Good morning all and Carol!
I feel skeptical about the claims by the other shelter, and if they have seen a reduction in feline URI I would guess that it's due to another factor besides the lights.
Most feline URI is driven by recrudescence of herpesvirus due to stress. The infections that are spread cat to cat are primarily going to be spread by direct contact between cats or from contaminated people (e.g. cleaning staff). Therefore, environmental decontamination is unlikely to have a significant impact on disease rates.
UV light comes in different spectrums. UV-A exposure is dangerous for people and animals (eyes/skin) but is the most effective for disinfection, so it should only be used in an unoccupied space. UV-C is safer (not sure about several hours per day) but less effective for disinfection.
There are many electronic cleaning/purification devices on the market and it really is a Wild West - as long as they don't venture into making certain types of medical claims (e.g. "kills 99% of bacteria") they can claim just about anything for efficacy without getting in trouble by a regulatory agency. Look for products with third party testing or certifications that demonstrate they do what they are claiming they do.
Finally, with any electronic disinfection device you want to look for rigorous testing and/or certifications that the device does not emit harmful levels of ozone gas. Ozone is a byproduct of UV light interacting with the air, and in a poorly ventilated space I would have concerns about safety for people and animals.
Feel free to reach out if you'd like to geek out further on the topic. ��
Original Message:
Sent: 1/14/2026 7:52:00 AM
From: Carol Williams
Subject: UV lights in shelters
We visited another shelter that had purchased "blue lights" for each of their cat rooms. They swear that since installation they have seen a drastic reduction in URIs, as well as shortened recovery times for ring worm cases. They gave us the company's information but after some research online, it seems that there are some serious concerns and a lot of controversy over their use. Not to mention they are quite pricey. Please share your experiences?
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Carol Williams
aralliancega.com
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