Megacolon in cats causes the colon to lose contractile ability, creating severe chronic constipation that requires lifelong management and sometimes surgery.
Cats with megacolon suffer from progressive abdominal distension and discomfort as the colon fills with feces they cannot pass. The repeated deobstipation procedures under sedation are stressful events. Severe obstipation causes systemic illness as toxins from the retained feces are absorbed. Surgical colectomy, while seeming drastic, typically provides dramatic welfare improvement - post-surgical cats pass soft stools comfortably without the progressive torture of repeated obstipation. Owners often report dramatic personality and activity improvements after successful surgery.