Hi, I just read your post about prednisone. I have a cat named Jimmy who has both asthma and IBD and he was originally on prednisone but for the past few years he has been on prednisilone which is a bit easier on the system for cats but can give the same effects. You can get it in a transdermal form which I used for a few years. It's a cream and you put a tiny bit on the back of a spoon or on the tip of a gloved finger and you smear it inside the earflap. I used to rub it in fairly well because at the time, I had another cat named Charlie who used to groom Jimmy and I was concerned that he might ingest some of it. I've now switched to the tablets though because it's so inexpensive and right now that is important for us. I crush it up in his wet food and he eats it right up.
The pred does increase his appetite and for the short time that I had my other cat Tiger on it, it made him absolutely ravenous! I've got Jimmy on a constant dose of 1/2 a 5mg tablet every other day and it helps control the diarrhea associated with his IBD and helps with his asthma. His stools are always very soft though and I think this is just how it's going to be for him. Despite it all, he is a very frisky and happy guy. Hope your Charlie perks up soon and begins eating and regaining his health.