Feline infectious peritonitis was previously a fatal diagnosis. New antiviral treatments have transformed FIP from a death sentence to a treatable disease, dramatically improving cat welfare outcomes.
The transformation of FIP from an invariably fatal disease to a treatable condition represents one of the most dramatic welfare advances in companion animal medicine of the past decade. Previously, a young cat with FIP diagnosis faced certain death within days to weeks of diagnosis, causing acute suffering and distress. The antiviral revolution means these cats can now recover and live normal, healthy lives. The welfare concern now is access inequality: treatment costs thousands of dollars and regulatory barriers in some countries limit access to effective medication. Cats whose owners cannot afford or access treatment still face the pre-treatment welfare trajectory, creating welfare disparities that advocacy and regulatory work can address.