Feline infectious peritonitis is a fatal viral disease that causes significant suffering, but new antiviral treatments have transformed its outlook.
FIP treatment represents one of the most significant recent advances in companion animal welfare, transforming a disease that was a death sentence into one with an over 80% remission rate. Prior to effective antivirals, FIP caused inevitable deterioration - the inflammatory response to the mutated virus caused progressive organ damage, fluid accumulation that compromised breathing, or neurological signs that progressed to seizures and paralysis. Affected cats experienced prolonged suffering over weeks to months. The development of GS-441524 and related antivirals changed this fundamentally, allowing cats who would have been euthanized within weeks to achieve complete remission and return to healthy lives. The welfare challenge now is primarily access - the high treatment cost and the regulatory complexity around these drugs in some countries means some cats still cannot access curative treatment. Advocacy for accessible FIP treatment is a welfare priority.