Feline infectious peritonitis was once invariably fatal, but new antiviral treatments have transformed the welfare outlook for FIP-affected cats.
FIP causes significant suffering in affected cats: fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen causes dyspnoea and abdominal discomfort; neurological and ocular forms cause distressing neurological signs. Without treatment, affected cats deteriorate progressively over weeks and face an agonising death. The availability of effective antiviral treatment has transformed this from an inevitable welfare tragedy to a manageable condition with good outcomes for most treated cats. However, the cost of treatment — running to several thousand pounds for a full course — creates welfare inequity where cats whose owners cannot access treatment still face inevitable death. Cost barriers to life-saving treatment are a systemic welfare problem requiring industry, regulatory, and charitable sector attention.