TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Dr. Gary Spence is a veterinarian at Spence and White Veterinary Hospital. He says the clinic sees an increase of an upper respiratory virus in cats from early November to mid-February.

The virus is a combination of herpes and chlamydia. It’s highly contagious between cats and can occur through regular contact with animals, like sharing food bowls, for example.

Dr. Spence sees four to five cases a day when the season begins.

“This is Olivia. She’s about four years old now. As a kitten, she had this upper respiratory virus. Her right eye is really badly scarred because the chlamydia and all the herpes will get in the eyes, and it’ll eat the cornea,” said Spence.

Olivia received treatment for over a month, and her right eye was saved.

Dr. Loren Kempf is the medical

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