Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) was once a death sentence for affected cats, but revolutionary antiviral treatments have transformed the welfare outlook for cats diagnosed with this devastating disease.
The FIP antiviral revolution represents one of the most dramatic welfare improvements in companion animal medicine in decades. A previously fatal disease with no effective treatment now has 85-95% remission rates with appropriate antiviral therapy. The welfare transformation for individual affected cats is profound: animals that were deteriorating toward death within weeks now achieve full clinical recovery. However, access barriers remain significant. The cost of treatment (potentially $3,000-10,000+ for a full course) means many cats die preventable deaths when owners cannot afford treatment. Advocacy for licensing and cost reduction of FIP antivirals, combined with veterinary education about treatment options, are the primary welfare levers for improving outcomes in affected cats.