FIP was once a death sentence for cats. Antiviral treatments developed since 2019 have transformed outcomes, but access barriers mean many cats still suffer unnecessarily.
FIP welfare has been transformed by antiviral treatment, but the transformation is incomplete because of access inequality. Before 2019, FIP diagnosis meant rapid decline with only palliative options. Now, most cats treated promptly with antivirals recover and go on to live normal lives. The welfare challenge has shifted from inevitable death to treatment access: the cost of licensed formulations (GS-441524 derivatives) remains prohibitive for many owners. Untreated FIP causes progressive suffering — abdominal fluid accumulation, neurological symptoms, severe weakness — before death. Cats whose owners cannot afford treatment still face the same suffering as before antivirals existed. Advocacy for affordable treatment access is now the primary FIP welfare challenge.