Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis: Understanding the Cat Herpesvirus

In this guide

Feline viral rhinotracheitis, caused by feline herpesvirus type one, is one of the two viruses behind the vast majority of feline upper respiratory infections. It has a few features that make it worth understanding on its own, particularly its tendency to stay with a cat for life.

How common it is

Nearly every pet cat will be exposed to this virus at some point, and the majority who are infected go on to carry it for life, even after their initial symptoms resolve. The virus settles into a dormant state within nerve tissue and can reactivate later, particularly during periods of stress, illness, or immune suppression, which is why a cat that seemed to fully recover years ago can suddenly develop symptoms again.

Symptoms

• Sneezing and nasal congestion
• Discharge from the eyes and nose, ranging from clear to thick and coloured
• Conjunctivitis, with this virus being the single most common cause of feline conjunctivitis
• Squinting or excessive blinking
• In more severe or chronic cases, corneal ulcers and scarring, which can affect vision if repeated flare ups go untreated

Typical course of illness

In an otherwise healthy adult cat, symptoms often start clearing within five to ten days. Kittens, senior cats, and cats with a weaker immune system can take much longer, sometimes six weeks or more, and are more likely to need intensive supportive care such as fluids and nutritional support if they stop eating.

Managing a lifelong carrier

There is no cure that removes the virus once a cat is infected, so management focuses on reducing flare ups and supporting the immune system. Minimising stress at home, keeping vaccinations current, and maintaining good overall health all help reduce how often symptoms return. Common real world triggers worth watching for include boarding over a holiday, the noise and disruption of festivals such as Diwali, a house move, or a new pet joining the family, all situations already worth planning around for other reasons. Some vets recommend the amino acid L-lysine as a supplement to help manage recurrent flare ups, though its effectiveness is debated in more recent research, so it is worth discussing with your vet rather than starting it on your own.

Prevention

The FVRCP combination vaccine, considered core for every cat, significantly reduces the severity of infection even though it does not always prevent it outright. Isolating a newly adopted cat from resident cats for the first one to two weeks is good practice generally, since a carrier cat may show no symptoms at all while still being able to pass the virus on.

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