Companion Animals

Companion Cat Herpesvirus Respiratory Disease

Feline herpesvirus is a permanent infection that causes recurrent upper respiratory disease triggered by stress, requiring lifelong management.

Key Facts

Feline herpesvirus infects approximately 97% of cats worldwide
Primary infection causes severe conjunctivitis and upper respiratory signs
Stress triggers recurrent episodes including eye ulceration and nasal discharge
Lysine supplementation and stress reduction help manage recurrent episodes

Welfare Considerations

Herpesvirus recurrences cause painful eye and respiratory disease that significantly impairs quality of life. Episodes may persist for weeks during stressful periods. Identifying and reducing individual cat stress triggers can substantially reduce the frequency of welfare-impairing recurrences.

What You Can Do

Minimize stress triggers for cats with recurrent herpesvirus episodes
Provide stable routine and environmental predictability for affected cats
Discuss lysine supplementation and antiviral options with your vet
Maintain isolation from new cats during active infections