Companion Animals

Cat Feline Herpesvirus Management

Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) causes recurrent upper respiratory symptoms in cats and requires management focused on reducing stress-triggered reactivation.

Key Facts

FHV-1 establishes lifelong latency in trigeminal ganglia after initial infection
Reactivation is triggered by stress, immunosuppression and concurrent illness
Signs include sneezing, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge and corneal ulceration
L-lysine supplementation reduces viral replication and severity in many affected cats
Antiviral famciclovir achieves good clinical response in severe cases

Welfare Considerations

FHV-1 management centres on stress reduction and antiviral support during reactivation. Identifying and managing stress triggers prevents recurrent episodes and improves long-term welfare.

What You Can Do

Reduce psychosocial stress for FHV-1 positive cats through environmental management
Provide L-lysine supplementation for recurrent FHV-1 affected cats
Request famciclovir from your vet for severe FHV-1 reactivation episodes