Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) is not contagious to humans. The virus is species-specific, meaning it only infects domestic and wild cats. You cannot catch it from your cat’s sneezes, eye discharge, or any other form of contact, even if your cat is actively sick.
Why FHV-1 Can’t Infect Humans
Herpesviruses are highly adapted to their specific hosts. FHV-1 relies on particular sugar-based molecules on the surface of feline cells to latch on and enter. Human cells don’t present the right molecular “lock” for this virus, so it has no way to get inside and replicate. This isn’t a matter of low risk or rare cases. There are no documented cases of FHV-1 infecting a person.
The same species barrier protects your other pets. FHV-1 is not contagious to dogs, rabbits, birds, or any other non-feline animal in your household.
One Caveat Worth Knowing
While the herpesvirus itself poses zero risk to you, cats with active upper respiratory infections sometimes develop secondary bacterial infections on top of the virus. A small number of those bacteria can, in rare situations, be transmissible to people. This is not specific to FHV-1. It’s the same general hygiene principle that applies anytime you handle a sick animal: wash your hands after cleaning discharge from your cat’s eyes or nose, and avoid letting a sick cat sneeze directly into your face. For the vast majority of healthy adults, even this secondary bacterial risk is extremely low.
What FHV-1 Looks Like in Cats
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance your cat is showing symptoms that prompted your search. FHV-1, also called feline viral rhinotracheitis, causes upper respiratory illness that can look alarming. Common signs include sneezing, nasal discharge (clear or colored), watery or goopy eyes, swelling around the eyes, mouth ulcers, fever, loss of appetite, and general lethargy. Some cats also develop corneal ulcers, which appear as cloudiness or squinting in one or both eyes.
Most healthy adult cats recover within two to three weeks, though kittens and cats with weakened immune systems can become seriously ill. Once a cat is infected, the virus stays in its body for life in a dormant state and can reactivate during periods of stress or illness, similar to how cold sores work in people with human herpesvirus.
How It Spreads Between Cats
FHV-1 spreads through direct contact with an infected cat’s saliva, nasal secretions, or eye discharge. It can also travel short distances as airborne droplets from sneezing. The virus is relatively fragile outside a cat’s body. It survives up to 18 hours on damp surfaces and even less in dry conditions. Common disinfectants kill it easily.
This fragility is actually good news for multi-cat households. With basic precautions, you can limit spread to your other cats even while nursing a sick one.
Protecting Other Cats in Your Home
If one of your cats has an active FHV-1 infection, isolate it from your other cats in a separate room if possible. Change your clothes and wash your hands before interacting with your healthy cats, since you can carry the virus on your skin or clothing to another cat even though it can’t infect you.
For cleaning, focus on removing all organic matter (discharge, mucus, saliva) from surfaces before applying a disinfectant. A diluted bleach solution (sodium hypochlorite) is one of the most effective and affordable options for floors, food bowls, and litter boxes. Wash bedding, blankets, and fabric toys in a washing machine set to at least 60°C (140°F), which reliably kills the virus.
A few cleaning products to avoid around cats: phenol-based disinfectants, including certain essential oils, are toxic to cats. Quaternary ammonium compounds (found in some household wipes and sprays) have poor effectiveness against many viruses and can also be harmful to cats. Stick with bleach or heat-based cleaning, and rinse surfaces well before your cat has contact with them again.
Vaccination is the best long-term protection. The FHV-1 vaccine is part of the standard core vaccine series for kittens and cats. It doesn’t completely prevent infection, but it significantly reduces the severity of symptoms if a vaccinated cat is exposed.