Cat Feline Herpesvirus: Lifelong Management

Feline herpesvirus type 1 establishes lifelong latency in cats, causing recurrent respiratory and ocular disease that requires ongoing management.

Key Facts

Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) infects over 90% of cats, establishing latency in the trigeminal ganglion
Stress causes viral reactivation and shedding, triggering recurrent respiratory and ocular disease
Ulcerative keratitis (corneal ulcers) from FHV-1 causes significant eye pain and can cause corneal scarring
L-lysine supplementation was previously recommended but controlled trials show no significant benefit
Antiviral treatment with famciclovir provides meaningful clinical benefit for active FHV-1 disease
Stress reduction is the most important long-term management strategy for latently infected cats

Welfare Considerations

FHV-1 establishes permanent infection, making management rather than cure the welfare goal. Active herpesvirus flare-ups cause conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, corneal ulceration, and systemic malaise. Corneal ulcers in particular are painful - affected cats squint, tear excessively, and show photosensitivity. The connection between stress and reactivation means that stressful events - new animals, household changes, veterinary visits - reliably trigger welfare-significant disease in susceptible cats. Antiviral therapy with famciclovir significantly reduces severity and duration of active disease. The long-held belief that lysine supplementation reduces FHV-1 recurrence has been disproven; resources previously directed toward lysine are better used for stress reduction and antiviral treatment.

What You Can Do

Minimize stress for FHV-1-positive cats: stable routines, secure spaces, careful introduction of changes
Seek veterinary treatment with famciclovir for active herpesvirus disease - it significantly reduces severity
Discontinue lysine supplementation if used - evidence does not support its efficacy
Apply topical ophthalmic antiviral drops (idoxuridine, cidofovir) for corneal ulceration under vet guidance
Use gabapentin for stress reduction during unavoidable stressful events in herpesvirus-prone cats
Vaccinate against FHV-1 - vaccination reduces severity even though it does not prevent all infection