Upper respiratory infections are endemic in many cat shelters, causing significant welfare problems and impeding adoption, but effective protocols can substantially reduce prevalence.
Upper respiratory infections cause ocular discharge, nasal congestion, mouth ulcers, and loss of smell that profoundly impairs eating and wellbeing. In shelters, the stress of admission combined with high pathogen pressure creates significant welfare challenges. Evidence-based shelter medicine protocols including individual housing, stress reduction, vaccination on admission, and rapid treatment initiation substantially reduce URI prevalence and severity.