Why is my kitten's whisker area red and swollen? Is it ringworm?

Poor guy. Ringworm is not always infectious 100% of the time, and usually only infects pets and people that have a weakened immune system, so this could still very well be ringworm. However another possibility is that Roman has a mite issue causing the hair loss. Demodexx mites usually don't cause pruritis (itching) and create pinpoint areas of hair loss, which can later develop into secondary bacterial skin infections. I would recommend getting this area tested through your vet with a simple skin scrape/cytology and fungal culture (if needed) to determine the underlying cause. Once you know what is causing this then your vet can prescribe the correct medication(s) to treat it. Hopefully Roman gets some resolve for his skin condition soon. Best wishes.

I am sorry to hear about your kitten! I would recommend bringing her in for an exam at your vet. If the swelling is progressing tonight or she develops any difficulty breathing I would get her to the emergency vet. We could have swelling do to an allergic reaction from an insect bite or exposure to any other substance/plant (most of the time we don't see a mark/know the cause) but I would also want to check for things like an abscess or infected tooth causing swelling. It sounds like he may also have a mild upper respiratory infection (like us having a cold) that he has passed to the other cats. You can read more about this at https://www.petcoach.co/article/sneezing-and-feline-upper-respiratory-disease/

Yes. Especially with kittens, ringworm (which humans can get) and bacterial infections are common. It’s best to get a handle on this early. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

The hairloss area beneath the eye could certainly be a dermatophyte (ringworm) lesion, but it is also possible that it could be due to excessive tearing/discharge from the eyes that is resulting in irritation in the area. This could also be contributing to the nasal crusting. Upper respiratory infections (URI) are common in young kittens and can cause ocular (eye) discharge and nasal discharge, with intermittent sneezing and/or coughing. Ringworm lesions are typically itchy but not always. Be on the lookout for any additional hairless or crusting lesions to appear elsewhere on the body, and also if any similar lesions appear on any humans in contact with Rayder, as ringworm is highly contagious. It would be best to have him visit his veterinarian for a thorough physical examination to rule-out a potential URI and perform a dermatophyte culture if indicated.

Poor Cheese! The area does look irritated, however with ringworm it usually involves hairloss as it spread outward. Other causes of redness like this could include irritation from an allergy rubbing against something or eating it, or the beginning of an infection. I would have the spot checked out by Cheese's vet to rule out ringworm and infection anyway if it doesn't resolve, stays red, or begins to have hairloss.

Hi there. I would be very suspicious that those areas may be ringworm. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by a veterinarian. If they agree they will likely put him on an oral medication and possibly a medicated shampoo. Please practice good hygiene with this kitten as ring worm is contagious to people and other animals. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

My first guess from looking at the photos is that Sketch may have ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal infection and is contagious to people and other animals. Sketch should see a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.