Coping With Feline Herpesvirus

My cat cricket is 14 and she used to have a house mate cat called Lizzie. Lizzie had herpes in her eyes and I was always amazed that Cricket didn’t get it. Lizzie has passed. Recently, Cricket developed asthma and now the herpes outbreak with ulcers in one eye. I thought she just had maybe gotten a scratch but when she kept squinting, I took her to the vet who diagnosed the ulterative thing related to herpes.

She’s also had a severe episode of inflammatory bowel disease and problems with her thyroid, and so she is on low dose of steroids and on a limited ingredient diet. She’s doing well on all of those. The low dose of steriods keeps her appetite up and I suspect helps with the inflammatory bowel thing and her arthritis. It sounds like a lot, but she really has been doing well until this herpes outbreak. For me, it’s easy since she is very trusting and easy to medicate.

I haven’t know anyone or any pet who’ve had herpes outbreaks, but now I understand what’s involved. I saw her eyes under the light with the green tint the vet put on them and could see the “breakout” ulcers. Once this episode passes, I’m expecting she’ll settle down.

I was somewhat concerned that this would mean her eyesight but people get these outbreaks too, and then it calms down. I was concerend too, that it could be passed on to me, since she sleeps so close to my face at night, but my vet says it’s very common in cats and not transmittable to people.

I’m just glad I have a vet I trust that I can go to for treatment when my four footed family members need help!