Fungal Infection in Cats

Your cat can become infected three ways. The fungi can be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Fungal infections of the skin are more common in felines than generalized infections.

Fungal infections can affect cats as well as humans, and though there is a wide variety of fungi that exist in the environment, not all of them can affect your cat’s health. The first case of fungal infections in felines was reported in the early 1950s. These types of infections can make your cat very sick and in some cases, they can be life-threatening.

The symptoms associated with fungal infections in cats depend on the type of infection. Here are some of the most common symptoms seen in felines with these types of infections:

• Weight loss
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty breathing
• Lesions on the skin
• Eye problems
• Lung infections
• Bladder infections
• Cysts underneath the skin
• Bloody discharge in the nose
• Sneezing
• Swelling under the bridge of the nose
• Seizures
• Circling
• Blindness
• Paralysis
• Anemia
• Diarrhea
• Depression
• Cough
• Intolerance to physical activity

Types

While there are many different types of fungi in the environment that can affect your cat’s health, some are more often seen than others. Below is a list of some of the most commonly seen fungal infections in domestic cats:

• Rhinosporidiosis
• Mycetomas
• North American Blastomycosis
• Histoplasmosis
• Cryptococcosis
• Candidiasis
• Coccidioidomycosis
• Aspergillosis
• Sporotrichosis
• Phaeohyphomycosis

Disease-causing fungi exist in many different areas of the environment. Your cat can come into contact with them in a variety of ways. The following is a list of some of the most common causes of fungal infections:

• Exposure to animals with an existing fungal infection
• Cats that have immunosuppressive diseases are at greater risk of fungal infections
• Wounds on the skin provide a gateway for fungi
• Exposure to fungi in the soil
• Inhaling fungi
• Exposure to fungi in the feces of infected animals

Since some fungal infections are rare, it is not always easy to diagnose them. Your veterinarian will begin by asking you some questions about your cat’s health. Be sure to include any pertinent information such as the date of symptom onset and any pre-existing medical conditions your cat may have. Your doctor will examine your cat and draw blood for laboratory tests. A complete blood count or CBC, chemical blood profile and a urinalysis will be performed. 

In some cases, your doctor may want to take a tissue sample to obtain a diagnosis. This is typically done during surgery, while your cat is under anesthesia. The tissue sample is sent to a laboratory for diagnosis.

The treatment of fungal infections in felines depends on the type of fungi causing the problem. Your doctor may hospitalize your cat if he finds an infection that can be transmitted to humans. This is done to reduce the risk of infection to the owner. If you take your cat home, your doctor may instruct you on how to prevent infection. This usually includes wearing gloves and a mask when handling your cat and while changing cat litter. 

Fungal infections of the skin are often treated with topical ointments and anti-fungal medications. If your cat has lesions on the skin or inside his nose, your doctor may remove them. In some cases, secondary infections accompany fungi, so your doctor will address these as necessary with medications and IV fluids if necessary. Treatment for fungal infections can take several weeks before improvement is seen. 

The overall outlook for your cat will depend on the type of fungal infection he has. Some infections clear up with medication, while others can have long-lasting health effects. To prevent recurrent infection and reduce the risk to yourself and other animals in your household, it is important to determine the source of fungi if possible. 

After your cat’s initial treatment, your doctor will want to examine your cat every 2 weeks for a period of time. It is important to attend all follow-up appointments to be sure your cat is not having a relapse. If your cat is on medication, your doctor may perform tests to check his liver enzymes. He may also change your cat’s medicine if no improvement is seen in a month or so. It is important to report any changes in your cat’s appearance or behavior to your doctor promptly. 

There are some fungal infections that can make your cat very sick. These infections can require long-term medications that can become expensive. Certain infections can cause lesions to develop and return even after surgical intervention. Some serious fungal infections such as North American Blastomycosis can cause severe neurological symptoms. In these cases, your doctor may recommend euthanasia as the best course of treatment. Although rare, this infection can also cause sudden death in cats.