Feline herpesvirus is among the most common causes of upper respiratory disease in cats, causing recurrent illness throughout life. Understanding the disease helps owners provide appropriate management.
Feline herpesvirus causes genuine suffering during active episodes — blocked nasal passages prevent cats from smelling their food (reducing appetite), eye discharge and corneal ulcers cause pain, and the combination of respiratory symptoms and anorexia rapidly deteriorates body condition in affected cats. Chronic low-grade infection causes persistent ocular and nasal symptoms that reduce quality of life. Management focuses on reducing stress (a primary trigger for recurrence), providing veterinary treatment during flares (antiviral eye drops for corneal involvement, antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections, appetite stimulants if needed), and ensuring vaccination limits severity. Multi-cat household stress management is essential for cats with recurrent disease.