To meet Goldie is to fall in love. This sweet, all-black boy has silky fur and stunning golden eyes, but what’s most striking about him is just how sweet he is. If you approach Goldie quietly, with an open heart, he will become a very dear friend and reward you with rumbling purrs and enthusiastic head bonks.

Goldie is about 8 years old. He arrived at Tabby’s Place through our Guardian Angel Program. He was well-loved, and lived in a home with several other cats, but when he first arrived at Tabby’s Place, he seemed very quiet, even timid. He’s settled into one of our smaller rooms beautifully, though, and we have now gotten to know Goldie for the world-class love bug that he is!

Goldie appears healthy, with his shining fur and eyes, but his good looks hide a dangerous condition. Goldie suffers from chronic constipation, and in his case, this problem has developed into megacolon. Cats with chronic constipation can develop this condition, in which the colon becomes abnormally large and loses motility (the ability to move spontaneously) and muscle tone. As a result, a cat’s constipation becomes even worse, as stool builds up in the colon and becomes increasingly difficult to expel. Cats with megacolon frequently become completely obstructed and can require invasive treatments to alleviate the obstruction.

In Goldie’s case, we were aware of his constipation issues when he arrived, so we’ve been able to take steps to alleviate his discomfort. In addition to performing a medical procedure to empty his colon, we have been treating him with medications to increase his gastrointestinal (GI) motility and to soften his stool. So far, he has responded well to treatment, but we need to keep a close eye on his condition. If Goldie reaches a point where the current treatments do not keep his colon functioning, he may require a surgery called a subtotal colectomy, which involves removal of the colon and can lead to incontinence.

There is something particularly unjust about an extraordinarily pleasant cat having to deal with such an unpleasant medical condition. But Goldie soldiers through without letting it affect his personality in the least. Won’t you support this wonderful boy? With your help, we can continue to manage Goldie’s condition and give him the opportunity to live life as a normal, happy cat. No doubt, Goldie will make the most of that opportunity and offer you all the best of his love and affection.