Cat has mammary cancer, nipple leaking. Can suckling kittens get sick?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Angel is feeling unwell. Her behaviour may be related to the crusting around her mammary glands, but it could also be something else entirely (pain, infection, stress, etc). If she is still lethargic and/or not eating within the next 24 hours, I would advise taking her to the vet. If there is an actual lump around her nipple, the vet may recommend taking a sample of the lump to see whether it is cancer. They will also perform a full physical exam to check for any signs of pain or infection. I hope this helps, and that Angel is feeling better soon!

Poor Kitty! Mammary tumors can grow and rupture, so it is possible that she has a mammy tumor that has burst through the skin. It is important to make a decision quickly about treatment with mammary tumors in cats, as 90% of these tumors are malignant with rapid spread to nearby lymph nodes and mammary glands. The sooner she receives treatment if she has mammary cancer, the better for her. I would recommend making a decision as soon as possible regarding treatment for Kitty.

Sometimes mama cat's will let their kittens suckle much longer than is healthy. I would recommend separating the mom and her kitten, or you can have her wear a pet shirt or baby onesie to cover the nipples. You can apply warm compresses several times a day to the swollen gland. If it becomes hard, warm, seems painful, or if Zara has a poor appetite or a rectal temperature over 103, she should be seen by a vet as she may have developed mastitis (or an infection of the mammary gland) and would need antibiotics.

Hi. It appears to be a mass that is oozing near that nipple area. This could be an infection or an actual mass. We get concerned with older female pets who have masses on the mammary glands. They can get benign masses, but they can get cancer as well. I'd get her right away to have it checked and sampled asap

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do for Mami at home, she has to see a vet immediately. It sounds like she has mastitis, which is an infection of the mammary glands. Mastitis is life threatening and does require immediate medical attention. To treat it requires antibiotics, which can only be prescribed by your vet. The pus is not contagious, so you don't have to worry about your boys. Please take her into a vet now.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Fiona. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine if the mass is cancerous or not just by looking at it. Her veterinarian could perform a simple procedure known as a fine needle aspirated. The doctor would use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. This can lead to a diagnosis in some cases, but can be inaccurate. For a more accurate diagnosis, the mass would need to surgically removed and the whole mass submitted to the laboratory for a pathologist to review. I understand your hesitancy to do so given her age. That being said, cats have a higher rate of cancerous mammary tumors compared to dogs. Furthermore, the mass appears ulcerated in your picture. This can can associated with malignancy as well. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that it is cancerous. I hope this information helps.

Poor Jaffacake! I am very concerned she may have mammary tumors which are often cancer, and potentially an infectious cat disease causing her breathing issues. If at all possible she really needs a full examination by a vet, blood work to evaluate her internal organ status, and testing for infectious diseases. I strongly encourage you to have her spayed as well. Hope that helps!