Pets World

	UNISAN Lambswool Duster with 26" Plastic Handle, Assorted Colors List Price: $9.36 Sale Price: $3.55
	Description Safe for all surfacesâ?"will not scratch or mar. Genuine lambswool duster quickly lifts dust particles and retains them until shaken. Washable. Plastic handle with hang-up hole. Global Product Type: Dusters-Handheld; Bristle Material: Lambswool; Bristle Length: N/A; Bristle Depth: N/A.

	Anne's Romantic Garden Quilt Pattern - Two Cats One Cate for Fat Quarter Shop
	Description Click on product for details

	Butterick 4949 Crafts Sewing Pattern Dog & Cat Pet Beds Sale Price: $10.50
	Description Package includes patterns and instructions for four lined pet beds with contrast cushion. Bed A. Bed B: purchased trim. Bed C: contrast sections. Bed D: contrast leaf and seed. All beds are approximately 22" W x 23" L x 20" D.

	Chicago Blues: A Quarter Century [3 DISC SET]
	Description Chicago Blues: A Quarter Century! Japanese Import 3 CD Box Set! 71 Tracks!

	Cat Wall Hook - Small - Inch and a Quarter Wide
	Description This decorative iron wall hook has a baked on flat black powder coating for the traditional ironwork look. This fine iron product is made in America.

	Cactus Bay Apparel Cats All Over Print T-Shirt Sale Price: $34.99 - $36.99
	Description The perfect gift for the Cat Lover in your life!  Made in the USA of 100% Black cotton, and pre-shrunk for proper sizing, has a V-neck and three quarters sleeves. With All over design, the T-shirt has fun, colorful designs of cats, in orange, green, and blue...

	Cactus Bay Apparel Rhinestone Cat Cotton T-Shirt Sale Price: $29.99 - $31.99
	Description The perfect gift for the Cat Lover in your life!  Made in the USA of 100% Black cotton, and pre-shrunk for proper sizing, the t-shirt has a v-neck and three-quarter sleeves. The front of the T-shirt has a Cat Silhouette, using acrylic rhinestone/studs to form the design...

	Official Garfield - Smiling Cat Baseball Jersey Sale Price: $22.00 - $25.00
	Description Our 100% cotton Baseball Jersey is a sporty hit with both men and women whether you're in the game or just looking the part in great run-around casual-wear. Choose red, blue or black sleeves.

	Belkin A3L791-S 7-Foot RJ45 CAT 5e Snagless Molded Patch Cable (Gray) List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $3.68 You save: $2.31 (39%)
	Description The Belkin Category 5e Snagless Patch Cable lets you hook up hardware to a LAN with a flexible 7-foot cable. It uses gold-plated connectors to ensure a clean and clear transmission and has snagless-type moldings to protect the connection...

	BELKIN A3L791V37RT Retractable CAT5e Networking Cable List Price: $17.93 Sale Price: $12.21 You save: $5.72 (32%)
	Description Retractable CAT5e networking cable allows you to connect your notebook computer so you can access high-speed networks or the Internet anywhere you go. Compact size and enhanced functionality make it the ideal accessory to include inside your laptop case...

How to Prevent, Diagnose, and Treat Ringworm in your Cat

While cats can be afflicted by several types of worms, ringworm in fact is a fungal infection, not a worm. Ringworm is a fungus that can affect cats, dogs, and humans. While there are several different forms of ringworm, the most common form of ringworm in cats is caused by Microsporum Canis, or M. Canis. If you are a pet owner, you should be know how to identify and treat ringworm, and should be aware how it is transmitted.

How Do Cats Contract Ringworm?

While the ringworm fungus thrives in hot, humid climates, it most often manifests itself on our pets in the cooler months of autumn and winter. Ringworm is contracted by cats through contact with infected animals, including dogs, rats, mice, and other cats, or from the bedding or sleeping quarters of another pet. Also, fungal spores can be shed into the environment, where they can be picked up by a cat who spends time outdoors. Cats can also be asymptomatic carriers of the fungus, not showing any signs of infection themselves, but able to transmit the fungus to other animals.

What Are the Symptoms of Ringworm?

Ringworm can be identified by the presence of lesions, which may vary in appearance, but the most common manifestation is a small circular hairless lesion, often with scaly skin in the middle that may be inflamed and sensitive. These lesions can most often be found on the tail, head and ears. Ringworm can also appear as a more general skin disease, or may be the cause of chronic ear infections.

How is Ringworm Diagnosed?

While there are various methods used to identify ringworm, the only sure way to make this diagnosis is to perform a culture of the infected area. This is a fairly routine test that your veterinarian can perform for you.

Can Ringworm Be Prevented?

The best ways to prevent ringworm are:

1. Provide your cat with a healthy diet and caring living environment

2. Limit exposure

Cats whose immune systems have been weakened either by illness, age, or poor diet are much more susceptible to contracting ringworm. Young kittens are also more at risk until their immune systems become stronger. Because the risks of infection are higher outdoors, where there may be infected animals or live spores in the grass and soil, it would be wise to keep kittens, old cat, and sick cats indoors as much as possible. You can reduce your cat's susceptibility to ringworm by feeding it a nutritionally-sound, healthy diet. Also, any new animal introduced into your household should first be tested for ringworm.

What is the Treatment for Ringworm?

Mild cases of ringworm may go away on their own, so long as your cat is otherwise healthy. Ringworm can also be treated topically with antifungal medication; in this case, the hair around the lesion should be clipped short, and the clipping instruments then sterilized. There are also oral and injectable ringworm treatments. Because ringworm spores can survive for a long time without a host - up to about eighteen months, cleanliness and good hygiene should be an integral part of your plan.

While you are treating your cat for ringworm your cat's bedding should be laundered regularly. Wash and dry these fabrics at high temperatures, as the heat will kill the fungus, Hard surfaces in the house should be cleaned with a mild bleach solution. Vacuum carpets and upholstery frequently to pick up the fungal spores. Be sure to wear gloves when handling your cat and its bedding, and try to keep the kids away from the cat.

All pets in the household should be tested, even they do not show symptoms of ringworm. Sometimes animals can be infected by the fungus without showing any symptoms, but as a carrier, can transmit ringworm to other pets in the house.

Can Ringworm be Transmitted to People?

Unfortunately, yes. You and your children are susceptible to contracting ringworm from your pets. Children are at higher risk than adults. Prevention through good hygiene and proper nutrition is the best approach, but diagnosis and timely treatment for any infected pets will minimize the risk of your contracting ringworm from your cat.

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About the Author

For more informational articles on how to keep your cat healthy and happy, visit http://www.healthy-cat-supplies.com.

Kat Bartone is a writer, musician, computer technology instructor, internet marketer, and blogging enthusiast. She lives in Massachusetts with her cat Zoe.

How much food should I give this cat?

There's a cat that I see every morning, and today she finally came up to me. It looks like she either recently had kittens, or she might still be pregnant.
I think she belongs to the people who own this hair salon, and she gets food from them. But they usually get here before 8, and it's quarter till 9 and they aren't here. I already fed her about half a cup, should I give her more? She seemed really hungry.
Yes, she's just sitting by my fence.
I don't want to make her sick, though. She'll be fine for now.

if I were you I would take her in get her eating some good high quality kitten food and get her an appointment to be spayed. sounds like her "owners" are very neglectful to her and she deserves to feel loved.

Atomic Hi-Tones, Cat Woman, Rockabilly Head Quarters