How antiviral treatments for feline infectious peritonitis have transformed outcomes for cats with a formerly fatal disease.
The development of effective FIP treatments represents a genuine revolution in feline medicine and a profound welfare advance. Before effective antivirals, a FIP diagnosis meant certain death within weeks to months, often following a period of significant suffering from fluid accumulation, neurological deterioration or wasting. Cats now diagnosed with FIP and treated appropriately have excellent prospects for full recovery and normal life expectancy. The remaining welfare challenges are primarily access-related: treatment costs remain significant in many countries, awareness of treatment options is not universal among veterinarians, and regulatory status of some antiviral formulations creates barriers to access. Ensuring that all cats with FIP have access to effective treatment is an achievable welfare goal.