Thanks so much everyone for the info. I did post on
rec.pets.cats.health+behav and haven't had any responses (from Phil or
anyone else there) in the past few days, so I guess I'll ask here.
Sorry if it is OT.

We did have blood work done and everything was normal (no elevated blood
cell counts for infection), but his kidney count was a little high.  The
vet said that it could be cancer or it could be a urinary tract or
kidney infection.  He HAS been drinking an awful lot of water, but we
have been giving him these treats that my wife brought home from Germany
(they are sticks that resemble those Slim Jims (length and size) but are
red or brown).
He loves them and we have been pretty much giving them to him a few
times a day, but they seem to make him very thirsty.  Could this all be
from too much salt in his diet?

We are having an X Ray done tonight and the vet said she would try to
extract a urine sample to see if she could see any infection that may
not have shown up on the blood work (which she said is entirely possible).

Any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks in Advance

a VERY worried ~Simon~