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My new kitten has ringworm. How to clean my home & prevent infection?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | unspayed | 4 months and 2 days old

I'm in the process of adopting a kitten and just found out she has ringworm. I would rather bring her home than wait another 3 weeks to adopt her, but I am not certain if I would be able to contain the infection. I live in a fully carpeted 1 bedroom apartment with no other pets. What is my best option for keeping my home clean without making her absolutely miserable? The doctor is willing to let me take her home with the medication and shampoo but I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on September 28th, 2017

Congratulations on your upcoming adoption of Daisy! Since you have no other pets and she has not already contaminated your apartment, keeping her contained to a small and easily cleaned area - such as a bathroom - would be ideal. It is recommended to use a diluted bleach solution to clean the infected room 1-2 times per week to prevent reinfection. Treatment for ringworm can last several months and should be continued until she has had three negative fungal cultures. It sounds as though Daisy has been well cared for with respect to her treatment, and it may just take a bit of tough love on your part to keep her confined to the bathroom for at least the next few weeks. Here is a bit of additional reading regarding ringworm: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=559 I hope this helps and that all goes well! Enjoy your new kitten! :-)

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