Feline megacolon causes severe constipation and colonic dysfunction. Understanding management options prevents chronic suffering in affected cats.
Megacolon causes chronic and significant suffering through the pain and discomfort of persistent constipation and obstipation. Cats with megacolon may strain repeatedly at the litter box without producing feces, develop abdominal discomfort, lose weight, and have their quality of life substantially impaired by the recurring cycle of constipation and deobstipation procedures. The welfare trajectory for medically managed cats is often one of progressive deterioration requiring increasingly frequent interventions. Subtotal colectomy — surgical removal of most of the dysfunctional colon — provides curative outcomes in most cats, who then manage with normal or only slightly soft feces and excellent quality of life. The welfare case for surgical intervention, when indicated, is strong relative to ongoing medical management of progressive disease.