FIP was once a fatal diagnosis in cats but the development of antiviral treatments (GS-441524 and related compounds) has transformed outcomes, raising welfare questions about access and cost.
FIP transformation from fatal disease to treatable condition is one of the most significant advances in feline medicine in decades. Cats that would previously have died within weeks can now fully recover and live normal lives with treatment. The welfare tragedy is the cost barrier - expensive treatment regimes mean that many cats are euthanised because owners cannot access or afford treatment. This is a genuine welfare equity issue: access to life-saving treatment should not be determined by financial resources. Welfare organisations and veterinary professionals are working on cost reduction through licensed generic production, payment plans and treatment assistance funds - but cost remains the principal welfare barrier to FIP treatment access.