Research overview: feline herpesvirus and calicivirus in wild cat populations

Feline herpesvirus and calicivirus, the main agents of cat respiratory disease, circulate in domestic cats and can spill into wild felids, causing upper respiratory and oral disease. This overview surveys evidence of these viruses in wild cat populations, the respiratory and ocular signs they produce, and the potential for outbreaks in stressed or crowded animals such as those in captivity or dense reintroduced groups. It examines transmission from domestic and feral cats, the latency of herpesvirus and its reactivation under stress, and vaccination in managed populations. The synthesis connects common pet-cat respiratory pathogens to wildlife disease. It aims to help readers understand that even the familiar agents of feline upper respiratory infection have ecological reach beyond the household, posing a recurring if usually mild threat to wild and captive felids.