How often do you take your cat with IBD to the vet?

Hi everyone!  
I wonder how often do you take your cat with IBD to the vet?

One of my cats, Tabby was diagnosed with IBD two weeks ago. She is on Prednisone twice a day. So far, she is doing fine. She has been on Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Canned Food for a week now. 
 
The vet wanted to re-check Tabby’s kidney values last week, so she had a urinalysis, blood work and B12 test.

All of the results are normal!! However the red blood cells are on the lower end of within normal limits. The urine sample (free-catch) showed dilute concentration. So the vet wants to recheck again in one month! 

I really don’t want to take Tabby to the vets that often. Lately Tabby has been really nervous every time I go outside. When I prepare to go out, Tabby thinks that I will take her to the vet again, and she hides under the bed… 

If rechecking her kidney values is that important, then I will bring her back to the vet. But if I can put off getting her rechecked for a while, I would like to do it to help keep her as calm as possible.

I know every cat is different, but I would like to know.
I appreciate any advice you can offer. Thank you for reading!

I think if her values are off then a return visit is a good thing..  I take my IBD kitty who is on pred to the vet every six months.  He had fatty liver a little over four years ago so every other time they do a liver panel,  The other visit they do a more complete blood workup,,

Thank you for your quick response, Denice! 
I don’t mind take my cat every six months, but I really don’t want to take her monthly… 
But if it’s good for Tabby, then I will do it.
Thank you for sharing your story! 

When he was first diagnosed, Mogli averaged about one visit a week for two or three months. Some were with vets, others with a nutritionist. Now he has his annual check-up, plus about two vet visits when he has a flare-up. That has happened twice in the past 18 months. He's not on pred, though.

My vet wants to see my IBD cat every two weeks, just to make sure that she is maintaining her weight and not losing. This has been an issue in the past. She has maintained for a while now, so I think every two weeks is a bit excessive, but I do it anyway.

That's probably only for the time being, since the diagnosis is so fresh. Two years ago I felt like we were constantly at the vets' office, but now things have normalized. Mogli doesn't like the car, but I'm lucky that he actually seems to enjoy vet visits - he stretches out on the examination table and purrs. Weird cat.

One thing you could ask the vet is whether you should invest in a digital baby scale so that you can check her weight yourself. That's something that's easy to pick up second hand. I borrow the one we have at the shelter. It's a lot more accurate that weighing myself with and without the cat.

Thank you for your response, jcat and Tabbysia! So I guess a monthly visit is not a bad idea… After we came back from the vet last week, Tabby vomited. Even though, she hadn't vomited for 4 weeks!! I think that’s because she had stress visiting the vet… That’s one of the reasons I really don’t want to take her to the vet. But I’ll think of something makes her feel okay to visiting the vet. 

Hi jcat, Oh my! Mogli doesn’t need Prednisone!! I’m so happy for you and Mogli!! How do you do it? If you don't mind my asking. I really hope my cat will live healthy without any medication! So nice that Mogli enjoys visiting a vet.  

Yes, I bought a digital baby scale two weeks ago. Even she eats well now, but still underweight. She’s on Prednisone for two weeks, so I guess will be better soon. 

Thank you so much for your help!! 

Your're probably right about your cat vomiting because of stress. My cat had not vomited in almost two months, and then she did it as I was getting her out of the car when I got home from the vet last week. She usually poops on the way home from the vet, so the vomit was a nice surprise, in a way.

aww.. Sorry that your cat also doesn’t like visiting the vets. :’( Tabby didn’t poops, but she did pee on the way home from the vet once… 

MommyTabby said:

Hi jcat, Oh my! Mogli doesn’t need Prednisone!! I’m so happy for you and Mogli!! How do you do it? If you don't mind my asking. I really hope my cat will live healthy without any medication! So nice that Mogli enjoys visiting a vet.

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We live in Europe (Germany), and nowadays predniso(lo)ne is only prescribed for extreme IBD cases here. There's a Spanish nutraceutical called Entero-Chronic that's the treatment of choice. Unfortunately, it's not yet available in the U.S.. Mogli was also under the care of a certified nutritionist and put on a low-fat, gluten-free, grain-free, single-protein diet. He has food allergies, too, and eats weird things like kangaroo, reindeer, goat and horse cat food. The prescription brand he's on is only available in German-speaking countries and the Benelux, however.

Hi jcat, Miau Mogli =^_^=
Thank you so much for sharing the information! That’s great that you have got useful advice from a certified nutritionist! I don’t know anyone here, but I’ve started to read http://www.catinfo.org. I’m sure you already know the site. The website is really helpful! I’ve never heard of the Entero-Chronic. It’s nice to know there is the other treatment choices, even though it’s available in Europe for now. 
Vielen dank!

Hi jcat, Miau Mogli =^_^=
Thank you so much for sharing the information! That’s great that you have got useful advice from a certified nutritionist! I don’t know anyone here, but I’ve started to read catinfo.org. I’m sure you already know the site, but the website is really helpful! I’ve never heard of the Entero-Chronic. It’s nice to know there is the other treatment choices, even though it’s available in Europe for now. 
Vielen dank!