The viral species Alphacoronavirus-1, which includes feline and canine coronaviruses 1 and 2 (FCoV-1, FCoV-2, CCoV-1 and CCoV-2) as well as transmissible gastroenteritis virus of swine (TGEV), is the cause of a range of disease outcomes in animals and may have zoonotic potential for humans. In cats, feline coronavirus is infamous as the cause of the feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a lethal disease that can now be treated with antiviral drugs. FCoV-1 disease outcome is driven by a combination of both within- and between-host evolution, whereas FCoV-2 disease appears to be driven by recombination with co-circulating CCoV. This is exemplified by FCoV-23, a novel canine/feline recombinant virus that caused a widespread outbreak of severe disease in Cyprus during 2023. As such, Alphacoronavirus-1 may exist as a dynamic "metavirome" that is in a constant state of flux, presenting notable challenges for disease surveillance and management, and in risk-assessment.