Veterinarians prescribe corticosteroids (glucocorticoids such as prednisone and prednisolone) to reduce inflammation and, at higher doses, to suppress immune activity. Increased thirst, increased urination, and increased appetite are among the most common effects. Longer or higher-dose treatment carries more serious risks, which is why the prescribing veterinarian sets a monitoring schedule and a plan for ending treatment. Never start, change, share, or stop a corticosteroid without that veterinarian’s direction.
Why a veterinarian may prescribe a corticosteroid
Corticosteroids work by calming inflammation. At higher doses they also dampen the immune system, which is useful when the body’s own immune response is driving the problem. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes the drug class in its corticosteroids in animals pharmacology overview.
Veterinary sources describe oral, injectable, and topical forms. The form, dose, and length of treatment depend on the condition and the individual cat. No single regimen applies across cats, and a medicine suitable for one condition or route may be inappropriate for another.
Conditions where corticosteroids are used
The conditions below are examples rather than a complete list. They are the situations that veterinary references most often connect with steroid treatment in cats.
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Chronic enteropathy (inflammatory bowel disease)
In chronic enteropathy, long-lasting digestive inflammation causes ongoing vomiting, diarrhea, or weight loss. The Merck Veterinary Manual’s chronic enteropathies in small animals entry notes that prednisolone is used in cats in this context. That choice of drug is the veterinarian’s to make for the specific diagnosis. Cornell’s inflammatory bowel disease in cats overview explains the condition in more detail.
Allergic skin disease
Itchy, inflamed skin from allergies is treated with corticosteroids in some cats. Relief is often welcome, but the same medicine carries the longer-term risks described below, so it is typically used for a defined period or at the lowest effective level.
Feline asthma and chronic inflammatory airway disease
Airway inflammation that causes coughing or breathing difficulty may be managed with corticosteroids. Cornell’s guide to feline asthma covers the condition and how it is typically approached. Breathing difficulty is an urgent sign, and a cat in distress needs emergency veterinary care rather than waiting for a scheduled visit.
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Selected noninfectious eye inflammation
Some noninfectious eye inflammation is treated with corticosteroids, including topical forms. This area carries a specific warning, covered in its own section below. Any red, painful, or squinting eye needs veterinary assessment before any steroid is used.
Common short-term effects
Several effects appear frequently, particularly early in treatment:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased appetite
- Lower energy
- Occasional nausea or vomiting
Infection can develop or worsen while a cat is on a corticosteroid. Some cats develop elevated blood glucose or diabetes. How likely this is depends on the cat’s overall health and the treatment plan, so the veterinarian weighs it before prescribing.
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Risks with prolonged or high-dose treatment
The risks below are concerns to discuss and monitor. They are not predictions that every treated cat will experience them. Most become more relevant as treatment gets longer or stronger:
- Urinary tract infections
- Thin or fragile skin and poor wound healing
- Coat changes
- Muscle weakness
- Increased susceptibility to bacterial or fungal infection
- Diabetes
- Iatrogenic Cushing syndrome, a condition caused by the medicine itself through long-term glucocorticoid exposure
- Suppression of normal adrenal gland function
One VCA Animal Hospitals guidance page on steroid treatment in cats, shown with a September 2026 publication date, states that urinary tract infections occur in “up to 30% of patients” receiving long-term corticosteroids. That figure comes from this guidance for long-term use. It is not a universal estimate for every cat or every steroid regimen. The VCA steroid treatment page is the source for the figure and for the broader list of effects.
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Why the dose should not be stopped suddenly
After prolonged treatment, abruptly stopping the medicine can cause adrenal insufficiency and, in severe cases, circulatory shock. Veterinary references describe tapering, a gradual reduction, once inflammation is controlled. The rate of tapering is set by the veterinarian for each cat.
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Ask the prescribing clinic before acting if a dose is missed, if side effects appear, or if the cat seems worse. Do not try to correct the schedule yourself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Monitoring and follow-up
For cats on long-term therapy, veterinary guidance describes follow-up examinations along with blood and urine testing. The VCA guidance cited above recommends an examination every three months and urine cultures and blood tests every six months for long-term use. That is one source’s guidance for long-term use, not a schedule for every cat. Your veterinarian sets the timing based on the diagnosis, the dose, and how your cat responds.
Monitoring typically covers:
- Clinical review of the cat’s condition and symptoms
- Bloodwork, including blood glucose
- Urinalysis and urine culture
- Review of any other medicines or supplements the cat receives
Tell your veterinarian about every medicine and supplement your cat takes. Veterinary references note possible drug interactions with corticosteroids, so the full list matters before a new drug is added.
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Eye treatment needs extra caution
Veterinary guidance warns that topical corticosteroids can reactivate feline herpesvirus. They are contraindicated when a corneal ulcer is present. Because a corneal ulcer can look similar to other painful eye problems, a cat with a red, painful, cloudy, or squinting eye should be examined by a veterinarian first. The Merck Veterinary Manual’s anti-inflammatory agents in animals chapter covers the topic.
Giving the medicine at home
Oral prednisone and prednisolone are common forms for cats. VCA’s prednisone and prednisolone guidance notes that prednisolone may taste unpleasant and may affect appetite or cause vomiting. If your cat refuses or vomits the medicine, tell your veterinarian rather than skipping doses or changing the amount. Some owners ask about food-based pill wrappers (“pill pockets”). These are not tested or endorsed by the sources used here, and they may not suit cats on restricted diets. Raise the question with your veterinarian first.
Questions to ask at the start of treatment
- What condition is this medicine treating, and what improvement should I expect?
- Which form is being used, and how long is the plan expected to last?
- When and how will the medicine be tapered?
- Which side effects should prompt a call, and who should I call after hours?
- What monitoring visits and blood or urine tests are planned, and when?
How veterinarians compare options
When more than one approach is possible, veterinarians typically weigh the following points. These are clinical considerations, not a basis for choosing a treatment at home:
- The target condition and the expected benefit
- Route: oral, topical, or injectable
- How quickly the medicine acts and how long its effect lasts
- Whether the goal is anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive
- Likely short-term and long-term adverse effects
- The monitoring burden on the cat and owner
- Whether the plan can be reduced to the lowest effective dose or frequency
VCA’s steroid guidance puts the goal this way: “The objective is to determine the lowest dose of medication that controls the condition with the least number of side effects.”
Further reading on the conditions
For background, Cornell’s inflammatory bowel disease and feline asthma pages explain the conditions most often treated with steroids. Neither page replaces a diagnosis for your cat.
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