Merced SPCA taking a break to kick ringworm

The Merced SPCA will be closed for a couple of weeks while volunteers work to eradicate a stubborn ringworm fungus that’s infected a handful of kittens.

Animals in the shelter have battled the infection on and off for months, said President Cathy Benner.

“We just can’t get it out, so we’re tearing the rooms apart, washing, scrubbing, painting and sealing cement floors,” Benner said.

Currently, about half a dozen cats are infected with ringworm, which can be spread between animals or through infected bedding or other materials. The shelter had a room full of kittens that had just finished their ringworm medication. Volunteers are waiting to receive test results that will indicate whether the little cats are rid of the infection.

“If an individual cat has ringworm, it’s easy to take care of,” Benner said. “But when it’s 15-20 cats, it spreads like wildfire. This is just shelter life. When you have lots of animals together, that’s what happens.”

Jon Klingborg, a veterinarian at Valley Animal Hospital in Merced, said ringworm might not be what you expect.

“Ringworm is not related to worms at all,” he said. “It’s a fungal infection, sort of the skin equivalent to a yeast infection.”

Common symptoms include hair loss in a circular shape, hence the name ringworm. In cats, hair loss is common near the face, feet or ears. The infection often is accompanied by mange or other issues.

“Sometimes, when you’re dealing with ringworm, you’re actually dealing with a couple things,” Klingborg said.

The infection is tough to control because it can live in an environment for a long time, he said. When spores rub off on surfaces such as a wall, many sources of transmission can be created.

“It’s slow to bring under control, and it can take days or weeks for medication to work,” Klingborg said.

Plus, animals can heal and still carry the fungus.

“In a shelter setting, it can be challenging to clean the environment completely,” he said.

In the meantime, the shelter closed Friday and won’t accept new animals, especially cats. Shelter volunteers will do their best to facilitate dog adoptions. The SPCA is set to reopen in about two weeks.

Part of working to get rid of the infection is washing all linens in hot water and throwing away anything that can’t be washed. Because many things have been thrown away, volunteers are asking the community to donate cat supplies.

The shelter operates solely on donations from the community month to month, most of which cover veterinary bills and utilities to keep the facility on Childs Avenue open.

“Anything for these poor cats” is needed, Benner said. “They have nothing right now.”

In particular, shelter volunteers hope to receive scratching posts and cat trees. The shelter also will need litter boxes and cat beds when the scrubbing is finished.

Though the shelter will be closed, Benner said, someone likely will be available to take donations from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

For more information on how to make donations or adopt an animal (dogs only, for now), call the shelter at 209-384-7722.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Merced SPCA taking a break to kick ringworm."