Last Updated on January 9, 2021
If you ever asked a question concerning your cat’s nipples, you will find the answers here. You may be wondering… “Who the heck would be talking about cat nipples!?”. Well, I guess I am and plenty of people are curious! I know it is a funny subject but you may learn something new. So here are the most common questions asked on Google about feline nipples! Woo!
Do Male Cats Have Nipples?
Yes! Like other male mammals, male cats have nipples too! It is believed that the nipples are developed in the womb of mammals before the sex is determined. This is why males have nipples, even though they don’t really have any purpose.
How Many Nipples Do CATS HAVE?
There isn’t one set answer for this. Cats almost always have an even amount but cats have been known to have odd amounts as well. As for the number, cats can have as little as 4, but as many as 10! The average number being 6. Yes, this includes male cats as well! Some kittens from the same litter may have different amounts. You can have 2 kittens with 6 nipples and 4 kittens with 8 nipples. Sex doesn’t change the number, but purely genetics.
Is Nipple Size a Sign of Pregnancy?
Sure is! When a female cat is pregnant, much like other mammals, her nipples will change. Around 35 days, her nipples will become bright pink and larger. This is because the breasts are preparing to feed the kittens. Everything swells up and becomes sensitive.
Think your cat is pregnant? Check out Is My Cat Pregnant? for information on what to do next!
Where Are Cat Nipples Located?
When looking for a cat’s nipples, you have to look on the belly. Unlike humans, cats have nipples below the chest area. You will find them in even rows an inch or two away from the pelvis. Because of fur, it may be hard to find all of them but two can be found on the fine fur lining of the lower belly.
Some cats do have balding around the nipples making them very visible but this is completely normal and nothing to worry about. If you notice the bald spots are getting larger and they are becoming uneven in shape (often caused by excessive licking), it could be a sign of an infection or skin irritation on the nipple. If you notice any swelling or discharge and your cat is not pregnant, take them into a vet ASAP.
Shaved cat belly showing the nipples
Photo Credit: The Mad Cat Lady
Do Cats Leak Milk? Is It Normal?
Just like pregnant women, pregnant cats can leak milk just the same! This is actually quite common and normal. You may see her licking it off but do not worry, it is perfectly fine. She likely doesn’t like her fur being wet. Leaking nipples doesn’t necessarily mean your cat is close to giving birth. It can happen anytime throughout the pregnancy but it is more likely to happen the closer to birthing she is.
Did My Cat’s Nipple Fall Off?
The short answer to this is no. To learn more, please read our article Did My Cat’s Nipple Fall Off?
my cat is very obese. She also has two very prominent nipples. its been almost 3 years. Is it normal?
Hi! I got my cat spayed 2 weeks ago and now she seems to have discharge coming from her nipples.. all of them. There are no lumps around her nipples so I don’t think it is cancer.. any guesses?
Thanks for your comment. Has she been pregnant in the past, especially more recently? If so, this is likely due to a hormonal change and it will stop eventually. If not, she should be taken into a vet asap to ensure there is nothing medically wrong with her.
hi both my kitten started to get lumpy boobs is that normal they are both females
Thanks for your comment, hel. Are they spayed?
Hi so I got this cat last month and the lady said she hadn’t been spayed yet and she was three months old so I just thought okay ive got to spay her soon so she cant get pregnant but come to realize she is actually 5 months, and may be pregnant from her brother who also wasn’t spayed but im not sure if im picking up wrong signs, should I be worried?
Thanks for your comment, Tiana. Unfortunately, female cats can become pregnant as young as 4 months old which is why it is important to either keep them separate from males or get them spayed at 3 months. A female who is pregnant at a young age can run into health complications and the kittens are less likely to survive. Since she was around her brother who is not neutered, there is a good chance that she might be pregnant. She should be taken to a vet ASAP.
Hi our cat is 9 months old and miss 8 was counting her nipples she has 1 interest armpit of each front leg is this normal?
Ok so there is a stray cat that comes around my house I let her inside to it and then she cries to leave. I’m going to set a appointment with a vet to get her checked out. But her nipples are low hanging and it seems like there might be milk in them I’m not sure. She can’t be more then 6 months old deff not older then one year. She is very small and skinny with low hanging nipples. When I pick her up it feels like pouches. Do you think she just had kittens. Should I follow her to see idk what to do. I want to keep her and find her a home but if she just had kittens I don’t want them to die with out their mom so I let her back outside. She doesn’t go far tho or just stays outside my house.
Thanks for your comment, Marcia. There is a good chance she had or has kittens, yes. Female cats can become pregnant at a very young age but the younger they are, the higher the risk the kittens will not survive. If she is underweight, she might not be producing milk because of malnutrition which is bad for the kittens, if there are any. You can see if she will lead you to her nesting area. If there are any kittens, it is a good idea to move them for her to a safer area and bring them to the vet with her to get checked out. You should buy some kitten formula (KMR) once you confirm there are kittens and start feeding them right away as she likely has not been producing much if any milk at all.
We got this kitten at 3 months old, and had her spayed shortly after. She is now 7 years old and has her back pair of nipples bare of fur and developed like a pregnant cat nearing birth.The rest of her nipples are very hard to find because of her fur, and she is short haired. she is healthy, eats well and exhibits no health problems. What could be causing this?
Thanks for your comment, Ronald. This is likely just due to her aging. If they do not look irritated or infected, there is likely no cause for concern. If you notice swelling, discharge, or you excessively licking them, it is best to take her into a vet to rule out any medical issues.
hello! i just adopted a stray (she litterally just walked into my house and has been glued ot me since) who i did take to the vet as she was super malnutrioned. we can tell she had babies but its been long while, we can tell they been whined off or possibly passed away. she started getting proper food and all of it went straight to her nipples, so now they are full of milk. but get this only a few did. is that normal to have a few tits get filled of milk? one is kinda huge looking to me so it worries me but this is also first time dealing with anythign pregnancy wise with a cat. also would her going thru horomone changes and getting used to having good food be reason her poo smells more then normal?
Thanks for your comment tinag. She is still likely going through the hormonal phase of feeding kittens, and without kittens to feed, she will become swollen and tender. This should go away in a few weeks. She could have been malnourished to the point where she was not producing any milk and her body is just reacting according to a delayed response from hormones. If you have any concerns with anything looking or feeling strange, it is best to have a vet check her out.
thank you so much! i figured it was a case of not able to produce milk. i just never heard of only a few tits get filled of milk while others dont, but im guessing that was a case of all of them were almost dried out til she started to get proper food and care. thank you again. i useally go to my vet for everything but they been SWAMPED with people so i thought id try my luck for what others thought first.
My cst is pregnant. We took her in on May 20 and they said she was about halfway through her pregnancy. Is not june 4th and her nipples have a white cap and black dogs around each nipple. Is it because she keeps licking and sucking on them? Is this normal? This is my first time experiencing a cat pregnancy and I’m concerned.
there is one nipple on my cat that is kinda concerning me one of the nipples are about to fall off is that normal
my cats nippes are just a little bit white on the top is tihs normal?
its ok how many kittens has she had
What if the cat is not trying to push them out
i HAVE A 13 YEAR OLD DIABETIC CAT. I JUST NOTICED ONE OF HER NIPLLES HAS BECOME BROWN AND HARD AND HANGSDOWN. SHE USUALLY DOES NOT LET US TOUCH HAR STOMACH, BUT AS I WAS BRUSHING HER I NOTICED IT. IN THESE DAYS ON CORONAVIRUS I AM IN ITALY AND CAN NOT GET HER TO A VET ANY IDEAS WHAT IT MIGHT BE.
Thanks for your comment Pauline. If your cat isn’t showing signs of pain and there is no sign of pus or drainage, the nipple could have lost circulation and died. If this is the case, it will eventually just fall off. Just let it be and keep an eye on it. When you are able to, take her in to see a vet just to be sure but you shouldn’t have anything to worry about if there are no infectious signs.
My cats pregnant and she has these little brown spots around her nipples, she’s been checked for fleas and she has none. The brown spots don’t wipe away very easy and she doesn’t act like anything’s bothering her. Is this normal and does it mean labors near?
Is there someway I can send you a pic? My cats nipples look weird too
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