diff --git a/src/Valitron/Validator.php b/src/Valitron/Validator.php
index f4fd6f2..5fc5c84 100644
--- a/src/Valitron/Validator.php
+++ b/src/Valitron/Validator.php
@@ -233,11 +233,17 @@ class Validator
      *
      * @param  string $field
      * @param  mixed  $value
+     * @param  array  $params
      * @return bool
      */
-    protected function validateInteger($field, $value)
+    protected function validateInteger($field, $value, $params)
     {
-        return preg_match('/^-?([0-9])+$/i', $value);
+        if (isset($params[0]) && (bool) $params[0]){
+            //strict mode
+            return preg_match('/^-?([0-9])+$/i', $value);
+        }
+
+        return filter_var($value, \FILTER_VALIDATE_INT) !== false;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/Valitron/ValidateTest.php b/tests/Valitron/ValidateTest.php
index e5fe053..8ac6b2d 100644
--- a/tests/Valitron/ValidateTest.php
+++ b/tests/Valitron/ValidateTest.php
@@ -116,19 +116,33 @@ class ValidateTest extends BaseTestCase
         $this->assertTrue($v->validate());
     }
 
+    public function testIntegerStrict(){
+
+        $v = new Validator(array('num' => ' 41243'));
+        $v->rule('integer', 'num');
+        $this->assertTrue($v->validate());
+
+        $v = new Validator(array('num' => ' 41243'));
+        $v->rule('integer', 'num',  true);
+        $this->assertFalse($v->validate());
+
+        $v = new Validator(array('num' => '+41243'));
+        $v->rule('integer', 'num');
+        $this->assertTrue($v->validate());
+
+
+        $v = new Validator(array('num' => '+41243'));
+        $v->rule('integer', 'num', true);
+        $this->assertFalse($v->validate());
+
+    }
+
     public function testIntegerInvalid()
     {
         $v = new Validator(array('num' => '42.341569'));
         $v->rule('integer', 'num');
         $this->assertFalse($v->validate());
 
-        $v = new Validator(array('num' => ' 41243'));
-        $v->rule('integer', 'num');
-        $this->assertFalse($v->validate());
-
-        $v = new Validator(array('num' => '+1231'));
-        $v->rule('integer', 'num');
-        $this->assertFalse($v->validate());
 
         $v = new Validator(array('num' => '--1231'));
         $v->rule('integer', 'num');
@@ -142,7 +156,7 @@ class ValidateTest extends BaseTestCase
     public function testIntegerWithMaxValidation()
     {
         $v = new Validator(array('num' => ' 4212341569'));
-        $v->rule('integer', 'num');
+        $v->rule('integer', 'num', true);
         $v->rule('max', 'num', 1000);
         $this->assertFalse($v->validate());
     }