Ringworm is very hard to diagnose unless it has the typical circular lesion look about it. It can appear different to that though so definitely get to a vet for a proper diagnosis. If you suspect ringworm, do not touch the areas, it is contagious by secondary contact and wash your hands thoroughly after touching them. I can't say if it is or isn't. A vet will have a much better idea with less obvious lesions.

Thank you, trancegemini_wa

We have an appt set up in a couple of days time.

I hope that is not what we are dealing with here, but if we are, I want to start treating this asap.

Keeping them quarantined until they start tx.

Hope others may chime in with more opinions/insight!

Sorry but gotta ask..........why were the kittens taken at such a young age? Something wrong with the mom or were they becoming feral?

Seems like you are seeing the vet Tuesday, right? Since you are anxious (and I don't blame you), if it would work for you, call the vet Monday and ask to be called in case of any cancellations. Hope it's something easily fixed.

Hello again!

annztoo: we were told the kittens were older, but upon meeting them they seemed younger (we didn't know) and when we brought them into a local pet store (caged) the staff there informed us that they were indeed younger then 8 weeks old.

One of them seems stronger/healthier than the other and eats better, but who knows.

They both have a brownish-yellow discoloration on their muzzles (we thought was dirt).

The mother is still alive, but the cats are semi-feral, I suppose. We received the kittens from an online ad posted and were told they were older (6-8 wks).

So, i'm worried now that these kittens are very sickly and the mother is rejecting them and now we're trying to fix this and figure it all out.

socks: we WERE seeing the vet Tuesday, or so I thought, but when I went to the 'pet hospital' and spoke with the staff, the soonest they said they could take us in was Sunday. So, now what...is what I am thinking...

I asked them about 'what if' ringworm and they said the usual course of tx is medication (Rx).

I asked what I could do for the kitties until we get seen and she said that we could treat them with Lamisil (anti-fungal cream).

So, I am NOT going to use that on them since the discoloration is on their face/muzzle area.

Also while I was bottle feeding one of them I noticed that their little gums look reddish/inflamed. There does not appear to be any actual yellowing inside their mouths.

What I did end up doing was purchasing a special spray that is stated to treat ringworm and other infections.

I also purchased an anti-flea tick shampoo that is supposedly safe for use on any cat ages (we may end up diluting it and just using a bit).

The vet tech also told me to 'not touch them' since ringworm is super contagious...and I said ''uh, but I have to feed them and care for them"...she said to limit my contact and wear gloves/wash hands.

Truth is, that myself, and family have already held these kitties for an entire day, so IDK what to think at this point??

I'm so upset and scared for them.

I'm also surprised at the lackadaisical attitude from the 'pet hospital' concerning these issues.

As a natural/home remedy we decided to go with coconut oil since it has antifungal/microbial properties and non-toxic.

So, there it is..

What was meant to be a joyous and celebratory experience, has quickly turned into something quite more complicated.

Thanks for the responses, and curious to know of any more feedback from other posters.

Wish us luck...:'(

"I asked what I could do for the kitties until we get seen and she said
that we could treat them with Lamisil (anti-fungal cream)."

That makes sense. I think lamisil is for tinea? and ringworm is a form of tinea that affects the body, same fungus. I would just avoid the nostrils and mouth. It either helps or it doesn't, depending on if it is ringworm. Ringworm though tends to itch a lot, are they rubbing their faces?

When I first got my puppy her beard was quite red. I think it was just from nursing on the mom, but it went away after her first grooming and probably would have gone away if I had bathed her sooner. It didn't cause any problems. I hope your kittens are just fine.

trancegemini_wa: I'd say, yes, they are rubbing their faces, but i've also noticed them itching their ears/face with their hind legs (at least one of them is).

So, you think it is 'safe' to use Lamisil? I just feel uneasy about using it since it is so close to their mouths.

Also, I'm not 100% sure that ringworm is what they have, but the discoloration is apparent, for sure.

That's why I wish we had an earlier appt....but I may call tomorrow and ask if they could contact me if there are any cancellations this week.

We'll see. Just stressful.

I spoke with my sister-in-law, who has several cats (as kittens, too) and she said that she had no known experience with ringworm, but that *if* that is what is going on, it can be cured. So, that is encouraging. She also said that if they were really ill that they wouldn't be eating so well.

I just feel so bad for my kitties and want them to be ok.

Poor babies!

Thank you, murraysmom!

It is good to hear that your pup ended up being just fine! :)

I hope my little kitties are ok, too! :)

"So, you think it is 'safe' to use Lamisil? I just feel uneasy about using it since it is so close to their mouths."

me personally, I would use the lamisil and just avoid the nostrils and mouth when applying it, also rub it in. If they are itchy it is possibly ringworm, but could also be an allergy or some other fungal problem, but definitely treatable! Ringworm can just be stubborn so sometimes you have to keep at it if it flares back up, but eventually you will get it.

I had a little dog that got it, I actually think she picked it up at the vet office, because soon after an appt she developed ringworm. About a week later, I actually developed a lesion too, which I caught from her. It was itchy as all get out! But on both my dog and me, it was the typical circular lesion on the body. I would give the lamisil a try, careful to avoid mouth and nose and see if it helps with the itching. If it does, it's likely ringworm or another type of fungal skin infection. If your kitten has ringworm and scratches it, they can easily spread it to other areas, like the ears from contact contamination. I would describe it as moderately contagious, not highly contagious, so even after a few contaminations, it can spread.

Thanks again trancegemini_wa!

Just signed back on the computer (it's been a busy day at my house, lol!)

So, what we did was bathe the kitties again, and applied the antimicrobial spray onto most of their fur (except the face), then we slathered coconut oil on their faces.

The kittens then took a nap, but upon waking up, they were super hungry and had hearty appetites!

So, maybe this regimen will help?!

Going to continue doing this until our appointment next Sunday, in hopes of improvement.

Spoke with a neighbor and told him of our dilemma, and he said that *if* we are dealing with fleas (also) we should just go ahead and give them a flea bath. I have shampoo for that, but held off on using it because I don't want to bombard their little bodies with too many chemicals at once. Maybe I will alternate which tx to use day-to-day in hopes of results.

Wish Sunday were tomorrow. Lol. Hope my kitties will be ok. Flying solo with caretaking duties tomorrow, which is going to be 'fun'. LOL.

Wish me luck and hope my kitties will be ok!

Thanks everyone for your advice/support!

I will update!

first of all, sure does NOT look like a skin fungus to me. Looks more like staining from food (milk and/or canned food, or maybe dirt). Ringworm, aka skin fungus, aka dermatophyte, usually causes hair loss on kittens, and NO, it is rarely itchy on kittens (it IS itchy on people, however)... so if you are seeing irregular patches of hair loss (and NO, it is rarely circular on cats... though it IS on people- on cats the hair loss, usually on ear tips, tops of feet and around parts of the face... though could be anywhere, is randomly shaped). It IS, highly contagious, though not just to people, but other cats and to dogs as well (have seen many families in which everyone, including the family dog, got skin fungus from the new kitten in the house)... however, it is NOT a very dangerous condition (not heard of any animals actually succumbing to a dermatophyte, though it can create a horrific mess throughout the family members). Very sickly pets can get sicker if they contract a dermatophyte, but to actually then die from it would probably be unlikely... maybe they could die from an addictive combination of skin fungus on top of a lot of other disease problems... so you should not worry about your kittens ultimate health due to a possible (but from what I can see in the photos, unlikely) case of ringworm. And, thankfully, on healthy pets, most dermatophytes from kittens (usually Microsporum canis) are self limiting... even if untreated, they usually go away eventually.... though there can be the potential of a lot of spores in the house/carpet/beds etc., which can remain a source of new infections for a long time (so vacuum well if this does indeed end up being ringworm).

I would be very cautious using anything topical other than Lyme Dip... most other topical treatments are pretty ineffective against dermatophytes, and potentially toxic to the patient. Lyme dip and/or oral medications is usually how we deal with kitten ringworm, at least on the kitten. You can get away with topical treatments on people, and sometimes on dogs if just small, focal infections... but not all that great on cats or kittens.

I do not have any medical input, however, a healthy appetite is ALWAYS an encouraging sign!

Volunteered at a feline shelter where we had a ringworm epidemic. Topical creams do not work. Strongly encourage you to see a feline specialty vet. Our epidemic was prolonged by initial misdiagnosis by a vet not experience in feline ringworm.

https://www.giveshelter.org/images/stories/Programs/Ringworm_Treatment/About_Us.pdf

Thank you palmbob, nannygoat18, and mdln!

So much information/insight!

Well, I'm now on the fence about it being ringworm and adding the possibility of mange.

It could really go either way based on the reading/videos I have read/seen.

We have a vet appt set for Sunday, but I am trying to help them out/make them comfortable in the meantime.

*IF* it is ringworm or mange, the tx will be similar (lyme sulfur dip) and possibly an antifungal medication given orally.

Also, from the videos i've watched, i'm clocking my kittens to be around 4 weeks old.

They are so tiny/babyish still. We are bottle-feeding them and they are so sleepy also.

I may just end up continuing with the baths and coconut oil until we get an official dx.

Another concerning issue is that they have yet to poop since being brought home (2nd night here, already). And it appears that one of them is straining to pee.

I'm so concerned that i'm considering just bringing them into a shelter since i'm worried about their underlying health.

I haven't slept right in days and even now, I should be sleeping! I just find myself reading up information and trying to figure out what is going on with them!

Their fur is so discolored and funky looking in the front.

I'll see if I can add more pics for extra opinons...

Thanks all for the help!

And how old?

socks: thank you so much!

Next Sunday, indeed. I was alarmed as well. I might end up doing as you suggested and see if anyone would be willing to see them sooner.

I am a little worried that maybe they will try and take them away from me (since I found them in an online ad).

The good news is that they are eating much better, and one of them pooped! I actually read up a bit and watched videos and it said that sometimes you need to stimulate their genitals to make them pee/poo...and I did, and it worked!

Maybe what is going on is just staining? They are very messy eaters and when they finish eating I wipe them down (around their muzzles) but the discoloration remains.

Maybe they are even younger than 4 weeks. I tried seeing if they would lap up kitty formula from tiny saucers (teeny amount) and they just walked over it....so i'm thinking they are still very young.

We didn't think we were taking on such young kittens, but now that they are here, and ours, we are doing what we can to make sure they grow up healthy and strong.

Just want my kitties to be ok!

Thanks everyone for the suport//advice~ so very appreciated!! :)

Also, wanted to ask if anyone knows...what cat breed are they??

As mentioned by someone above I would call another vet (look for a cat specialty clinic) and try to get them for a thorough checkup. Most vets would not put off seeing young kittens for so long.

Don't worry about someone taking them away from you since you're now their owners. Why the owners of the mother let them go at such a young age will remain a mystery...........but something could have happened to the mother......just hope she's ok!

They are definitely cute, look healthy, and are very young. I would guess less than 4 weeks of age. Like palmbob, I think you're dealing with some type of staining around the mouth, but even if it's some type of fungal infection that may have been on the mom's breast the vet will be able to treat it.

Since they're so young you'll have to be their mom for awhile longer. Frequent feeding, stimulation to help them go to the bathroom (warm wet rag helps) , bathing, and transition to solid food is now your job. ; ) You may have found it already, but here is a great web site.

annztoo: Thank you so much for your link and encouraging words! :)

I emailed a local cat vet and asked a bunch of questions relevant to my kitties' dilemma. Just waiting to hear back from them and I will probably call them tomorrow.

Tommorow AM is 'no good' for me, and their hours are limited that day, but maybe we could swing Wednesday if there is an opening.

Thursday afternoon will not be good either since I already have plans, so i'm hoping for Weds or Friday.

Yes, since the kittens are so young I have been feeding them practically around the clock 6-7x a day.

I don't have a scale, so not sure how to guesstimate how much they should be eating exactly? If anyone with expertise or knowledge firsthand could give me an idea, it would be appreciated. Currently, I feed them at the same time, and they eat until they get sleepy.

We did give them some solids today which they loved! But, we only plan on giving them solids 1x a day until we see how they do with it.

They also got their bath and spray/coconut oil.

That's what is going on at this moment in time. Right now they are napping with their other adoptive 'parent'. ;)

After my outing in the AM, I plan on calling around to see if anyone would be willing to help out/take the kitties in sooner (for a vet appt).

Also, wanted to say, as far as I know, the mother cat is alive and fine. IDK why they were adopted out so young???

Will update when I know more tomorrow.

Thanks, all!!!

Update:

Kitties both went to Cat Specialist and he examined them and determined that they appear healthy with no ringworm! Woo-hoo!

He said that they look to be about 3-4 weeks old and that soon they will be able to transition to eating soft foods.

No vax or anything else at this point, but both were given a preventative de-worming medication.

We have another appointment set up in a month, where they will get their vax and determine how they are growing etc.

Unfortunately, one of them was found to have an engorged tick on his body, so now I am concerned that there may be ticks in our house??

I forgot to ask if it would be safe to use an anti-tick/flea shampoo on them, but he said to bath them sparingly.

He said that the discoloration on their faces is probably from nursing from their mother or dirt, not entirely sure.

So, I do feel much better!!

He has been a Cat Specialist for 20 years, so I am going to trust that he knows what he is talking about, lol.

Thanks so much everyone for all of your advice and support! It is truly appreciated!

They both commended me for being such a good doting surrogate mother, and I thanked them kindly.

Such good news all around! :)

Here's to a happy and healthy future for my kitties!!

That is great news!! Thanks for the update. I'm glad it wasn't anything more serious. As for their being so young, I remember that long ago my niece had some kittens born in her shed to a feral mother. They took them away at about 4 weeks so that they could get use to people and be able to adopt them out. My mom took one and while he always thought he was human, he turned out ok!! :) I'm sure you feel tons better. They should be ok now!!

I would not use any flea or tick shampoo on the kitties. You shouldn't have ticks in the house as you probably have kept the babes in a box or basket. Kitties are not walking around yet! Glad to hear they got a good checkup, now they will start growing fast and you'll soon have double trouble on your hands (the good kind). We'd love a picture in a few weeks, and we all love hearing that you finally got help.

Wonderful update!

It's so reassuring that you have a good vet too:)

Thank you murraysmom, socks, and nannygoat18!

Yes! I am super thrilled that he said everything looked good!

I will update with pictures in a few weeks so everyone can see their growth. :)

We're so excited/happy/relieved!

Thank you thank you thank you for the support and advice!!!

The breed looks like Domestic Longhair. I'm glad you got in to see a vet and got the tick removed. YAY! They are super cute! We had loads of kittens when I was growing up. Handling them a lot socializes them. Getting them young is kind of cool.

When I was a kid "I" had ringworm. Got it from a kid at school. Hair loss, not discoloration. Think your past having to worry about that. Good news.

I wish you tons of love with these two! Your a good person to worry about them so much!

nicole_

Thank you so much for your kind words! :)

Yah, it has been stressful for sure, but they are littles so they need someone to watch over them.

Thankfully we got to get seen by a specialist, and so soon.

Sorry to hear that you had ringworm. :( From what i've read it's uncomfortable and unsightly, but no long term ill effects.

Looking forward to the weeks ahead with my kitties and to watch how they grow!

Thanks again, all and have a great day!!! :)

Garden Lover - How are the kittens doing?

You can stimulate/brush/pet them with a soft toothbrush; the bristles are something like a mother cat's rough tongue, & the kittens love it.

Ringworm is just a fungus & can be killed with a fungicide;

My vet uses Tinactin or a generic anti-fungal whenever she's exposed to ringworm, but I wouldn't use it on baby kittens.

Kitties are GREAT!

I have some pics to share of the l'il cuties sleeping.

Been checked by the vet, due for their next appt in a few weeks!

So far so good!

Thanks everyone for all the support and advice!

Will update as time moves on :)

Ok, I have a minute to tell more about the kitties.

They are growing and eating and playing and being just adorable!

As far as we can tell they are healthy, and happy!

Now eating soft wet food and some dry food (phew)!

They are litter trained, and full of energy.

I'd say their active time is early morning/late afternoon/evening into the night.

Generally, they snooze during the day, (which is fine because I can get stuff done and go out with my family).

Glad we got through the tiny kitten phase (as adorable as it was, it was also stressful).

So, that's what is going on in their world right now.

Next up, shots and then neutering (ouch!-lol)

Thanks again, all! :)

Also; wanted to add that they are about 7-8 weeks old!

Adorable!

It's evident that a lot of TLC made those pics possible:)

Thanks so much glaserberl and nannygoat18!

The kitties are such little kuties! ;)