Feline Infectious Peritonitis was once a near-certain death sentence in cats, but antiviral treatments have transformed outcomes and welfare now depends critically on diagnosis speed and treatment access.
The development of effective antiviral treatment for FIP is one of the most significant advances in small animal medicine this decade. A disease that once required rapid euthanasia upon diagnosis can now be treated with high success rates. The welfare challenge has shifted from inevitable death to access inequality: in markets where licensed versions are not available or where treatment cost exceeds owner resources, cats are still dying from a now-treatable disease. Welfare advocates are working to expand access through generic licensing, compassionate use programmes, and financial assistance schemes. Awareness among cat owners and veterinarians that FIP is treatable is also critical — misdiagnosis or delay significantly reduces outcomes. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment initiation is now the most important welfare intervention for affected cats.