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What's this raised, round bald spot on my cat's armpit? Ringworm?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | unspayed | 11 months and 29 days old | 7 lbs

I just found a spot on missing fur I'm my cats front upper armpit. It actually looks like it was shaved. It is a almost perfect round spot and it is humped up some. I am thinking it is ringworm but not sure. If you can look at the pictures I have attached I would be very grateful. Thank you

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on October 27th, 2018

That could be a ringworm patch on Tinsel. Unfortunately without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. Don't touch it, as ringworm is highly contagious to humans as well. Have her seen by a vet on Monday who can confirm if she has ringworm and can prescribe an oral anti-fungal medication. If she does has ringworm, you will have to disinfect your home because the spores can live in it up to 18 months. I will put a link below on how to do this. I hope this helps! http://www.livestrong.com/article/49666-rid-home-ringworm/

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 11th, 2017

    I am sorry to hear about Luna. A photo of the area may be helpful to give us a better idea. We would worry about things like bacterial infection secondary to allergy, irritation due to topical flea medication if you use a spot-on product, or potentially a fungal infection called ringworm. I would recommend an examination by her vet to check the area. They may recommend testing such as cytology to look for bacteria or yeast, or a fungal culture to check for ringworm. Treatment may vary based on cause and could include topical medications, oral medications or injections.

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    Answered By Dr. B. DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 11th, 2019

    I would be most worried about ringworm, given both cats are affected. But, it could also be fleas, other parasites, allergy, or secondary infection. Given that ringworm can be passed to humans it would be best to have both cats evaluated by your vet. They can assess for multiple causes of skin lesions and give you a treatment plan. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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