Feline herpesvirus in cats – signs and vet care

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: International Cat Care (iCatCare)

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your cat has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Feline herpesvirus is an infectious virus that affects cats.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Keep fresh water available.
  5. Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

It can cause signs such as sneezing, nasal discharge and discharge from the eyes.[1] It may also affect the eyes, including conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, frequent blinking and redness around the eyes.[1]

Signs

  • Sneezing
  • Nasal discharge
  • Excessive drooling
  • Sore throat
  • Lethargy or tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Coughing
  • Discharge from the eyes
  • Conjunctivitis

Causes and risk factors

  • Direct contact
  • Breathing in sneeze droplets
  • Sharing food bowls and litter trays
  • A contaminated environment, including bedding and grooming equipment

How a vet finds out

  • A biopsy

How vets treat it

  • Antibiotics
  • Pain relief
  • Fluids or a drip
  • Hospitalisation
  • A diet change
  • Eye drops or ointment

What the experts say

“In most cases, the presence of typical signs of URI is enough for a presumptive diagnosis of FHV (and/or feline calicivirus – FCV) infection. If a specific diagnosis is needed, swabs can be taken from the eye or throat and sent to a laboratory for testing.”

— International Cat Care (iCatCare) [1]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

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Common questions

What signs can feline herpesvirus cause?

Signs can include sneezing, nasal discharge and discharge from the eyes.[1]

Can feline herpesvirus affect the eyes?

It can cause conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, frequent blinking and redness around the eyes.[1]

What may a vet do to treat it?

Antibiotics may be required, and your cat may need hospitalisation for a drip.[1]

Sources

  1. International Cat Care (iCatCare)

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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