FIP was once considered a death sentence for cats. New antiviral treatments have transformed outcomes, but access and cost remain significant welfare barriers.
FIP causes progressive suffering including fluid accumulation, neurological signs, and organ failure. Before effective treatment, the welfare-centered decision was often early euthanasia to prevent prolonged dying. The availability of effective treatment has changed the ethical calculus: cats that previously faced certain death can now achieve long-term remission with good quality of life. However, the high cost of treatment means access is determined by owner financial resources rather than medical indication, creating welfare inequity. Cats in resource-limited settings, shelters, and developing countries continue to die from FIP unnecessarily. Advocacy for affordable treatment access is a meaningful welfare intervention.