The only one of concern in the context of this article is ringworm. Ringworm Ringworm is probably the most common zoonosis of cats. Vets who treat ringwormy cats are used to seeing owners with red, scaly, itchy patches of skin. Some strains do not fluoresce and must be cultured in the laboratory to provide a diagnosis. It is a nuisance to eradicate from a household because of fungal spores.
Human treatment is usually by anti-fungal creams.
The human version is probably frequently dismissed as eczema by cat owners and left untreated. As with other skin diseases, the red scaly circular patches may be itchy and continued scratching may cause scarring. However, some cat breeders now routinely dose their cats on antibiotics in an attempt to reduce disease in the cattery. This is leading to an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Since some of these germs can also infect humans, it is wise to observe basic hygiene precautions when handling cats with conjunctivitis.