Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye problems in cats, often associated with herpesvirus infection. Prompt treatment prevents chronic welfare compromise from ocular pain.
Conjunctivitis causes significant ocular discomfort from inflammation, discharge crusting the eyelids, and photophobia. Affected cats squint and paw at the eye, causing self-trauma that worsens the condition. The underlying herpesvirus cannot be eliminated, requiring management of flares as they occur. Lysine supplementation and stress reduction reduce recurrence frequency. Preventing exposure to herpesvirus through vaccination before first infection, and maintaining immune health in latently infected cats, minimises the welfare burden of recurrent disease.