Feline infectious peritonitis was previously considered invariably fatal but new antiviral treatments have transformed it into a manageable condition, with significant welfare implications.
FIP welfare has been transformed from a story of inevitable suffering and death to one of genuine hope through treatment. A cat diagnosed with FIP just years ago faced a death sentence following progressively worsening symptoms - weight loss, fever, fluid accumulation, and neurological signs that caused significant suffering before death. The same diagnosis today, with access to antiviral treatment, carries a high probability of remission and return to normal life. The welfare implications are profound: cats that would have been euthanized after weeks of suffering can now recover fully. The barriers to treatment - cost, regulatory status varying by country, and owner awareness - represent the current welfare gap between what is possible and what is achieved in practice.