About Felines in Treatment (F.I.T.)

Dermatophyte (ringworm) is an infectious disease with zoonotic potential.  Humans can get ringworm, too.  Not many years ago, animals infected with dermatophyte (ringworm) were considered untreatable in a shelter setting and frequently were euthanized due to its highly contagious nature. At Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), that all changed in September 2003. Thanks to contributions of money and materials from Mounds Pet Food Warehouse and DVM Pharmaceuticals, a collaboration between DCHS and the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, and a team of volunteers dedicated to treating and caring for ringworm cats, the first ringworm treatment program was started at DCHS. 

See Dermatophyte Treatment in a Nutshell

The F.I.T. Center

The original treatment center, affectionately referred to as the “trailer,” became home to a nationally recognized program to treat felines with ringworm.  By 2010, the 1960s era single-wide trailer was approaching the end of its life.  It was inefficient for heating and cooling, lacked sufficient plumbing, and had numerous risks to the health and well-being of employees, volunteers, and felines in the program.

The replacement facility, unveiled in October 2010, is a 2000-square foot, single story, wood frame structure, built on a concrete slab and reffered to as the Felines in Treatment (F.I.T.) Center.  The facility is a quarantine zone completely isolated from the available animal population and also serves as the ringworm treatment facility.  There is adequate space for storage of supplies and equipment, as well as facility-specific HVAC, hot water, and electrical systems.

Within the facility, there are sufficient areas for the isolated treatment of ringworm and upper respiratory infections.  It is important to isolate both of these populations as cross-contamination is high risk.  There is also a separate room for animals returning for follow-up examinations after their treatment is complete.

Treatment Volunteers

Over 95% of the daily care and treatment of the felines in treatment is done by DCHS volunteers.  Amy, a dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer, shares that she and her husband “like working with the ringworm kitties because I know my time and care make a real difference in giving these cats a second chance. Often times the many sick cats we get in aren’t acting much like kitties. Within a few weeks of coming to the trailer with proper treatment and love, you can see them grow healthy again, gain weight, become playful and interested in the world again.”

Beth Rodgers, DCHS Animal Medical Services technician states, “What I like most about this program is the chance to work with some extremely dedicated volunteers. You can feel the love and dedication these people have. These volunteers treat the trailer cats as their own. Because of the length of treatment for felines in this program, volunteers forge strong bonds with the kittens and cats. Their actions truly reflect the DCHS mission of Helping People Help Animals.”

See Volunteer Opportunities

Happy Graduates

The lives of many kittens and cats have been saved through this program!