Feline infectious peritonitis was until recently a fatal diagnosis. New antiviral treatments have transformed FIP from a death sentence to a treatable condition, with profound welfare implications.
The development of effective FIP treatment represents one of the most significant recent advances in companion animal welfare. Before antivirals became available, FIP was diagnosed as fatal - cats with wet FIP typically died within weeks, and dry FIP within months. The suffering of terminal FIP included pleural effusion causing breathing difficulty, ascites causing abdominal distension and discomfort, neurological symptoms, and progressive debilitation. The ability to cure what was a death sentence means that cats diagnosed today face a very different welfare outcome from those diagnosed five years ago. The remaining welfare challenge is access - treatment costs remain significant, and awareness of treatment availability is not yet universal among cat owners and some veterinary practitioners.