Kitty herpes!!???

I adopted my cat 3 years ago and she had a clean bill of health. At her last two vet visits she got her bloodwork and shots for under $175 (in NYC). I had to take her to a new vet for her annual because we switched neighborhoods and I wanted something closer.

So aside from hating the bedside manor at this new place, the dr looked her over for 2 minutes and seemed really rushed. They recommended I get her a FVRCP for 3 years, rabies, parasite screening, bloodwork (over $400 quote), and then told me she has runny eyes due to feline herpes! 

I don't know much about this but ended up doing just the basics- parasite and FVRCP to get the bill lower. She is an indoor cat but I am wondering if anyone has experience with a cat who has this. My other two vets never brought it up and told me she had allergies. 

From what I know, it's pretty common, especially in cats that came from shelter environments. Lots of cats are asymptomatic carriers.

Both of my cats have it, but only one of them really shows any signs. He's fine 95% of the time, but he gets sneeze-y sometimes. Occasionally, usually when the weather is changing rapidly, he gets scary bouts of lethargy, moping around and refusing to eat or drink, but he's always back to normal within twelve hours.

The first time he had one of those "episodes" I panicked and called my vet because I had no idea what was going on. I noticed it in the morning, he was better in the afternoon, and then he was completely normal when they saw him the next day. They said it's not uncommon for cats with herpes to have symptoms like that sometimes.

Hope that helps!

Yes, apparently feline herpes is extremely common.  If you have a cat who shows symptoms like sneezing, or watery eyes, then most people give them L-Lysine twice a day, either in their food or by giving them L-Lysine chewables.  Just search L-Lysine in the search area above and you will find dozens of thread about it.  That is, if indeed, she has runny eyes often and you want to treat them.  Some cats have it really bad and require LOTS more than just L-Lysine.  It appears your is not one of them

It was surprising to me since she has had three annuals before this and the vets never mentioned anything. (she just turned 4)

Last year she was given antihistamine tablets for her "allergies". If there is no test for kitty herpes how do they know that is what it is for sure? I almost want a second opinion. I am happy to give her l-lysine drops in her wet food, (what the vet wanted to give me for it cost over $90!) but would it effect her adversely if she does not have herpes? 

I'm so upset after this new vet visit-they were so rough with her and they hardly took any time with me. I felt like I was in a car dealership when they handed me this $400 quote with every test and $40 herbal treat in the place. 

They even tried to get me to do a rabies when her record clearly shows she had a 3 year shot in Aug. 2013. OY Won't be going back there again. My poor girl got a 3 year FVRCP and is sacked out sleeping still. 

Did they even do a full exam...check her teeth and mouth, palpate her abdomen, look in her ears, take her temp, etc, etc, etc?  All that should be done during an annual exam. 

I know what you mean about sleeping the entire day the day after vaccines.  My old girl always did that.  We stopped getting vaccines after 10years or so though...figured she had enough antibodies in her for the rest of her life.  Plus she doesn't go outside, so doesn't get exposed to anything

When we adopted our cat from the Humane Society, the paperwork said he had URI that they treated. From 2009 to 2012, he never showed any sign. Then he went to the clinic and either from stress or another sick cat, he got a very bad cold. That's when I learned about Lysine. I now have a bag of Lysine bite sized chews in case that happens again and he usually takes it quite easily as a treat.

Yes, the vet checked her teeth, ears and felt her stomach and listened to the heart-all was ok-they didn't take her temp though. Today she is still having some loose bowels and hasn't eaten her wet food breakfast which is very rare for her. I don't know if its from her stomach upset which was why I brought her in, or the shot.

She is still playing and jumping for her toy though so thats a good sign. A little worried about the poo issue. It seems like she had some solid movements but had some runny stuff with mucas stuck to her fur after. Not fun to chase her around to wipe her bum off lol

I gave them a sample yesterday and they said everything cam back normal. I'm trying some pumpkin in her food to firm her up later.