Chronic upper respiratory infection affects many cats especially those from shelters, causing persistent nasal congestion, eye discharge, and reduced quality of life.
Cats with chronic upper respiratory infections experience persistent low-grade suffering through nasal congestion, reduced ability to smell and enjoy food, eye discomfort, and the recurring misery of flare-ups. Many affected cats are food-indifferent during episodes not from lack of hunger but because they literally cannot smell what is in their bowl. This leads to weight loss and nutritional deficits that worsen their overall health. Cats from shelter backgrounds are disproportionately affected, and many shelters lack the resources for individualized care of chronically infected residents. While herpesvirus cannot be eliminated, stress reduction through stable environments, enrichment, and medical management of flares substantially improves quality of life for these cats.