Since stress triggers herpesvirus reactivation in affected cats, environmental management to reduce stress is as important as antiviral treatment in long-term welfare management.
Managing herpesvirus-positive cats through stress reduction is a sophisticated welfare approach that goes beyond disease management to address the emotional wellbeing of the affected animal. A herpesvirus-positive cat who lives in a calm, stable, low-conflict environment may never experience a clinically significant flare-up despite lifelong viral latency. The same cat in a stressful environment — conflict with other cats, frequent household disruptions, high-stress owner interactions — may experience repeated painful flare-ups throughout its life. The causal link between psychological wellbeing and physical health is particularly direct in this condition.