Megacolon is a severe condition in cats involving chronic constipation and loss of colonic function. Management requires intensive medical or surgical intervention to protect welfare.
Megacolon causes chronic discomfort and progressive deterioration in affected cats. The sensation of persistent colonic distension and the straining attempts to defecate cause significant distress. Fecal impaction requiring manual or anesthetic evacuation represents an acute welfare crisis that may occur repeatedly in inadequately managed cats. Weight loss from reduced appetite, abdominal distension, and the cycle of constipation followed by intervention progressively worsens quality of life without effective management. Subtotal colectomy, while major surgery, provides excellent long-term outcomes for most cats when medical management fails, substantially improving quality of life.