Feline Herpes

Feline herpes is one of a number of diseases and health conditions that can affect cats, and it is important for you, as the owner, to ensure that you look out for the symptoms of this condition so that your cat can be treated. Unless you get your cat treated you could end up with a miserable and very unwell cat on your hands, and whilst the condition is not generally dangerous for many cats kittens and older cats are in more danger because their immune systems are weakened.

It is advisable to familiarise yourself with the symptoms of feline herpes so that you can get your cat treated should he or she develop these symptoms. One thing to bear in mind is that feline herpes is highly infectious, and can be passed on from one cat to another through fluids, sneezing, etc. It can also be passed on through things such as shared water bowls, food bowls, litter trays, and the like.

Symptoms of herpes in cats

There are a number of symptoms that you should look out for with feline herpes, but do bear in mind that some of these are very non-specific, which means that they could be a manifestation of a number of problems, which is why it is so important to get your cat checked out.

Some of the symptoms that you should look out for include:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Runny eyes
• Runny nose
• Appetite loss
• Pregnancy complications

Diagnosis of feline herpes

When you take your cat to the vet with these symptoms the vet will perform a physical examination to try and determine whether your pet has herpes, and this could also involve taking a blood test for confirmation.

If you have more than one cat it is very important that you take your cat to be diagnosed as soon as possible as you could otherwise end up with a bunch of grumpy, unwell cats on your hands, which, believe me, is a handful for anyone!

Again, if you have a younger cat or a more senior cat it is important to get your cat diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, as younger and older cats are more likely to have a bleaker outlook because of the effect that the condition can have on their immune systems.

Treatment for herpes

Once your cat has been diagnosed with herpes your vet can prescribe the most appropriate treatment, and this will depend on a number factors, including the age of the pet. Some of the treatments that may be prescribed include antibiotics, eye drops, decongestants, and anti-viral ointments.

However, it will also be down to you to make sure that you keep your cat warm and comfortable, which also involved ensuring that your pet has clean bowls, fresh water, and is not put at risk of getting worse. Your cat may be poorly for around seven to ten days, but should make a good recovery if looked after properly.

Prevention of herpes

Of course, in order to avoid having to have all of this treatment and disruption – and to avoid having a very unhappy and grumpy kitty on your hands – you can try and prevent your pet from getting the disease through vaccination against the condition.

You can have your cat vaccinated from 8-10 weeks old, and then an annual booster thereon will help to keep your pet protected against getting the disease in the future. A simple vaccination will mean less hassle for you, less risk for your cat, and a far happier pet and owner!

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