Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was until recently a uniformly fatal disease — the development of effective antiviral treatments has transformed its welfare prognosis and represents one of the most significant recent advances in feline medicine.
The transformation of FIP from a death sentence to a treatable disease represents a profound welfare victory for cats. A diagnosis of FIP formerly meant watching a previously healthy young cat deteriorate rapidly — accumulating fluid, losing weight, becoming increasingly debilitated — with no treatment that could alter the trajectory beyond palliative care. Antiviral treatment now means that cats presenting with FIP can recover fully and live normal healthy lives. The welfare imperative is now ensuring that this treatment reaches cats whose owners face financial barriers, that vets are trained to diagnose FIP early and initiate treatment promptly, and that regulatory approval catches up with the clinical evidence to improve access.