Ringworm (dermatophytosis) is the most common infectious skin disease in shelter cats. Effective management combines welfare-focused treatment with infection control to enable adoption.
Ringworm management in shelter cats is a welfare-critical issue that historically led to mass euthanasia of infected animals given the challenges of treatment in facility settings. Modern shelter medicine protocols have transformed the approach — ringworm ring protocols enable treatment in dedicated foster care settings where affected cats receive individual care while being socialized for adoption. This approach simultaneously improves cat welfare through treatment, advances socialization that improves adoption outcomes, and prevents shelter facility contamination. The welfare harm of ringworm includes skin discomfort, social isolation when cats are isolated for infection control, and the ultimate welfare harm of euthanasia when organizations do not have capacity for treatment. Effective ringworm programs require staff training, foster network development, and systematic decontamination protocols.