Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was until recently a uniformly fatal disease in cats. The advent of antiviral treatments has transformed welfare outcomes, but access, cost, and diagnosis remain significant challenges.
FIP causes profound and progressive welfare compromise that, until recently, ended inevitably in death or euthanasia. Affected cats typically develop lethargy, weight loss, fever, and either abdominal fluid accumulation (wet form) or subtle neurological and ocular signs (dry form). The transformation brought by antiviral treatment — from a death sentence to a curable disease in the majority of cases — represents one of the most dramatic welfare improvements in recent veterinary medicine. However, access inequity remains a serious welfare issue: treatment costs of several thousand dollars are unaffordable for many owners, meaning cats whose disease is identifiable and treatable still die because their owners cannot access medication. Advocacy for expanded access, lower-cost generic antivirals, and veterinary guidance to help owners navigate treatment options are active welfare priorities in feline medicine.