Help Merlin live a happy life
Merlin is only about two years old, but in his short life he has experienced mostly pain due to a medical condition called feline megacolon. This condition causes chronic severe constipation. When we (Brian and Kirsten) rescued Merlin when he was only one year, we had no idea of his condition until we had the vet x-ray him. We were shocked to find that he had over two pounds of impacted feces in his colon. He only weighs 12 lbs, so that is a significant portion of his body weight. He has since undergone 4 painful procedures to remove the obstipation (blockage of the colon).
He can go weeks without a bowel movement, and must be in constant pain, especially with the constant invasive procedures that he endures. He acts tough, but we know that this is not a way for anyone to live, and we can see his spirit lessen and his personality change with each procedure. 
We have exhausted every medical method available, including expensive prescriptions, costly enemas and procedures by the vet, the best food possible, probiotics, supplements, and many more options in hope to ease his suffering. We have run out of the money needed to help him. Unfortunately, nothing has worked and it has been over a month since he has been able to go to the bathroom without having another painful procedure to remove the obstipation.
We had been thinking that the only option was euthanasia, but we were given a great alternative: a surgical procedure called subtotal colectomy, which would remove most of his damaged colon and has a very high success rate. Our vet at Fox Hollow Animal Hospital has graciously offered it to us at an extremely discounted, no-profit rate, but it is still out of our price range at $1,500, plus more for after care, including an overnight stay at the vet , follow up appointments, and some items needed to make his recovery more comfortable and also keep him confined so he does not jump and tear his sutures--probably a crate or a gating off areas .
Most cats do not suffer this terrible affliction until they are much older. Merlin has a great chance of living a normal, happy life and mending well from the surgical procedure. We want to see him thrive rather than survive in pain.
Kirsten, Brian & Merlin would be grateful for any donation, big or small, to give Merlin a fighting chance at a normal life. He is a great cat, who has had a rough start to life but could live 18 more happy years.
Thank you :)