How the development of effective antiviral treatments for FIP has transformed outcomes for a previously fatal disease in cats.
The transformation of FIP from a uniformly fatal death sentence to a treatable condition represents one of the most significant welfare advances in feline medicine of recent decades. Cats that would have died painful deaths from effusive disease or neurological deterioration can now achieve full remission and normal quality of life. The welfare challenge that remains is access - the cost and availability of effective treatment means that some cats with FIP die preventable deaths because their owners cannot afford treatment or cannot access it in their region. Advocacy for affordable treatment access and veterinary support for financial assistance programs are important welfare priorities.