Reducing Upper Respiratory Disease in Shelter Cats

Feline herpesvirus is highly contagious and one of the major causes of flu-like, upper-respiratory infections in cats. Early intervention with antiviral drugs in humans with herpesviruses reduces duration and severity of clinical signs but studies of these treatments have not been conducted in domestic cats. Researchers will investigate if administrating the antiviral drug famciclovir to cats as they arrive at shelters reduces duration and severity of clinical signs of feline herpesvirus. Finding a viable method to reduce feline herpesvirus infections as a method to control upper-respiratory disease outbreaks would greatly reduce euthanasia rates due to illness, and improve overall health and adoptability of cats in shelters.