SYMPTOM
Recurrent infections
Owners may notice the same problem coming back soon after treatment ends, such as sneezing with eye discharge, sore gums, skin sores or bladder infections, or a run of different infections close together.
Retroviral Immunosuppression
Feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus both weaken the immune system's ability to clear routine pathogens, leaving affected cats prone to repeated skin, respiratory, or oral infections. FIV is most often transmitted through bite wounds, so outdoor, unneutered male cats that roam and fight carry a higher exposure risk. In FIV-infected cats this most often shows as long-lasting mouth and gum inflammation (gingivostomatitis) or chronic rhinitis, and FeLV causes more severe immunosuppression than FIV.
Endocrine Disease
Diabetes mellitus alters glucose availability in tissues and impairs white blood cell function, creating conditions that favour recurrent bacterial and fungal infections, particularly of the skin and urinary tract. Overweight, middle-aged to older cats are most commonly affected. Infections in a diabetic cat often improve only once blood glucose control is achieved alongside treatment of the infection itself.
Chronic Allergic Skin Disease
Feline atopic skin syndrome, the cat form of atopic dermatitis, causes itching, overgrooming and skin lesions, most often on the head and neck, ventral abdomen and thighs. Bacterial or yeast infection can develop on the damaged skin and return with flare-ups, although this is less common than in atopic dogs. Onset is usually before five years of age, and signs can be seasonal or present all year round.
Latent Viral Reactivation
Many cats carry feline herpesvirus from kittenhood in a dormant state, and stress, boarding, or concurrent illness can reactivate it, producing recurring bouts of sneezing, ocular discharge, or conjunctivitis. This pattern is common in cats from multi-cat households or rescue backgrounds and reflects a normal feature of herpesvirus biology rather than a genuinely new infection each time. Acute herpesvirus signs usually resolve within 10 to 14 days, but eye signs can last longer when the cornea is involved. The virus can cause corneal ulcers, which cannot be told apart from simple conjunctivitis at home, and secondary bacterial infection, with thicker, coloured discharge, is common.
Anatomical Predisposition
Breed conformation, such as the deep facial skin folds of flat-faced breeds like the Persian and Himalayan, creates pockets where moisture, tears and debris accumulate, favouring localised skin fold infection. This structural tendency does not change over a cat's lifetime, so the same site tends to flare repeatedly. Regular hygiene routines usually reduce, though do not eliminate, the frequency of episodes.
Why timing matters
Early observation
Early recognition allows prompt assessment and intervention if needed.
Later presentation
Persistent or worsening signs may indicate progression requiring attention.
The significance of this symptom depends on its context, duration, and associated findings.
Conditions commonly associated
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
Increased susceptibility to infections is a hallmark of immunodeficiency when it develops.
Diabetes Mellitus in Cats
Diabetic animals have reduced resistance to bacterial and fungal infections and can develop chronic or recurrent infections such as cystitis and dermatitis.
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)
FeLV causes immunosuppression that is more severe than that caused by FIV, raising the risk of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections.
The page on this condition is being checked again and is offline for now.
Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1)
Cats that recover from herpesvirus infection usually stay latently infected for life, and stress or steroid treatment can reactivate the virus, so eye and respiratory signs can return.
Skin Fold Dermatitis
Facial skin folds in flat-faced cats trap moisture and debris, so infection can return at the same site.
When to explore further
When the symptom is persistent or worsening
When other signs are present alongside
When daily activities or quality of life are affected
When there is uncertainty about the cause
Noting when this symptom occurs, any triggers, and how it changes over time can provide useful information for veterinary discussions.
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026 · Dr Alastair Greenway MRCVS