Feline Calicivirus
Disease Overview
Calicivirus is a common virus in cats that causes upper respiratory infection. Feline calicivirus is resistant to many disinfectants and can survive outside a cat’s body for several days.
Merck Animal Health Solutions
For Feline Calicivirus
Transmission
Feline calicivirus is spread between cats through direct contact with the eyes or nose of an infected cat or contact with contaminated objects that an infected cat has sneezed on or touched, such as food and water bowls.
Clinical Signs
- Sneezing
- Discharge from the eyes and nose
- Pneumonia
- Mouth sores
- Arthritis (in some cases)
Risk Factors
- Boards often or comes from a shelter environment
- Widespread in the general cat population and prevalent in multiple cat households5
- Indoor/outdoor cats are both at risk
References:
5. Gaskell R, Dawson S, Radford A. Feline respiratory disease. In: Greene CE, ed. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier; 2006:146.