Cat throwing up and drippy stool

Question
I have a male cat (Rockie, about 11 years old) this started several months ago.  Rockie vomits then has a liquid stool and drips all over.  This happens about every 4-5 weeks.  Sometimes it is severe and sometimes not. Then he is fine until the next episode.

He is eating dry Hills Brothers CD---when I feed him 1/4 cup for his meal...he eats too fast and immediately throws up.  If I feed him 1/8 and wait 15-20 minutes and feed him a little more he seems to do fine.  

Do you think he has some type of intestinal bowel disorder?  I read one of your earlier replies addressing this problem.

Could it be a hairball problem (he has a real thick fluffy coat)?  To be honest I haven't given either of my 2 cats hairball treatments.

Can ingesting litter from cleaning cause this kind of problem?

I have a another cat, a female, named Rubee...and she has none of these symptons.  They eat the same food...Rubee had bladder stones a few years ago and has been eating CD ever since.

I am taking him to my vet this afternoon...and want to just be able to ask some intelligent questions.  You may not be able to reply to me before my appointment, but I would still like your opinion.  

Thank you.  

Mary Meyers

Answer
Hi Mary!  Rubee and Rockie...those names are just too cute!
As for Rockie...
This may be IBD/S (Irritable Bowel Disease/Syndrome), as these are very common symptoms of this ailment.  Your veterinarian may want to take a few x-rays to see if there is anything in his abdominal area that is causing these symptoms, like inflammation, a foreign body, ect.  If this is IBD/S, it is successfully treated with a short duration of steroid tablets like Prednisone and Prednisolone or a steroid injection called Depo Medrol, to decrease all of that inflammation in the GI track.  I personally feel as though Depo Medrol is the best treatment.  
A hairball would cause a little vomit...but it shouldn't cause diarrhea.  I truly wouldn't believe this to be the culprit.
The ingestion of the litter could be causing the problem, in which an x-ray could comfirm.
If you use any products like Febreze or the like, or carpet foam, ect., I have seen them cause these exact symptoms.  Even though these products may say "Safe For Pets", a pet can still have an allergic reaction to them.  I have a cat who had gotten very sick from one of these products...which is why I will never use them again. Our 5 other cats had no symptoms.  So, if you use any of these products, this may also be causing Rockie's upset stomach.
I think getting him to your veterinarian this afternoon, like you intend is the best thing to do for him.  With x-rays, your veterinarian should be able to determine exactly what is going inside Mr. Rockie's tummy!
I wish I could be of more help.  Please let me know how he does and what had been found.
I'll be thinking of Rockie and wishing him a clean bill of health,
Hilary