Feline Upper Respiratory Diseases
Upper respiratory system viruses
MetPet.com Staff Writer
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR)
Feline Calcivirus (FCV)
FVR and FCV are by far the most common viral infections of
the upper respiratory system: nose, mouth, throat. These are highly
contagious and can be very serious for cats with weak immune systems.
They are easily transmitted where cats are in close proximity to each other
such as in catteries or at cat shows. They can be transmitted from one
cat to another through droplets in the air or contaminated objects.
For example, humans moving between cats can carry the infectious agent with
them.
Vaccinations are available although they
are not always effective since there are different strains of the viruses.
The viruses are specific to cats (domestic and wild) and have not shown any
effects on humans.
FVR takes anywhere from 2 to 6 days to
incubate after infection. Initial symptoms include discharges from the
eyes and nose, sneezing, salivation, loss of appetite and lethargy. As the
infection progresses, fevers as high as 105 degrees and conjunctivitis can
appear. FVR can be lethal in kittens and senior cats although it is
usually survived by mature, healthy adults.
FCV also has an incubation period or
approximately 2 to 6 days. It is characterized primarily by ulcers in the
mouth. FCV infected cats can also develop some of the symptoms of FVR.
Complications can involve pneumonia.
Symptoms may persist for 1-2 weeks in
milder cases or 6 weeks in severe cases. Stress can cause the infection to
flare again. Cats that survive the infection can be debilitated by
blindness and other complications and remain infectious to other cats for
months. FVR is infectious intermittently while FCV is infectious on a
continuous basis.
The symptoms are generally treated along
with antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections. These infections can
be prevented by systematically vaccinating all cats and preventing exposure to
sick cats.
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