You may know someone in your life who tends to get cold sores when they’re sick or stressed. This is a human form of herpesvirus. What you may not know is that your kitten can have a feline form of herpesvirus that causes them to have recurrent cold symptoms in times of stress. Though these herpesviruses can’t pass between humans and cats, they have the similar pattern of remaining latent until the host experiences stress. Both us and our cats are infected with our respective herpesviruses for life.
What is feline herpesvirus?
The virus in cats is called feline herpesvirus type-1 (FHV-1) or feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR). This may sound familiar to you because FVR is included in your cat’s recommended vaccines. While the vaccine may not fully prevent infection, it can reduce severity and recurrence of herpes symptoms.
Symptoms of herpes in young cats
Symptoms of herpesvirus in cats include:
- Sneezing
- Discharge from the eyes and/or nose
- Conjunctivitis (swelling of pink tissues around the eyes)
- Excessive blinking or squinting
- Nasal congestion
- Corneal ulcers
- Fever
- Poor appetite
Management of herpes in young cats
Most herpesvirus flare-ups will resolve over time, but secondary infections can develop. Infection in the eye may be managed with topical treatments. Some cats may benefit from oral antibiotics. Cats who get frequent or severe infections may be put on antiviral eye drops or antiviral oral medications. Your veterinarian may also recommend probiotics to help your cat recover faster.
Preventing herpes flare-ups in times of stress
Your cat is most likely to experience herpes recurrence during times of stress, such as moving to a new home, a baby joining the family or a new pet moving into the home. To reduce your cat’s risk of herpes recurrence, try to make changes to the home slowly when possible. Make sure you have planned, safe and low-stress introductions to children and other animals. You can also consider short-term anxiety medications and pheromone sprays or diffusers to help reduce stress and anxiety.
Find out more about how herpes can affect your cat’s eyes.
