Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was once universally fatal in cats, but antiviral treatments have transformed prognosis, changing the welfare calculus for affected cats dramatically.
FIP causes significant suffering: affected cats experience rapid deterioration from fluid accumulation, fever, weight loss, and in neurological cases, seizures and blindness. Before 2019, a FIP diagnosis was effectively a death sentence, and euthanasia to prevent prolonged suffering was the standard recommendation. The availability of GS-441524-based antivirals has transformed FIP from a uniformly fatal disease to a treatable condition with excellent prognosis when treatment is accessible. The primary welfare barrier is now economic: treatment costs $1,000-$5,000+ for a full course, creating significant welfare inequity. Advocacy for affordable treatment access and rescue organisation funding for FIP cats are direct welfare interventions.