Finicky gassy cat

[nicknameny]

Three weeks ago I adopted a young cat who's owner passed away. When I got the cat, I was told she was depressed and wasn't eating much but wasn't given much of a medical history (or her age). I didn't think much of it and assumed she would be okey with time.

I have tried feeding her two brands of dry food - one which she didn't like at all and another that she ate but kept throwing up. I then tried Friskies canned food which seemed to work for a while then she started throwing up again and stopped eating. We are now on Fancy Feast which she seems to love but I don't know how long this will last since I saw a bit of throw up on the couch (brownish watery with some fur). Her breath is sometimes very gassy but her stool is okey. She is drinking and peeing as expected too.

She is more energetic and less skinny but I would really like to know what else I can do to help her. The vet is out of question for the time being since I have hefty med bills of my own.

[opus88]

that really concerns me because of your earlier comments about her vomiting and now the inappropriate illumination...something is wrong and she is trying to tell you she is hurting.
I will send you a site to read...most of it may not even pertain to her..but important to read in any case..when you get down near the bottom of this article there are several diseases highlighted in BLUE I want you to click on the link for Hyperthyroidism, with the vomiting, weight loss and inappropriate elimination I have a strong suspicion she may have this condition.
I know you are in a tight spot with medical bills and I am very sorry for you both. Is there anyway you can get her in and ask for a T4 thyroid test, the test alone shouldn't be too expensive call your local clinics and ask. If she proves to have this she would need to be on a medication to control her thyroid level....
please keep us posted and I sure hope you can manage to get her tested...don't give up on the poor dear girl, she is ill and needs your help:(

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/06/16/tracking-down-the-cause-of-your-cats-bad-bathroom-habits.aspx

[nicknameny]

Thank you for responding with all the good information.

Now for some really strange reason she has started pooping right outside the litter box. I keep it clean and it's big enough for her so I just don't get it. I think she is trying to drive me crazy!!

[opus88]

heres another good site with info on why cats vomit....

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/12/17/vomiting-vs-regurgitating.aspx?e_cid=20121217_PetsNL_art_1

[opus88]

good for you for taking in this kitty and caring for her.....also GOOD you got her on canned food and not dry. I will send you a website that may help with your questions...but I have a couple quick suggestions, first of all feed her just very small amounts at one feeding than do so frequently throughout the day...never more than 1/4 can at one feeding..if you are going to feed the fancy feast that so far she is liking than please try the pate varieties...less carbs and therefore perhaps less gas..
also have you tried giving her some hairball treatment? the vomiting maybe a lodged hairball..you can get this at a good pet supply store...or at least once a day in her food give her approx 1/4 teaspoon of egg YOLK, this will emulsify the hairball if there is one...just is only a 'hopeful' guess that this is what maybe causing the vomiting...of course there could be many medical reasons why this is happening, but hopefully it won't be a complicated issue and only a hairball...heres the site on nutrition read it all and follow the links there is lots of very good info contained in that site, hope this is helpful. keep posting and let us know how she is doing:)

http://www.catinfo.org/