What type of virus is the feline calicivirus?

Feline calicivirus is classified as an RNA virus, which means its genetic material is composed of ribonucleic acid (RNA) rather than deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). RNA viruses replicate in the host cell by utilizing their RNA as a template to produce proteins and make copies of themselves. This characteristic influences how the virus behaves, its mutation rate, and how it interacts with the host's immune system.

Unlike DNA viruses, which generally have more stable genomes and can integrate into the host DNA, RNA viruses like the feline calicivirus tend to change more rapidly, which can complicate treatment and vaccine development. Understanding that feline calicivirus is an RNA virus is essential in veterinary medicine, particularly when dealing with outbreaks of viral infections in cat populations.