Butabi the Big Teddy Bear

Let me introduce you to Butabi, our 13-year-old big cuddly teddy bear. And when I say big, I mean big. He weighs in at a whopping 14.5 pounds! Even though that might sound like a lot, the vet always reassures us that it’s a perfectly healthy weight for his body type.

He also has the kind of eyes that could melt your heart in an instant…huge, expressive and full of personality. Honestly, they put the phrase “puppy dog eyes” to shame.

Emotional Support Cat Extraordinaire

When we first brought Butabi home, he quickly became my unofficial emotional support cat. Anytime I cried, it was like he just knew. He’d either come over on his own or my husband would scoop him up and bring him to me. Then Butabi would curl up, purr and let me hug him until the tears stopped. There’s nothing quite like a giant fluffball anchoring you in a hard moment.

The Mystery of Reverse Sneezing

About six years ago, Butabi started doing something I’d never seen before: reverse sneezing. If you’ve never witnessed it, imagine a rapid-fire inhale/exhale through the nose, almost like a sneeze that got turned inside out. It sounds alarming, lasts about 5–10 seconds and, let me tell you, it definitely freaked me out the first few times. As if that wasn’t enough, he also started vomiting quite often. So, off to the vet we went.

The Long Road to a Diagnosis

The first vet we saw tried several things: diet changes, allergy testing, even acupuncture. But nothing solved the problem. Eventually, after we moved and found a new vet, we finally got more answers.

An ultrasound revealed thickened intestines, which pointed toward IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). The vet explained that it could also be lymphoma, but the only way to know for sure would be an intestinal biopsy. At the time, that sounded terrifying and far too invasive.

Interestingly, I’ve since learned that even biopsies aren’t 100% conclusive…different doctors can interpret the results differently. That knowledge gave me peace of mind that I didn’t make the wrong decision by avoiding such a major procedure back then.

What Is IBD?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in cats is a chronic condition where the intestines become irritated and inflamed, making it hard for the body to digest food properly. Symptoms often include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and loss of appetite. It’s not curable, but it is manageable with the right combination of medications, diet and sometimes supplements.

Finding the Right Treatment

When Butabi was first diagnosed, the vet started him on Prednisolone, a steroid that works systemically throughout the body. Another common option is Budesonide, which is more targeted and acts directly in the intestines.

For Butabi, Prednisolone was the magic key. Within months, his reverse sneezing calmed down, his vomiting reduced significantly and he just felt so much better. It took about six months to find the right dose, but he improved without needing a special diet.

Every Cat Is Unique

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this journey, it’s that there’s no “one size fits all” treatment for IBD. Some cats do better with Prednisolone, some with Budesonide, some with diet changes and some with a combination of all three.

So, if your cat has IBD and the first approach doesn’t work, don’t lose hope. Ask your vet about alternatives, whether that’s a different medication, a new diet or supplements. Keep experimenting (safely and with guidance), because every cat’s body responds differently.

Finding Hope in the Day-to-Day

Butabi’s journey hasn’t been straightforward, but he’s still here, still snuggly and still giving me those big puppy-dog eyes that make my heart melt. Caring for a cat with a chronic condition is exhausting, but it’s also one of the most love-filled things we can do.

If you’re walking this road too, you’re not alone. There’s hope and there are options. And sometimes, just like with Butabi, it takes a little trial and error to land on what works. In the meantime, keep loving your fur baby and yourself through the ups and downs.