Q: Regular physical activity improves colon function and can lessen symptoms of IBS.  If you have an outdoor cat, he might get a lot of exercise playing and running outside. Make sure he's going outdoors a few times a week. If weather, such as rain or snow, prohibits him from getting outside make sure you replace his outdoor exercise with indoor exercise that day. Cats, unlike dogs, are generally not walked. The bulk of physical activity therefore comes in the form of indoor play. You should provide your cat with a variety of toys and throw, pull, or dangle them for him each day to engage his interest. Aim for 15 to 20 minutes of play a day. If your cat is higher energy, and doesn't seem tired out at the end of 20 minutes, play with him until he loses interest.  If your cat is good with other animals, you might consider getting another cat. Cats tend to be more physically active when they live in groups as they run and play with one another. However, if your cat has past behavioral issues related to other animals, another pet could cause stress. Stress is linked to IBS flare-ups. Cats with IBS may experience flare-ups related to stress. Managing stress in your cat's life is important to reduce IBS symptoms.  Make sure your cat has access to a safe, private spot in your home. Cats might want to retreat from noise, especially if you have guests over, and they'll crave hiding spots like closets, cabinets, and kitty condos.  Minimize changes to routine, such as feeding and sleeping times. If changes are necessary, ease your cat into transitions. If you move, for example, get your cat used to his carrying crate before you have to transport him in a new location.  Always keep your litter box clean. Dirty living conditions bother cats, so excessive urine and fecal matter in a litter box can cause stress. Scoop out clumps of litter on a daily basis and once a week dump the existing litter and replace it with a clean, fresh batch. IBS is not a curable disease. Cats who suffer from IBS will have flare-ups their entire lives and you need to understand the long-term prognosis for your cat.  The disease will come and go with time. Your cat may go months or even years without a flare up and then experience symptoms again. As IBS is caused by a multitude of factors, predicting and preventing flare-ups is not always possible. However, if you consult your vet right away in the event of symptoms appearing, the disease can be effectively managed over time. Regular veterinary check-ups are important for any cat, but especially one with IBS. Your vet can monitor symptoms over time and adjust treatment as needed. Always take your cat in at the first sign of a flare up.
A: Make sure your cat exercises. Manage your cat's stress. Familiarize yourself with the long-term prognosis.

Q: Although it can be difficult, your strongest defense against intimidation is to recognize that the person's behavior has nothing to do with any deficiency in you or your work.  This is especially true if the person is threatening your job or insulting you in front of co-workers. When dealing with someone like that, it's easy to believe that your work is sub-par and that you need to do more.  However, sometimes your work is just as good, if not better, than that of your co-workers. The anxiety can lead to exhaustion when increased effort doesn't alter the bully's behavior. Observe the person's actions when they're not talking to you to see if they treat anyone else that way. Conversely, it may be that your bully is being bullied by someone else higher up the chain, and he or she is just passing it down. This doesn't excuse the behavior, but it can help you understand it and not take it as personally. Keep in mind that you are not the problem. Bullying is about fear and control, and isn't about your work performance. Even if your work isn't as good as that of your co-workers, you don't deserve to be bullied or intimidated by your supervisor. At least until you can better remedy the situation, try to keep your interactions with the problematic person to a minimum.  While avoiding the problematic person can be especially difficult if he or she is your direct supervisor, try to keep confrontations or altercations with the person to a minimum. For example, if you're expected to turn in reports to the person, you may consider delivering them when you know he or she is out of the office, or sending them using email rather than delivering hard copies. If the person tends to be less abusive or confrontational when you are with someone else, try talking to a co-worker about the situation to see if he or she is willing to accompany you when you must interact with the person who intimidates you. If you notice any issues that you believe are related to stress caused by the bully, a psychological professional can help you talk through them and provide you with strategies to minimize the impact of the behavior.  If you're concerned about cost, you can find out if sessions are covered under your health insurance. Additionally, colleges or universities in your area may have clinics that offer free or sliding-scale services.  Some states also have free or low-fee counseling available at their state mental health clinics or through pro bono networks. Keep in mind that bullying and intimidation at work can result in serious health problems if your anxiety and stress levels aren't monitored effectively. As much as you might like to stand your ground, in some cases the best thing for your health is to move on to a less hostile environment.  Particularly if the person you're having problems with is also your direct supervisor, you may have difficulty advancing in your company if he or she has it out for you. Looking for other opportunities doesn't necessarily mean you have to leave your company. If you like where you work – except for the one person – you may be able to make a lateral move to a different department, or switch to a different shift or a different working group that's supervised by someone else. If you apply at another company and are asked for references, you might want to use someone other than the problematic person, if at all possible. If there's no way around listing his or her name, keep in mind employers are legally limited in terms of what they can say about an employee.  Even though someone is engaging in intimidating behavior, state laws typically prohibit him or her from knowingly giving false information about your job performance or work history to a potential employer.  Remind yourself that moving to another job or company doesn't mean the bully "wins." Rather, it means you care more about yourself and your health and well-being to allow yourself to remain in that situation.
A:
Avoid taking the behavior personally. Keep your distance. Consider talking to a counselor or therapist. Start looking for other opportunities.