Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My unspayed cat has a swollen nipple. Is it a mammary tumor?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Hemingway Cat | Female | unspayed | 12 years and 1 month old | 7 lbs

She has a swollen nipple, no pain

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 11th, 2019

I'm concerned about this. I see that Mooshie isn't spayed, which leaves her susceptible to mammary tumors. In cats, 90% of mammary tumors are malignant. This could be the beginning of a tumor. Please have her seen by a vet for this.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 9yr old female cat has recently gotten A quarter size rock hard lumpity mass on her bottom right nipple. It is extremely painful, swollen & full of A watery fluid. PLEASE HELP me/her get some medical attention. I have no insurance or money for A v
In an unspayed female cat this is almost always mammary (breast) cancer. You need to find a way to get her to a vet. This is not something you can treat at home. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/mammary-tumors-in-cats ) ( https://www.dogingtonpost.com/need-help-with-vet-bills-or-pet-food-there-are-resources-available/ ) Mammary cancer is EXTREMELY rare in spayed cats so, in the future, if you get more cats, please have them spayed as young as possible to prevent this.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Have recently found a small round cystlike growth under my cats nipple. She is coming on heat but other than that is very well. But very worried. I'm checking everyday to see if it gets bigger been 4 days now what should I do and is it serious?
In an unspayed female cat, the most worrisome possibility with any kind of growth or lump in this area is a mammary tumor - these are unfortunately very common in cats. It's also possible that it could be something less serious, such as a cyst or localized infection of some kind. Even if it doesn't seem to be getting bigger, I would still recommend taking her to the vet to have this checked as soon as you are able to - if it is a tumor, removing it while it's still small will give her the best chance of a good outcome.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi. I am writing you for my cat. he is 13-14 yer old. Lat few months she got a big swollen thing on her breast. I wanted to take her to vet but my friends who had the same condition told me not to. Because in their cat things got worse after surgery.
I'm wondering if your cat is spayed or not. If your cat isn't spayed, she could have a mammary tumor. In cats, 90% of these are malignant. She does have to see a vet for this problem, as a malignant tumor could also be causing her to vomit. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have noticed my cat has got 2 lumps under her nipple would i need to book her an appointment at the vets ?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Princess. Yes, I would make an appointment for her to see her veterinarian right away. Cats, that have not been spayed, are very prone to developing mammary tumors. The majority of these tumors are unfortunately cancerous. If this appears to be the case, her veterinarian may recommend some testing or discuss surgery with you. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Wondering what this could be on my cat, shes older probably between 9-10 years if age. I cant remember exactly, shes had bumps all over her stomach for over a year i believe but it hasnt ever effectef her food intake or how much shes moving around. S
Unfortunately it looks like to me that your cat may have a mammary tumor. Those can be common in cats who aren't spayed, and 90% of these tumors are malignant. This is something that needs to be checked out by a vet as soon as possible. If she does have mammary tumors, they will need to be removed surgically and she will have to have local lymph nodes biopsied to see if the cancer has spread. I would call a vet today to get her an appointment right away. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My female pit bull boxer has extremely swollen nipples. She has not had pups and her lower two are bigger than the others and are causing her pain. She has been sleeping and laying down the past few days and is not her playful self . I am unsure of w
Unspayed dogs can be prone to mammary tumors, which causes swelling and pain. Fifty percent of these mammary tumors are malignant, so you will need to take Mocha into a vet first thing in the morning to have this examined and diagnosed. Once the cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Our Mooshie has had a swollen nipple for awhile now, but she was doing fine, now it's bigger and her whole under area is lumpy and she doesn't want to be picked up, I've been putting petroleum on it and bandaging it for a few hours a day for the last
I see that Mooshie isn't spayed. This lump may be a mammary tumor and in cats, 90% of mammary tumors are malignant. She has to see a vet for this. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. I'd also see if you can borrow money from family and friends. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
So there is a young cat who had recently been pregnant and was still producing milk The vet at the shelter I work at spayed her. Before the spray she had quite a bit of milk but after the spay it looks very abnormal. Super swollen and just overall o
I am sorry to hear about your kitty! From the photos I would b concerned about a condition called mammary hyperplasia. Luckily it is not usually associated with cancer and once the ovaries are removed (which occurs in a spay) the swelling should resolve within a few weeks. She should definitely have an exam when the vet is back in the office to be sure, and to ensure we don’t have any infection present.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
One of my cat’s nipple is a little bit of swollen and red, she is overall in good health,eat well and active. She doesn’t seem to be bother nor lick it often. I wonder if this is serious
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! It is hard to know for sure without an examination. This could be a growth for example. If you think it is just very mild then monitor her closely and have her examined if at any point it progresses or it just does not resolve within the next month or so. Hopefully this is just transient inflammation. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a swollen nipple and its gotten progressively worse what could it be?
I see that Brandy isn't spayed. When dogs aren't spayed, they are prone to developing mammary tumors. There is a 50% that a mammary tumor can be malignant, and it's concerning that her swollen nipple is getting larger. I would take her into a vet as soon as possible. The vet can diagnose if she does have a mammary tumor, and if she does have one, if it's malignant or not. Malignant tumors will have to be removed surgically. Please take her into a vet this weekend or first thing Monday. Good luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Cat Food Cat Supplies Wet Cat Food Cat Health & Wellness Cat Medicine Cat Toys Pain Meds & Arthritis Relief for Cats Cat Thyroid Medication Canned Cat Food Vaccines and Shots for Cats Pumpkin Patch Up! Cat Health & Wellness Glandex Cat Health & Wellness Nutri-Vet Cat Health & Wellness M.O.E. Pets Cat Supplies Imuquin Cat Health & Wellness CAT by Dr Lisa Cat Health & Wellness Methimazole Cat Medicine Moe's Healthy Pets Flora Inc Cat Health & Wellness Methimazole Cat Thyroid Medication
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored