Feline herpes, also known as FVR (feline viral rhinotracheitis), feline influenza and feline coryza is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract in cats, caused by a feline variant of the herpesviridae virus. Because feline herpes is often fatal for kittens and dangerous to the health of older cats it's important to know the early warning signs and get treatment as soon as possible.

Feline herpes affects the upper respiratory tract, which means that if your cat has been affected they will start to show symptoms in the eyes, nose and mouth. This may be coughing, hacking and wheezing, as well as nasal discharge, sinusitis (swollen sinuses) and excessive sneezing. Their eyes may develop conjunctivitis; an itchy condition which produces a lot of thick, yellowy discharge and makes the eyes inflamed and red. This should be treated with cotton wool soaked in warm water so that you can remove the discharge and keep the cat's eyes from sticking shut. Your cat is also likely to lose their appetite and become lethargic. If they are pregnant FVR can cause spontaneous abortion, so if you suspect it could be this then it's best to book an appointment with a vet as soon as possible. If they develop a fever and the symptoms continue for longer than a week then this can be indicative of a more serious infection that will not go away on its own.

A veterinary appointment should be booked for your cat at the onset of the first feline herpes symptoms. Do make sure that you call up to book for the appointment though, and always tell them that you think it could be FVR. They may ask you to stay at home and the vet will visit, rather than taking your cat to the clinic and risking the spread of the disease to other healthy cats.

Feline herpes can cause ulceration and tearing of the cornea. This means it is a threat to a cat's sight and should never simply be left. If you think you have noticed early signs of feline herpes in your cat then get them diagnosed and treated immediately. It's imperative that you don't put them in a cattery or let them come into contact with other cats as this virus spreads incredibly easily and is very dangerous. If can also affect any species of cat, so don't think that your neighbor's Bengal will be safe from your Persian's virus.

If you have a cat suffering from the feline herpes virus but you have other cats that are otherwise healthy it's important to take them to the vet too. They can have a feline herpes vaccine which won't protect them from developing the disease completely, but will tone down the severity of symptoms and will stop the virus reproducing as much (thus reducing the time a cat experiences symptoms). The key to your cats health if they contract feline herpes is to keep an eye on the progression of their symptoms and act fast.

Stan Tian

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