No matter how much love and attention you give, felines experience cat illnesses. Recognizing cat health symptoms is challenging because, unlike their human caregiver, cats are rather stoic soldiers. They don't go around grumping when they've a belly ache.

Here are five Hot Cat Health Conditions that should alert you that your cat-like is fighting off sickness or injury.

1-- A Loss of Appetite

Train yourself to be a responsive and observant caregiver. Take notice when a cat has stopped eating or skipped a meal. If your cat experiences trouble eating, drinking or swallowing, then there is a cause for concern. it's a big RED, FLASHING LIGHT that something is wrong.

A change or lack of appetite can happen gradually or suddenly. Recognizing a change in appetite can be complex if food is left out for cats to share in a multi-cat household. Her appetite may be off because she's struggling with a hairball or she ate a bad mouse. Far worse, she consumed a poisoned mouse and she's now poisoned, or she's in the early stages of a serious illness like kidney disease or fatty liver syndrome.

When your cat misses a couple of meals it's time for a visit to the vet. don't wait to see if she's going to suddenly start eating. The sudden drop in food intake causes damage to the liver. This turns into a vicious cycle where the cat will not eat because her liver is sick and no food intake aggravates the liver damage.

two -- she's Lethargic

A detectable change in your cat's energy levels is also a good indicator that something is awry. Cats do sleep a lot, as much as 18-20 hours a day. However, if you notice she has zero interest in her beloved toys or catnip, she's quietly telling you something is wrong. She has pain or a fever and feels lousy.

three -- she's Losing Weight

She likely isn't eating well. When cats are sick they stop eating. When you lift your cat does she feel lighter than normal? Weight loss goes hand-in-hand with loss of appetite, but it can also be a sign of kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes and cancer. Weight loss is considered a serious sign of cat illness and should prompt an immediate trip to the veterinarian.

four -- she's Drinking A Lot of Water (Urinating A Lot Too!)

Does she fall to sleep while drinking at the water bowl? The good news is that she's still drinking. A increased need for water leads to an increase in urine. Obviously the two are linked together. After all, if she takes a lot of water in, it has got to go out sometime. Common causes of excessive thirst and urination include kidney disease, diabetes and elevated thyroid levels.

five -- Urination Is Painful or Interrupted

When a cat strains using the litter-box, has accidents outside the box, squats for a long time, cries, or repositions herself over and over, you've spotted a problem indicating one or more cat illnesses. If you could view her urine under a microscope, odds are you would find traces of blood.

Male cats may lick at the tip of the penis or suddenly lose his appetite, vomit or become very vocal during urination. More than likely he's experiencing a complete blockage. A male cat that is straining during urination is having a fire-alarm emergency. Get him to the vet pronto.

When a female cat strains during urination it may not be a complete blockage because her urethra (the tube that drains the bladder to the outside) is wider than a male cat's and is less likely to clog. However, if she can't urinate that means she can't eliminate her body's liquid waste. A blocked cat becomes ill in twenty-four hours and can die in seventy-two hours -- don't wait for the weekend to pass!

Your veterinarian can unblock the urethra by inserting a catheter. This removes the obstruction allowing the urine to drain. it's most easily accomplished with early detection of the problem.

Urinary problems can be caused by a number of things, including bladder stones in the urethra, dietary causes, bacterial infections and the least understood problem, cat-like lower urinary tract disorder (FLUTD). This illness can be related to stress or a virus similar to a human's cold sore.

Some cat illness can be handled with gentle care and love at home, but other conditions are potentially life-threatening requiring immediate medical attention. As a cat-like caregiver, there is a certain amount of on-the-job training, but delaying a trip to the vet or waiting to see if things improve can be expensive or even cost your cat-like her life.

Your relationship with your cat is what helps you get through your personal trials and rough times. If you lost her because you failed to recognize a life-threatening, but treatable condition would you always regret your ignorance? The answer is obvious isn't it?

Bottom line: Don't be shy about calling your vet. Also, find a trusted resource to coach you through cat behavior or cat care questions and your chances for having a delightful, loving and long-lived cat-like partner become a whole lot better.