Cat Rhinotracheitis Latency: Duration and Implications
One: Why Do Cats Develop Feline Rhinotracheitis?
Typically, if your cat is not carrying any latent viruses and has not been in contact with other cats that are infected, and has also completed a full course of vaccinations, the likelihood of your cat contracting or erupting with the virus is quite low. However, if your cat is already carrying a latent virus or has been exposed to other infected cats, they are at a higher risk of developing the condition at any time. Cats in such situations may exhibit symptoms when they are under increased environmental stress, suffer from malnutrition, have a weakened immune system, or are exposed to high concentrations of the virus. After recovery, these cats are also more prone to becoming longterm carriers of the virus, with intermittent outbreaks.
Two: How to Prevent Cats from Getting Feline Rhinotracheitis
The most effective way to prevent your cat from contracting feline rhinotracheitis is through vaccination. While vaccines cannot offer complete protection against the virus, they can significantly reduce the severity of symptoms and the duration of the virus's spread. When the cat's trivalent antibody levels are sufficient, they can greatly prevent infection with feline distemper virus, but they do not prevent infection with feline herpesvirus. Vaccines can only mitigate the symptoms and shorten the time the virus is spread. Most of the time, feline herpesvirus remains latent in a cat's nerve cells, often without detection through PCR testing. It is estimated that up to 80% of recovered cats carry the feline herpesvirus for life, a condition known as latent infection. Outbreaks can recur under stress, malnutrition, or a weakened immune system. Therefore, providing your cat with a nutritious diet, creating a stressfree environment, and giving them careful attention can all help prevent and suppress outbreaks of the virus.
Tip: Click on 'Early Symptoms of Feline Rhinotracheitis' to learn more about the condition.
