Ringworm (dermatophytosis) is a highly contagious fungal skin infection that causes significant welfare challenges in shelter cat populations.
Ringworm welfare in shelter environments requires balancing the welfare needs of affected individual cats against the risk of outbreak that compromises the welfare of entire shelter populations. Isolation protocols that effectively contain spread require individual housing that denies affected cats social interaction, creating a welfare compromise. Treatment cycles of 4-6 weeks with repeated antifungal applications cause stress from frequent handling and medication. Shelter population welfare is best protected through early identification, strict infection control, and community foster care programmes that can provide treatment in home environments with less population-level risk. Human zoonotic risk must be managed alongside cat welfare throughout treatment.