urachal diverticulum

My friend's cat most likely has this and needs it removed. I just read a little about it and it seems it has to do with a small nipple like protrusion on top of the bladder which can protect a bladder infection... in other words it will hide the infection so even tests will not show the infection? Am I understanding this right? Anyone know? That is why it needs removed so you can see if the cat has a bladder infection?

Can anyone give me some tips or suggestions, alternative treatment if any, or funding help for this surgery? I seriously have never heard of this before and my friend asked me for advice.

It's an abnormality that is like a vestige of a body part that we don't have anymore. Sometimes it's still in the genes. It's a little cranny can harbor bacteria that are not seen anywhere else so a urine culture can come out clean, but the bladder still has infective bacteria in it. It allows bad things to hide in it, and it may protect the infection from antibiotic therapy. Think about this the same way as your appendix. Sometimes it's a problem, and sometimes it's not.
Removing it is not really a diagnostic tool, it's a way of preventing further bladder infections, but while you have it out, you can certainly diagnose a problem there. If the cat has chronic bladder infections, there is a good posibility that removing the diverticulum will eliminate the problem.

wonderful, thank you, that makes perfect sense. Now I just have to help her find a vet that won't charge an arm and a leg for it, but I bet that will be hard.