Coping with Cold Viruses in Shelter Cats

New research reveals that simple changes in shelter housing may inhibit the spread of feline upper respiratory infection (URI)--and save the lives of cats. This infection, which is similar to the common cold in humans, is cited among the top reasons for euthanasia of cats in shelters. Research funded by Morris Animal Foundation's Happy Healthy Cat Campaign suggests that stressful conditions dramatically increase the likelihood of infection. Fortunately, housing modifications reduce stress and decrease the spread of infection--making the difference between life and death for a shelter cat. With Morris Animal Foundation funding, Dr. Kate Hurley, the director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California-Davis, is assessing disease incidence, cage layout and sanitation methods to determine how shelter housing affects stress and stress-related illnesses. Her research shows that prevalence of feline URI varies wildly across the country--with anywhere from 5 percent to 60 percent of shelter cats getting sick. Environmental risk factors explain some of the variation, and so far, shelters with the lowest URI rates seem to be those with high-quality housing for cats. "Our hope is that we will find something that not only helps cats stay healthy but also helps them get out of shelters alive," Hurley says. Learn more about the research and the symptoms of URI. Source: PR Newswire