Chronic upper respiratory disease from herpesvirus and calicivirus causes persistent discomfort in shelter cats and recently rehomed animals, with welfare management requiring lifelong care.
Cats with chronic upper respiratory disease experience recurring episodes of discomfort that reduce quality of life significantly. Nasal discharge and congestion impair the sense of smell, which is critical for cat welfare as smell mediates appetite, social interaction, and environmental assessment. Reduced olfaction causes appetite reduction and associated weight loss. Oral ulceration from calicivirus is acutely painful and makes eating difficult and uncomfortable. Recurrent episodes cause cumulative welfare costs, with each stress trigger leading to relapse. Shelter environments exacerbate the condition by causing the stress that triggers reactivation of latent herpesvirus.