08/13/2026
📚 Educational Post of the Day: Ringworm & Why Full Disclosure Matters 🦠
Lately I’ve seen photos of kittens with areas of hair loss, crusting, or skin lesions, and it brought up an important topic that buyers and breeders should be educated about: ringworm.
You cannot diagnose ringworm from a photo alone, and several skin conditions can look similar. Proper veterinary testing is important.
Despite its name, ringworm is not a worm. It is a fungal infection that can spread between animals and people.
🔍 Possible signs can include:
• Circular patches of hair loss
• Broken or thinning hair
• Flaky, scaly, or crusty skin
• Red or irritated areas
• Changes around the face, ears, paws, or tail
Not every kitten will show the classic appearance, and some infected cats may have very mild signs.
💡 Questions families can ask:
• Has the kitten ever been diagnosed with or exposed to ringworm?
• Has fungal testing been performed if there were suspicious skin lesions?
• Is the kitten currently being treated for any skin condition?
• Are there any known areas of unexplained hair loss?
Ringworm can happen to anyone. It can occur in catteries, shelters, rescues, veterinary clinics, and private homes. A case of ringworm does not automatically make someone a bad breeder.
What matters is treatment and transparency.
Families deserve appropriate disclosure so they can make informed decisions and understand what they may be bringing into their home, especially when other animals or children may be exposed.
Ringworm spores can also persist in the environment for a long time, which is why proper treatment, cleaning, and environmental decontamination are so important.
The goal of this post isn’t to shame anyone. It’s to educate. The more informed breeders and owners are, the better equipped we are to protect our animals, our homes, and the families who love them.
🐾 Education, transparency, and responsible treatment matter.
Photos shown are examples of skin lesions that may be consistent with ringworm or other skin conditions and are for educational purposes only. A veterinarian should be consulted for diagnosis. These are not my photos and are not affiliated with any breeder, cattery, or specific kitten.