Why do my cat's nipples have black spots or rings around them?

You are correct about the reasons for your observations. The skin color around the nipples and other places on the body can vary. Areas of dark fur often have darker, more pigmented skin. The kittens may have tried to nurse her making the nipples larger and pinker. Since she’s not spayed being around the kittens may have brought her into heat and the change in hormones can effect the size of the nipples too. I’m not overly concerned about this, I think what you are describing sounds fairly normal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Daisy.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This mass looks pretty serious. Any type of color change, especially dark like this one, makes us suspicious of cancer. I suggest you take her to your vet for an exam. Likely this mass will need to be surgically removed and sent to a laboratory for histopathology testing. I don't mean to scare you but I don't think this is something to ignore. I hope this helps. Best wishes.

This does look very dark, and I agree that in your picture it doesn't look like a tick. I'd recommend having your vet take a look in person to make sure the nipple has not become infected or that this isn't something like a skin tumor.

In your picture this looks like a fairly normal nipple, although it does seem a bit large. It's possible that this nipple is inflamed, or that there is a growth or tumor associated with it. I'd recommend having your vet examine the nipple in person to help determine what might be going on.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. These appear to likely be benign hyperpigmented spots, so if Magna seems comfortable and the spots aren’t changing, my level of concern is very low. Of course, the best input is possible when a vet can see the skin in person and take a sample if necessary to test (to rule out other common causes, such as a cancerous change), but I think chances are very high that this is nothing worrisome. I hope this helps!

Hello, it looks like the cat may be currently nursing. Other causes for enlarged mammary glands include benign mammary hyperplasia. It she is not nursing, then you can expect the mammary glands to decrease in size over the next 3-5 days. If this does not occur, then she should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Hope this helps

Hello, it looks like the hair follicles around the nipples could be plugged. You do not need to worry about it, besides making sure that Oreo is bathed and grooming on her own. There are some diets with increased essential fatty acids that may improve the over all coat health of your cat. Hope this helps and best of luck.