Feline fungi infection is much different than both bacterial of viral infections in several ways. Fungi are much larger and are plant like organisms except they lack chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is the substance that converts sunlight into energy and as a result turns plants green.
Lacking this, fungi must find other ways to make their own food sources by absorbing food from whatever they are growing on.
All fungi need some type of an existing matter for food and there are two basic types of fungus, saprotrophs and parasites.
A saprotroph feeds off of dead organic matter and a parasite feeds off of living organisms.
However, there are species of fungi that feed off both as have they have the ability to adapt depending on what type of food source there is available.
Fungi structure is identified by their cell walls, as most will contain a substance referred to as chitin.
Chitin is not found in plants, but rather it is found in crabs and mollusks.
Most fungi will have multiple cells with the exception of yeast.
However, there is one common characteristic in fungi and bacteria, in that they both have ribosomes. However, in fungi, they reproduce much differently.
Fungi reproduces by four different processes; budding, fragmentation, or production of spores sexually or asexually.
Budding occurs in yeast, fragmentation is where it breaks off and starts to grow on something else, and the other two types is a process where single cells are produced by fungi.
These cells can remain dormant for long periods of time and are extremely resistant to the environment.
But what makes fungi especially dangerous to your cat is that they secrete digestive enzymes and as a result absorb nutrients for what even they are growing on.
As a result, they can cause a lot of problems when they absorb nutrients on these living organisms and may cause feline fungi infection.
These spores are in most all cases breathed in by your cat or they have contact with your cat’s skin. In some cases they may be digested.
When this happens, disease is usually the result. The following are type of Feline fungus infection that may affect your cat.
This feline fungi infection is also known as valley fever and is found primarily if the Southwestern U. S., Mexico, and Central America.
It lives in the soil and has to have unique conditions to grow. It must have very sandy alkaline soil, very hot temperatures, low rainfall, and low elevations.
It thrives in the desert as a result. Your cat can catch this infection simply by sniffing the ground and inhaling the spores.
Once inhaled, the infection starts to from. It takes about two to three weeks to develop before the symptoms start. The first sign that your cat has this infection will be skin lesions.
As it progresses, these lesions will drain. Fever, a loss of weight and appetite will shortly follow.
Unlike dogs, cats have somewhat of immunity to this infection, but if enough of the spores have been inhaled, it can cause respiratory problems.
Treatment for this infection will be with anti-fungal agents and are usually very effective.
There is no vaccination for this infection.
This feline fungi infection is perhaps the best known of all fungi infections and is also the most common.
Transmission of this infection is usually caused by direct contact with the spores that live and thrive in hot and humid environments worldwide.
What is especially dangerous about this infection is that cats can easily be carriers and yet show no symptoms.
Most cats’ immune systems are strong enough to fight off the infection, and it is most common in kittens and older cats.
However, cats with a suppressed or weakened immune system are also at a very high risk.
Persian cats have a heredity disorder that also makes them very susceptible to ringworm's.
The spores from the fungi can be left by an infected cat on their beds or furniture, as well as anything else they come in contact with.
The first symptom of this infection is almost always skin lesions.
These lesions will have very scaly skin in the center of the lesion, and small pustules are often found in conjunction with the lesions.
In most cases, these lesions are generalized and will appear on the head, ear, or the tail.
If the fungi infection is severe, your cat will break out throughout their entire body.
Once this happens, their hair coat will become very scaly and greasy. Hair loss will also occur, depending on the severity.
Treatment for ringworm's will depend on the severity of the infection. In healthy cats, a topical anti-fungal cream is used, but in severe cases a combination of oral and topical treatments will be administered.
A well-built immune system in your cat will generally fight off this infection.
This is a systematic feline fungi infection meaning that the fungi have entered into your pet’s body. This is the second most common form of fungi infections in cats.
This particular fungi grows is soil that is rich in bird or bat feces and is found predominately in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys.
This infection can be caused by inhaling or by ingesting the spores. Once it has been ingested, it grows inside of your cats cells and will attack both the respiratory and the digestive systems.
Symptoms usually start out as a cough which may develop into trouble breathing if it affects the respiratory system.
If it affects the digestive system, your cat will develop diarrhea. In severe cases in can cause hepatitis and neurological diseases.
Treatment will again be with anti-fungal drugs. The respiratory infection usually clears up naturally over time, but the digestive form will need to be treated. There is no vaccination for this infection.
Your cat’s immune system can usually fight off most feline fungi infection, but it can also be overrun if weak or compromised.
However, there are supplements as well as natural remedies to help your cat with these infections.
Zinc is a natural fungi supplement that helps to increase your cat’s immune system to fungi.
Vitamins A, C, and E all help in building your cats system and are especially helpful with their skin.
There are also several herbs that will help to protect your cat such as myrrh and the oil of caster beans.
There are virtually no side effects and when used as supplements they will very quickly eliminate most all cases of fungi infections.
Tea tree oil is also extremely effective as a topical ointment. It will be very soothing to your cat and four to five drops in water creates a natural anti-fungal and is a lot cheaper than most medicated creams.
Unlike bacterial and viral infections, feline fungi infection is not life threatening in most cases unless very severe.
However, they can be very discomforting to your cat and building there immune system with nutrients and herbs is a very inexpensive way to protect your cat from feline fungi infection.