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My cat has a soft lump near her nipple. Could it be a tumor?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 12 years and 1 month old

Hi, I'm very concerned because I've discovered a very tiny lump (2 mm in diameter) at around 0.5 inch distance from my cat's nipple. The lump is very soft and it is not actually under the skin and is not attached to it. I think it's located somewhere on her chest muscles (rib cage). The lump is also not visible externally. The nipple itself appears to be normal. Should I be worried or is it unlikely to be a tumor?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Sarah Derksen, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 27th, 2018

Hi. Poor Martha. Yes, any lump around the mammary area is concerning until proven benign. Especially if she was spayed later in life. The sooner these get checked and then removed if needed, the better the outcome. I would definitely recommend getting it checked and having them take a needle sample to look at the cells that it is made up of. This will help guide the next steps. If you would like to discuss further, you can open a consultation if you'd like. Good luck.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on August 26th, 2018
Some cats aren't good at weaning the kittens. You may need to physically separate them for a few weeks to break the habit.

I would have a vet check out this new lump. It may be normal, or could indicate infection, a cyst, or breast cancer. The vet will examine the lump and may take a sample of cells to look at under the microscope to see what could be causing it.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on May 23rd, 2017
That could be quite normal, mammary gland will reduce in size and get back to normal consistency soon. It is NOT normal if mammary glands are red, painful or if there is small amount of blood coming out from nipples. Those could be signs of mastitis.

Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on May 28th, 2017
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.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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