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My cat's nipples are swollen and hard after spay. Is this normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Exotic Shorthair | Female | 1 year and 4 months old | 4 lbs

My cat just got spayed after giving birth 7 weeks ago. An her nipples are very swollen and hard . I was wondering if that is normal ? If not what is the best thing I can do for her.

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 26th, 2021

Hello. If Lulu just weaned her kittens shortly before having her spay surgery, then most likely this is just the tissues in the intermediary phase before they begin to shrink down. If Lulu will allow you to place a warm compress on the nipples, this will assist in the blood flow necessary to help bring the swelling down. If the tissues become harder, red, or inflamed, or you notice any discharge from the nipples, please contact your veterinarian in case she requires additional treatment or medications like antibiotics. Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on May 30th, 2017

    Poor Shadow! A firm, enlarged nipple like this can be due to a few different things. The most common possibilities would be be mastitis (an infection of the mammary gland), or a mammary tumor - both of these are common in intact female cats. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to, so that this can be checked. If she has mastitis, she will need antibiotics to help treat the infection. If it's a mammary tumor, it will need to be surgically removed as soon as possible because these tumors are usually quite aggressive in cats.

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    Answered By Ana M, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 28th, 2019

    Thank you for submitting your question regarding Keke. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian. Mastitis is a serious infection of the mammary glands. It is extremely painful and will make the cat ill. If this is not the case, there is a condition known as mammary hyperplasia. In this scenario, she would need to be spayed to treat the condition. I hope this information helps!

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