up
with that and he explained that there had been a rash of animal killings
in a few small towns outside the city limits the few days prior, these
were all animals from one tourist town and surrounding area that had
been tortured and killed.  It's not a sight I will ever forget.  Oh and
btw this was not a town with high traffic, it was I guess a sleepy town,
very peaceful, more a farming community and fishermen.  So when I hear
of cats and dogs left outside it breaks my heart and brings back that
memory.

In light of this I feel quite justified in commenting when I think an
animal will spend its days outside because he or she is sick or for any
reason.  And no matter how you boil it down, ringworm is an illness, so
yes a cat with ringworm is sick, the degree of sickness was not
commented on by me.  And as you see above I misunderstood kilikini's
words and have apologized.

As for other posters named Trish, sorry as original as I like to think I
am I do realize I have no control over who else posts as Trish.  Trish
is my real name and I post under nothing but it.

FTR, this would be the second time you've killfiled me :)

Hey Dan,

I have an idea for you!

How about you go to Houston and pretend to be a victim from New Orleans,
think of all the freebies you'd get.  It's about your style.

You would think sun would help, but she's covered.  I'd have to shave her
whole body.  (How do you shave a nose?)  I just can't wait until this whole
ordeal is over.  I hate isolating her, but I feel it's best for all.

kili

That's how Ming was... it was ALL OVER him.  I didn't isolate him
(couldn't- small house).  He slept on my bed (I did put a white cotton
sheet over the foot area where he slept so that I could change it on a
daily basis). I got a couple of little spots that were easily treated
topically, Boris (the dog) also got a couple of spots, but my son, my
husband and the new kitten were fine- not a single spot on any of them.
I used "common sense" methods- wash my hands after handling Ming, cover
the furniture with easily washed sheets and towels, vacuum and mop
frequently. I didn't (couldn't) completely follow the vet's
instructions for disinfecting the house, since I live in the real
world. I kept things as clean and disinfected as I could, but I didn't
let it consume me.

Keep in mind that the vet is giving you "worst-case" scenarios.  Yes,
it's possible that Pua is a carrier for ringworm.  It's more likely
that the reason she's so infected is that her immune system is
compromised because of her severe malnutrition. As you get her fed and
healthy, her immune system will likely kick in and she'll be fine.

Katrina

Change vets? ;-)  I know the situation is not funny, but it
sounds as though your vet is more freaked out than you are!
 I really think I WOULD seek a second opinion, before
either going to such extremes, or giving up on the cat as
"hopeless".  (Which it sounds to me as though she expects
you to do.)

I haven't finished my research, but it does appear the disease is harder
to treat in cats than in humans. The sources I've read, however, do not
seem to suggest it is quite as contagious as described, although it is
appropriate to sterilize anything that has touched the area: 1:10 bleach
for at least 10 minutes.  I think your vet is overreacting about the
room, but it would be wise to do some protection -- perhaps plastic over
whatever you can cover, and gloves and a washable or disposable gown.

Various shampoos, weekly over a couple of months, seem appropriate.
Griseofulvin, as a pill, has been used, but it is a slow-acting agent in
humans. Itraconazole and ketaconazole can be used either on the skin or
intravenously.  Again, I need to do further treatment.