Why do orphan and stray kittens seem to get upper respiratory infections so easily, and what can be done about them?
A. Feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus are common causes of feline upper respiratory diseases (URI). Treatment is usually symptomatic. Vaccination will not prevent all URI infections but can minimize severity of the disease. Infections may be acquired by coming in contact with an infected cat, organisms present in the environment or even from a “carrier” cat. Cat shelters, breeders, and boarding facilities may have these viruses and you should thus ensure that your cat is properly vaccinated before taking him for boarding. Travel to cat shows or to the veterinary clinic can sometimes cause stress and reactivate the virus. Feline herpesvirus may cause corneal ulcers. Orphan kittens are more susceptible to these viruses if they have not been with their mothers for long as they will not have acquired immunity from the mother cat. They should certainly not be taken away from their mothers for the first ten days. If kittens get sick while still nursing, you can feed antibiotics to t
