FIP is a viral disease that was uniformly fatal until recently, and new antiviral treatments have transformed its welfare implications for affected cats.
Cats with FIP experience progressive illness including abdominal fluid accumulation, neurological signs, and wasting before death. The advent of effective antiviral treatment has transformed FIP from a terminal diagnosis to a treatable disease, but access to licensed treatments remains limited by cost and regulatory approval. Cats whose owners cannot access or afford treatment face avoidable death and suffering, creating welfare inequity based on owner resources.