Jules' Ringworm recovery
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The cat had the kittens, 5 total, one died (female), and there were 2 females and 2 males left. One of the males was the runt and last to be born, and already had his points!! Seal pointed. The others had no points, they were a cream color. Sure enough, the one with the points was a male.

I would visit this litter almost every day during the week, so I could get to know them all. 3 of them would hiss at me even with their eyes still closed, only cause of my scent. But this seal point didn't do that either.

At age 15 days the eyes were opened, and I went to visit them again. I just talked to them, nothing else, they all ignored me, except for this seal point.. He stopped, backed up to sit down, and sat to listen to me. All I saw were these pretty blue eyes, listening to whatever I said. He was the kit I didn't want, I wanted the lighter colored ones. As time went on, the lighter ones got points, the females were blue, and the male was getting seal points like his brother.

At age 4 weeks, the runts tail was starting to look a bit ratty, and the rest of his coat was looking bad as well. I started getting this rash on my neck, this was from the first time I held him, age 4 weeks. As the condition worsened, she took the kit to the dr. and the Dr. was incompetent, never diagnosing the problem. He gave her lyme dip, and that was it.

By this time, I knew there was something tied to my rash on my neck and left arm and this kits problem,which got progressively worse. I was attached to this "ugly" cat, even my friend didn't want me to take him nor did my DH. But I was determined. I knew this kit picked me, and I had a change of heart and took him home.

I let my dogs sniff his little face when I brought him home, and then placed him in the bathroom, with all his supplies, so not to upset Tiara. This was a Saturday, and I had made an appointment for Monday. I bring the kit in on Monday, and the vet diagnosed both of us, via woods lamp (like a black light), and took a hair culture to be sure. We had ringworm. Had what little hair left on this kit, shaved off.. Most of his body was covered with ringworm and I felt so repulsed, I couldn't even look this kit in the eye. I took him home with cremes, and got some vaginal creme for me and the kit to use. Between the vaginal creme and the spray, Jules was coming around, but not before my dogs each got a tiny spot, then Tiara got 2, one was the size of a silver dollar between her shoulders. I had her shaved - a lion cut, let me tell you that she lost 20 percent of her body weight, she was so stressed out from the haircut. She was below 4 pounds. Awful

Poor Jules, couldn't be a kitten as he was so uncomfy with the cremes all over him as well as medicated baths, everyday. He was way too young for internal meds.

I then did my research. I had to keep all separated from Jules, so the dogs lived in their room, Tiara was in my bed room, and Jules was in the bathroom. When I would let the dogs out, I would then have to wash the floors with bleach and water, then vacuum, then would let Tiara out and did the same thing again to let Jules out, and the cycle continued for months. The whole summer of 99. It was very stressful on all of us. I felt I couldn't leave the house, and did all I could to keep everyone happy. Got to a point that my one dog was so stressed, he went to bite me. During this time, both cats were also getting medicated baths every day.

September rolls around, and Jules was getting better... much better, and so was I... we both had cleared up, had more hair cultures done, and they came up negative.. Yippee! I thought we were done, nope - research bears this out, spores live in the environment for 18 months.

Ok, so now October rolls around, and I see Jules skin start crawling again, and was able to see it back again.. Called the vet and told him I wanted Jules on internal meds this time. He was put on the guiseofluvin . Half tablet twice a day for a few weeks. In the meantime, I decided I was no longer going to separate the crew. I found a small black light and brought it home, for future use. All was better with Jules again. Then November, the ringworm came back, ok so back on the meds, and we had him tested for all the cat illnesses.. all negative.

November 99 comes along and my friend gave me Precious to take home, to be honest with you, I wanted that little cat, so I said I'll take her, and it was a birthday gift.. Amazingly enough, Precious never did get ringworm.

All is well till late December 99..noticed his hair out in chunks once again, under the black light, and there it was again! The florescent green indicative of ringworm. I called the vet who now decided to call the U of GA to find out what else can be done.. In the meantime, I found out about the ringworm vaccine, but the vet really didn't want to use it.. It was recommended that I put Jules on Sporanox, a human med for fungus of nails. He was to take this once a day for 42 days. It was a 21 day supply for humans in a capsule with granules inside. 160 dollars worth of medication. Jules was to get half each day.

So now we are done with the sporanox.. Come early March, it started again.. I called the vet and TOLD him - I want the vaccine NOW. Turns out the office didn't want to spend the money on the full tray, 174.00 dollars (can't order half trays) so I told him I would pay for the full tray, and I'll take it home or donate it. He offered to vaccinate them for free.

This vaccine is given in a series of 3 within a six week period. All three cats have been vaccinated.. After the first vaccine, Precious got a bit of ringworm, a spot on her back leg, the size of a nickel.. I was so glad to see it, it was a good sign that the vaccine was working.

Since this over 2 thousand dollar episode, everyone here is just fine.. we are finally over it.

- Terri