Feline herpesvirus type 1 is endemic in the cat population and causes recurring upper respiratory disease that significantly impacts welfare throughout a cat's life.
Cats with recurrent FHV-1 disease experience episodic suffering that spans their entire lifetime. Active rhinotracheitis causes nasal congestion so severe that cats lose their sense of smell — a critical driver of appetite — leading to anorexia and further immune compromise. Corneal ulcers from herpes keratitis are acutely painful, causing squinting, photophobia, and potentially permanent vision damage if untreated. The stress-triggered nature of reactivation means that stressful events — new pets, changes, illness — predictably cause herpes flares. Shelter environments with high stress levels amplify FHV-1 disease in ways that reduce shelter cat welfare significantly. Chronic nasal discharge and sneezing affect quality of life. Management involves stress reduction, antiviral treatment during flares, nutritional support during anorexic episodes, and proactive eye care.