I want my cat normal again

Hi,
I have a 7 yr male cat who was diganoised with IBS and on steriod meds at this time. The meds are currantly going down from once per week to once every 2nd day. He is really acting strange; lethargic, nervous, doesn't always want to play.
He 's an indoor cat who also can be out in our garden. He's fine out there but when he comes into the house that's where he'll start to run around and drop poop. Vet has been checking him regularly.
I'm at my wits end. I don't know if the behaviour I'm seeing from him is to be expected with this medication nor what he's going to be like when it stops. Any help would be welcome.

Please call and get a appt on Monday at your vet.

What steroids is he on? You said he is taking it once a week- is he taking injections? This is what depo-medrol does to my cats, and that is why I avoid that shot at any cost... Has your vet changed his food for an allergenic food? Such as hills z/d or royal canin duck and grenn pea and such? Discuss diet with him and oral medication which can be better controlled- good luck!

He isn't taking the steriods by injection; these are little pills. The food he was put on is Med-Cal Gastrional. I just wanted to know if this crazy behaviour will go away or if it's here to stay ?
There must be SOMEONE whose gone through this and come out the other side ??

Not with prednisolone, which is probably what he is taking... I have 2 cats with IBD, My cat Hope took pred for a month and now has it under control with food only (Hills Z/D). She had no side effects from the medication. Bugsy takes daily meds for his Stomatitis containing a immune-modulator, which helps with his IBD. He also has no side effects.
You really need to discuss this with your vet, he might need to change his medication for another one; since he is on pills, this should be easier. Is your cat still having vomit and/or diarrhea? He could be like this because he is feeling sick, and as he feels better he is going to go back to normal - this happened to Hope... She hid under the bed for a solid 2 months, until the medications and the diet started making effect and she felt better. While she felt sick she would not come out to play, eat, or anything, just to use the litterbox Once I changed the diet to Z/D and she started she came around pretty quickly and became her normal self again.
Cats when sick act like that... It might not be the medication... Just a thought...

Franklin has IBD as well. He is taking 5mg prednisolone every other day. He has shown no ill effects from the medicine. Even at the high initial dose, 5mg 2x/day every day, he wasn't lethargic.

Hi atalose. I also have two cats who are currently on Prednisolone. Both of my boys started off on 5mg twice a day as their highest doses, and neither of them reacted the way you describe your kitty as acting. I'm sorry I can't be of much help. I hope things get better for your little guy.

Is he getting any other meds? Maybe it's the food? If it's ibd alone the prd should work wonders. Perhaps it's not just ibd.

Max is currantly taking Prednisdolone - 5mg every 2nd day for the next 2 - 3 mths. No more diarrea ! He's acting more like he's old self only lazy as heck. In fact, we had a mouse in the house and all he did was play with him a little bit, then lay down and watched him(we got the mouse).
The vet said to expect him to eat/drink more. I've cut his food down to 1/2 c per day, hoping this will help keep his weight in check. He does seem to be beefing up, though.
When he needs to come off this stuff, is it done very slowly(like decreasing the nbr of pills from, say every 3nd day to very 3rd day and so on?) or is it a life time thing? The vet seems to think he has a bit of IBS and we're hoping the food he' s eating now(which he LOVES)will keep it all under control.

That's great news. Franklin will be on pred for life. He has diagnosed IBD. My vet says that trying to wean him off risks another outbreak and each successive out break is harder to treat and takes a greater toll on Franklin. In his opinion there are very few risks associated with maintenance level prednisolone.