The development of effective antiviral treatments for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) has transformed a uniformly fatal disease into a treatable condition, representing a major advance in feline welfare.
The FIP treatment revolution represents one of the most significant welfare advances in feline medicine in decades. Before effective antivirals, FIP diagnosis meant rapid deterioration and death within days to weeks - a trajectory causing tremendous suffering. Cats now survive and return to normal life activities. However, welfare concerns remain: the cost of treatment creates inequitable access, with cats in lower-income households facing euthanasia while the same disease is treatable in others. The regulatory grey area around GS-441524 in some countries forces owners to navigate unregulated markets. Advocating for affordable, regulated access to FIP treatment is a welfare imperative.