Cat sporotrichosis (sporo): signs and care

Sporotrichosis, called sporo or sporo kucing in Malaysia, is a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii. Studies of Malaysian cats point to one clonal strain, known as clade D, as the main cause. Look for firm lumps that break open into wounds which ooze and do not heal, most often on the head, the bridge of the nose and the ears. Some cats also sneeze. Sporo is not ringworm (kurap): ringworm causes dry, scaly bald patches, while sporo causes open wounds. Cats carry large numbers of the fungus in their wounds and on their claws, so it spreads to people mainly through scratches, bites and contact with wound discharge. A vet confirms it with a sample from a wound, then treats it with oral itraconazole for months, until at least a month after the wounds look healed. Wear gloves when handling a cat with open wounds, and keep it away from other cats.

This is general information from a grooming and boarding team, not veterinary advice. If you think your cat has sporo, see a vet. If you have a lump or a wound on your own skin that does not heal, see a doctor.

What does sporo look like on a cat?

• Firm lumps under the skin, about 1 to 3 cm across, often starting where the cat was scratched or bitten.
• Open wounds when the lumps break open, oozing a watery or bloody discharge and not healing.
• Head and face first, especially the bridge of the nose and the ears. Lumps can also appear on the chin and paws.
• New lumps nearby as the infection spreads along the lymph vessels under the skin.
• Sneezing or breathing signs in some cats, and fever, tiredness or low mood when the disease has gone on for a while.

In rare cases the fungus spreads inside the body to the lungs, bones or other organs, which can be fatal. This is more likely when sporo is left untreated or wrongly treated with steroids, so a non-healing wound on a cat's face needs a vet, not a home remedy.

Is it sporo or kurap?

Owners often mistake sporo for kurap (ringworm) because both are fungal skin infections. They look different and are treated differently.

	Sporo (sporotrichosis)	Kurap (ringworm)
Cause	Sporothrix schenckii fungus	Mostly Microsporum canis fungus
What you see	Lumps that break open into oozing wounds	Round or uneven bald patches with grey, scaly skin and broken hairs
Where on the cat	Head, bridge of the nose, ears	Head, ears, face, front legs
Open wounds	Yes, they do not heal on their own	Usually not
How people catch it	Scratches, bites, contact with wound discharge	Touch, and spores on hair and bedding
In people	Lumps or ulcers, usually on the hand or arm	Itchy red ring
Treatment	Oral itraconazole for months	Oral antifungal plus medicated baths or dips, six weeks or more

Only a vet can confirm which one a cat has. Our guide to cat ringworm covers kurap in detail.

How does a vet confirm sporotrichosis?

Cats with sporo carry far more of the fungus in their wounds than other animals, so the test is often quick:

1. Cytology: the vet presses a slide on a wound or takes a needle sample and looks for the fungus under a microscope. This is the main test in cats.
2. Fungal culture: a sample from an unopened lump is grown in a lab to identify the fungus.
3. Biopsy or PCR: a small piece of tissue is examined, or tested for the fungus's DNA. In the Kedah study of human patients, PCR detected the fungus more often than culture.

The fungus can look like other fungal infections under the microscope, so vets sometimes combine tests.

What is the treatment for sporo in cats?

• Oral itraconazole is the treatment of choice, prescribed and dosed by your vet by the cat's weight.
• Treatment continues for at least a month after the wounds look healed. Cats often need many months, and the MSD Veterinary Manual notes some need more than 12. Stopping when the wounds close is a common reason sporo comes back.
• Other medicines such as terbinafine, or potassium iodide added to itraconazole, are used for some cats. Cats are especially sensitive to iodide poisoning, so only give these under a vet's care.
• Start early. Early treatment reduces the amount of fungus in the wounds, which also lowers the risk to people in the house.

Treatment can fail in some cats, so go back for every check-up your vet asks for. Do not put steroid creams or home remedies on the wounds. Steroids can help the infection spread.

Can people catch sporo from cats?

Yes. Cats are the main source of sporo in people in Malaysia, and they spread it mainly through scratches, bites and contact with discharge from their wounds. Cats groom their faces with their front paws, so their claws are often coated with the fungus. The MSD Veterinary Manual also notes cat-to-human spread without any visible wound.

In a study of 29 patients at public hospitals in Kedah, 79% had pet cats and 48% remembered a minor scratch or injury from a cat. Lumps and ulcers were the main signs, and 94% were on the arms or hands. Most patients cleared it with 4 months of itraconazole. A Malaysian eye hospital also reported six cases of sporo in the eye, four of them in people who had handled sick cats.

• Wear gloves and long sleeves to hold the cat, give medicine or clean wounds.
• Wash your hands afterwards, and do not touch your eyes or face first.
• See a doctor for any lump or wound on your own skin that does not heal, and tell them you have a cat with sporo.

How do I care for a cat with sporo at home?

• Keep the cat indoors and away from other cats. Sporo can pass between cats through fighting, play and close contact.
• Give every dose your vet prescribes, at the same time each day, until the vet says to stop.
• Protect yourself with gloves when you handle the cat. If the cat sneezes and has many wounds, a face mask and eye protection add protection.
• Clean the cat's bed, carrier and the places it rests, using a disinfectant your vet recommends.
• Watch the wounds and tell your vet if they grow, new lumps appear, or the cat stops eating.

Can a cat with sporo be groomed or go to a pet hotel?

Not while it has open wounds or is still being treated. The fungus spreads through scratches and wound discharge, and a groom or a hotel stay puts groomers and other cats at risk. Grooming and bathing also do not treat sporo. PGH asks owners to tell us about skin problems before a grooming appointment, and may decline a pet that shows signs of illness at hotel check-in. Once your vet confirms your cat has recovered, book as normal.

For a vet near us, see vet clinics in Subang Jaya and USJ or government vet clinics in Selangor. For grooming, see cat grooming. PGH is in USJ 21, Subang Jaya: how to get here.