Hi, I'm very concerned because I've discovered a very tiny lump (2 mm in diameter) at around 0.5 inch distance from my cat's nipple. The lump is very soft and it is not actually under the skin and is not attached to it. I think it's located somewhere on her chest muscles (rib cage). The lump is also not visible externally. The nipple itself appears to be normal. Should I be worried or is it unlikely to be a tumor? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 12 years and 1 month old

Hi. Poor Martha. Yes, any lump around the mammary area is concerning until proven benign. Especially if she was spayed later in life. The sooner these get checked and then removed if needed, the better the outcome. I would definitely recommend getting it checked and having them take a needle sample to look at the cells that it is made up of. This will help guide the next steps. If you would like to discuss further, you can open a consultation if you'd like. Good luck.

Some cats aren't good at weaning the kittens. You may need to physically separate them for a few weeks to break the habit. I would have a vet check out this new lump. It may be normal, or could indicate infection, a cyst, or breast cancer. The vet will examine the lump and may take a sample of cells to look at under the microscope to see what could be causing it.

That could be quite normal, mammary gland will reduce in size and get back to normal consistency soon. It is NOT normal if mammary glands are red, painful or if there is small amount of blood coming out from nipples. Those could be signs of mastitis. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.