Chronic constipation and megacolon in cats cause significant ongoing discomfort and require sustained management, with severe cases necessitating surgery or euthanasia when quality of life cannot be maintained.
A cat that cannot defecate is experiencing real suffering — abdominal discomfort, progressive nausea, and the distress of repeated unsuccessful straining. Chronic constipation before megacolon develops causes repeated painful episodes that accumulate over months or years. Owners may not recognise the problem until the cat is severely affected. Medical management requires regular enemas, which are stressful for cats even when performed gently. Subtotal colectomy, while a significant surgery, offers most affected cats a dramatically improved quality of life. Euthanasia is appropriate when surgery is not possible and quality of life cannot be sustained — prolonging severe obstipation is not humane.