Financial barriers to veterinary care leave many cats suffering from treatable conditions. Addressing access inequality is a critical welfare equity issue.
Cats owned by low-income families face welfare harms from untreated conditions that cats in higher-income households would receive care for. Pain, infection, and chronic disease that could be managed instead persist indefinitely due to financial barriers. Addressing this welfare inequity requires both expanding charitable veterinary services and making preventive care financially accessible to all cat owners.