The Budesonide Experiment

If you’ve read my previous posts, you already know about Butabi...our big ol’ teddy bear of a cat. He’s been with us through so many seasons of life and he’s more than just a pet...he’s family. He’s comfort. He’s comic relief. He’s the cat version of a squishy weighted blanket with opinions.

Butabi has been living with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) for over six years now and he’s done really well on Prednisolone, a steroid that helps reduce inflammation throughout the body. For years, this medication helped keep his IBD symptoms calm and manageable. No vomiting, no reverse sneezing, no distress. Just lots of snuggles and purring. It was a sweet, calm season of stability and for anyone managing chronic issues in their pets, you know just how treasured that is.

Prednisolone’s Downside: The Hungry, Hungry Cat

The only issue? Prednisolone can crank up a cat’s appetite. And Butabi? Oh boy, he turned into a full-time snack solicitor. The minute we stepped foot in the kitchen...a very loud meow. Touched a cabinet...an even louder meow. Looked like we were thinking about food...MEOW.

He started gaining weight and it concerned us and concerned our vet a little bit, too. Our vet suggested trying Budesonide instead. It’s also a steroid, but it’s more localized and is designed to target the intestines without affecting the whole body the way Prednisolone does. Sounded like a smart switch, right?

The Budesonide Trial…and the Scary Slide

So we made the change. We switched Butabi straight from the Prednisolone one day and started him on Budesonide the next day (per our vet's guidance) hoping to get the same IBD relief without the endless food obsession.

Unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned.

At first, things seemed okay. But then, gradually, I noticed the signs: vomiting returned. His reverse sneezing crept back in. His eyes lost their usual sparkle. And then one day, he looked so weak and unwell that we had to take him in for hospitalization and fluids.

I was terrified. I thought maybe the IBD had progressed to lymphoma, something we’d been warned was a possibility years ago. I felt like the ground had dropped out beneath me. Watching your fur baby suffer is gut-wrenching, especially when you made a decision you hoped would help them.

Back to Pred and Back to Himself

Thankfully, the answer turned out to be clear.

We switched him back to Prednisolone and very quickly his system started to settle. Within a short time, the vomiting stopped. The sneezing slowed. His appetite returned (yes, aggressively, but we’ll take it). And most importantly, he started acting like himself again. Sweet, cuddly and full of life.

The Big Takeaway: Every Cat Is Different

This experience was a reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to managing chronic health issues in cats. What works beautifully for one cat might not work at all for another. Budesonide wasn’t the right fit for Butabi, even though it works great for many other cats with IBD.

I’m still grateful we tried it. It gave us more information about what doesn’t work for him, and that’s valuable too. Now I know without a doubt that Prednisolone is the right choice for my big bear and that gives me peace of mind.

A Word of Encouragement

If you’re in the thick of trial and error with your cat’s meds or treatments, I see you. It’s frustrating. It’s scary. And sometimes it feels like you’re playing vet detective with no leads. But don’t give up. If one thing doesn’t work, there’s always another route to explore.

Talk to your vet, trust your gut, and stay tuned in to your cat’s behavior. You know them better than anyone else. And sometimes, returning to what you know works, like we did with the Pred, is the best choice you can make.

You’re doing your best. And that’s enough.