Nowadays, many people love raising cats, and cats’ appearances are very cute, making them great companions at home. However, if not cared for properly or if a cat comes into contact with unclean things outside, it may get sick, most commonly with skin diseases such as cat ringworm. So, can cat ringworm infect humans? Because the actual pathogenic source of cat ringworm is a fungus, there is indeed a certain probability that it can infect people. For more details, please see the explanation below.

The skin of cats is quite sensitive. Once they come into contact with unclean things or interact with sick cats, they may become infected with cat ringworm. Cat ringworm is a fungal skin disease that directly causes localized hair loss, scabbing, etc. In severe cases, the cat can become "bald," which not only affects its appearance but may also endanger various body functions.

Additionally, it is important to note that the fungus causing cat ringworm can be transmitted to humans, causing athlete’s foot or tinea cruris. In severe cases, infections like tinea manuum, tinea pedis, or tinea versicolor can also occur, depending on the infected area. Regardless of the location, it causes considerable discomfort to the human body. However, this fungal skin disease is treatable—both humans and cats can be treated, provided treatment is timely and cleanliness is maintained to cut off the infection source promptly.

It is best to prevent this issue from occurring in daily life. First, ensure the cat’s living environment is clean and disinfect its items regularly. Sunlight is a good sterilizing process. Also, maintain the cat’s hygiene frequently—not necessarily daily baths, but regular brushing of the fur is necessary. Moreover, when going out, avoid any contact with animals that might be infection sources. Even if contact is made, wash your hands promptly to refuse entry to infectious sources.

Can cat ringworm infect humans? This is indeed a very troublesome problem. Because it is somewhat contagious, if there are multiple cats at home and one has ringworm without timely isolation, all cats may develop the same problem. If a person contacts an infected cat and does not wash promptly, they can also be infected. Therefore, once a cat shows such symptoms, timely isolation and treatment are necessary to prevent spreading the infection to other animals and people.