Cats can develop a number of problems related to the bladder and urethra.
The confusion over names reflects the confusing and changing nature of these problems in cats. As long as 70 years ago, signs of lower urinary tract disease in cats were commonly seen by veterinarians. Today, these remain some of the most challenging and frustrating problems in feline medicine. A common term used in describing some of these conditions is cystitis, which means inflammation of the bladder. Urethritis means inflammation of the urethra, the tube leading from the bladder to void urine outside the body.