Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) — once invariably fatal — has been transformed by antiviral drugs into a manageable disease, representing one of the greatest advances in feline medicine in decades.
FIP was historically a death sentence — diagnosis was almost invariably followed by euthanasia within weeks. The development of antiviral treatments has completely transformed the welfare landscape for affected cats. However, welfare concerns remain: the diagnosis period itself involves significant suffering from fever, weight loss, and effusion; the cost of treatment creates inequitable access; and cats in countries without approved treatments may still be euthanised or left untreated. Ensuring that all cats with FIP have access to effective treatment — regardless of owner income — is a meaningful welfare justice issue that the veterinary community and animal welfare charities are beginning to address.