Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Beginner

Anyone had a pet who had ringworm? - Cleaning/disinfecting house

Suds, 25 March, 2009 at 10:32 Posted on Off Topic Posts 0 3

Saved

Report
Hide content

Yuk. The cat has ringworm and now looks like she has half a head where the vet shaved the infected area. Poor thing, I've just shampooed her and she looks a fright! The other cat is also on the tablets just in case (not showing any signs) but they have recommended we clean all the carpets etc to prevent the spores from spreading and limit the chances of us getting it.

We have limited their access, they now reside in the hall/landing/study when they are in, passing through the lounge and dining room to get there... I have leather sofas so have disinfected these and am taking the cushion covers to be dry cleaned. I also plan to have the hall, landing carpet done (was going to do this anyway) but do I need to go the whole hog and get the bedroom done too. The bathroom and nursery (which they are banned from) have new carpets anyway. Our bedroom really needs an overhaul but we can't do anything until we move the baby into her own room, there is so much stuff in there it would be a real faff to get everything out to clean a carpet that will be replaced in a few months anyway... Same goes for study, we have so many bookcases, PC equip, it would be a nightmare to move everything out to clean carpet.

All our bedding has been disinfected (cats used to sleep on it) and they have never been in the baby's crib. However, the lurgy cat had been sleeping under the bed for ages before this.

I'm totally rambling now - what I mean to say is what is 'reasonable' in this situation, H already thinks I have OCD about these things and that there is only so much we can do...

Comments/Suggestions - yes I am in capable of thinking about this rationally at the moment!

Report
Hide content

3 replies

Latest activity by Suds, 25 March, 2009 at 12:27

KJB · 25 March, 2009 at 10:58
Report

Hide content
I feel for you, I really do. HOwever, in my experience it wasn't actually THAT bad.

My two older cats had it when they were kittens. They got it from the rescue centre where they were born, but it only showed up 24 hours after I'd taken them home. Fortunately for me, they had it while they were still in one room, so the area was confined anyway. However, I still didn't disinfect everything (or even anything ? in the room - I think I just washed anything that could be washed, and hoovered well before changing the hoover bag) and it cleared up in 2-3 weeks.

I didn't shampoo them. I asked the vet about shampoo and she just looked at me and said "Have you ever tried shampooing a kitten?!". I was told to give them their tablets in something fatty - either cream or tuna/sardines in oil as this helped the absorbtion of the medication. Also, Canesten cream that yu can buy over the counter is the same as the vet prescribed cream, so I used this.

I did wash my hands everytime I'd held them though, and had a special cuddling t-shirt which I wore when in the room with them which I changed/washed regularly.

But I certainly didn't wash/replace carpets, or use a bleach solution to wipe down all surfaces - it was still stressful but it was manageable. And I thankfully didn't get it myself (if you do, Canesten is what my vet recommended to me to get rid of it)
- Reply
VIP July 2007
hazel · 25 March, 2009 at 11:09
Report

Hide content
I'd do what KJB suggests - hoover well, wipe down surfaces you can get to. You could hire a steam cleaner maybe?

I wouldn't have thought there's a massive risk of the baby getting it tbh - her bedding or clothes aren't affected
- Reply
Beginner April 2007
Easter · 25 March, 2009 at 11:46
Report

Hide content
I don't have any experience of it in small animals - only in horses. As long as you disinfect the cat's bedding etc and wipe down the surfaces you can you should be ok.

We had a horse who developed a really bad case of it the day after he arrived - he lost all the hair on his back end - and only one person out of the 6 of us who dealt with him caught it. It wasn't that bad really - just one itchy spot on his arm which cleared up pretty quickly with treatment. The horse, however, looked disastrous - it took months for his coat to grow back and he was 2-tone for years ?
- Reply