EXPRESS: Surgical treatment of type II atresia ani and rectocutaneous fistula in a male kitten

Case summary: A four-week-old male Domestic shorthair kitten presented with congenital abnormalities of the rectum and perineal region, including defecation through an aberrant opening within the scrotal area. Positive-contrast radiography and ultrasonography confirmed type II anal atresia with a ventral rectocutaneous fistula. An abnormally positioned urethra was also identified, coursing dorsally to the penile structure. Surgical transposition of the fistulous tract and reconstruction of the anal sphincter were performed using a fistula-flap technique to restore normal defecation. Recovery was uneventful, and spontaneous defecation resumed within two weeks. At a 20-month follow up, the patient remained clinically well. Relevance and novel information: This case represents the first documented use of a fistula-flap technique to successfully correct type II atresia ani with rectocutaneous fistula in a male feline patient, demonstrating that the technique can be safely adapted to different anorectal malformation patterns.