Ringworm in Cats: How It Spreads and How It's Treated

Summary

Ringworm in cats is a highly contagious fungal infection that thrives in Dubai's warm, humid climate. Despite the name, it isn't caused by a worm. It's a fungus that feeds on keratin in the skin, hair, and claws, from a group of organisms called dermatophytes.

Roughly 94–98% of cases in cats are caused by the fungus Microsporum canis, with Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes responsible for most of the rest.

Fungal spores shed from an infected cat's coat can stay dormant on carpets, furniture, bedding, and grooming tools for up to 18 months. This is why environmental decontamination matters just as much as treating the cat itself.

Ringworm is also zoonotic, meaning it can spread between cats and people. This is a particularly relevant concern in Dubai, where the widespread use of communal spaces like grooming salons, catteries, and boarding facilities creates more opportunities for spores to spread between animals.

What Does Ringworm Look Like on a Cat

This fungal disease causes significant skin infection. Here are the common symptoms observed by our veterinarians:

• Ringworm Lesions. Bright red, circular patches on the skin, common on the head, face, tail, and feet.

• Bald Spots. Irregular or circular patches of hair loss.

• Broken Fur. The coat may look dull, dry, or brittle, with visible hair breakage.

• Excessive Grooming. Cats may scratch, lick, or bite the infected area due to irritation.

• Nail Issues. Claws and nail beds can become brittle, discoloured, rough, or misshapen.

How Do Cats Get a Ringworm Infection

Cats get ringworm from contact with infected animals, people, or contaminated objects. This can happen when an infected cat plays with or grooms other healthy cats, or when healthy cats drink from contaminated water bowls, bedding, and toys.

In Dubai specifically, this makes certain everyday spots genuinely higher risk. Unhygienic boarding facilities, daycares, and grooming salons are common environmental sources, and fungal spores can survive on objects and surfaces for 12 to 18 months, meaning a poorly cleaned space stays risky for a long time, not just on the day of exposure. Given how many cat owners in Dubai rely on boarding and grooming services as part of normal pet care in a city environment, hygiene standards at these facilities matter more here than they might somewhere with fewer shared pet spaces.

This is exactly why we control our own environment closely. At our cat boarding facility in DIP, rooms are cleaned daily and kept separate from general clinic traffic specifically to reduce this kind of cross-contamination risk. Our grooming services follow the same standard, since we know grooming salons are one of the more commonly cited risk points for ringworm transmission.

Poor hygiene is a significant risk factor for transmission, whichever facility a cat visits, which is why it's worth asking any boarding or grooming provider directly about their cleaning protocols.

Community and Street Cats

Dubai has a large population of community and street cats, and anyone who regularly feeds strays or has recently adopted a rescued cat is at genuinely higher risk. Street cats have far more exposure to other infected animals and contaminated environments than cats living entirely indoors, so if you feed community cats or have brought one home, it's worth being extra attentive to early signs.

Newly Adopted Cats

Cats from shelters and rescues are more likely to arrive with ringworm than cats from a single-owner home, simply because shelters house many animals in close contact. This isn't a reason to avoid adopting, but it is a reason to keep a new arrival separate from other pets for the first couple of weeks and watch closely for symptoms, rather than assuming a clean bill of health by default.

Summer Boarding Season

Ringworm cases tend to rise during Dubai's summer months, when many families travel, and boarding facilities fill up. More cats passing through the same shared spaces in a short window means more opportunities for spores to spread, so it's worth being particularly diligent about a boarding facility's cleaning standards if you're booking during peak summer travel.

Can I Catch Ringworm From My Cat

Yes. Ringworm is zoonotic, and this is probably the single biggest reason cat owners search for this topic in the first place, so it's worth addressing directly.

In humans, ringworm typically appears as a red, itchy, ring-shaped rash with a clearer patch of skin in the centre, most often on the arms, hands, or neck, anywhere that's had direct contact with an infected cat or contaminated surface.

Children, elderly people, and anyone with a weakened immune system are most at risk, both of catching it and of experiencing a more persistent infection. If anyone in your household falls into one of these groups, it's worth being extra careful about handwashing after handling your cat and avoiding direct skin contact with visibly affected areas until treatment is underway.

If you or a family member develops a suspicious rash while your cat is being treated for ringworm, it's worth mentioning to your own doctor that your cat has a confirmed diagnosis; this can speed up getting the right treatment for you as well.

Which Cats Are Most at Risk

While all cats can get ringworm, young kittens, seniors, and immunocompromised cats are among the most at risk. Cats with diseases such as feline immunodeficiency virus or feline leukemia virus have suppressed immune systems, making them vulnerable to an infection.

Another risk factor is a cat's living conditions and lifestyle. Indoor cats are much safer, while outdoor cats have a higher chance of exposure to ringworm spores. 

Lastly, cats without sufficient basic care options will be at risk of feline ringworm. This includes the lack of nutrition, grooming, and preventive care.