Feline calicivirus causes oral ulceration, respiratory signs, and lameness in cats. Vaccination and welfare-supportive treatment manage this ubiquitous feline pathogen.
The oral ulceration caused by FCV is the dominant welfare concern in typical disease. Ulcers on the tongue, hard palate, and lips cause significant pain during eating, drinking, and grooming. Affected cats reduce food and water intake substantially, causing dehydration and negative energy balance that compound welfare harm. Many owners notice their cat is quiet and inappetent without recognizing the oral pain driving the behavioral change.
Oral pain assessment — examining the mouth for ulcers, assessing eating behavior, and observing pawing at the face — enables appropriate welfare intervention. Soft, palatable food; warming food to enhance palatability; and oral analgesic treatment all address the welfare burden of FCV-associated oral disease.