Why is my 5-year-old male cat's nipple enlarged, white, and hard?

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.

It would be hard to determine what the growth is without having it examined by a vet. Infections such as abscesses often are hot to the touch, painful, swell rapidly and may ooze debris from them if they pop open. Tumors and other growths may have different rates of growth and may or may not be bothersome to your cat. It is best to bring him into your vet to have the area looked at, and it may be drained or aspirated to take a sample for sending off to the lab. If the area is an infection, it can be drained and antibiotics given to prevent its return. Until you can get to the vet it is best to not allow your cat to lick or chew at the area with the use of a T-shirt or Elizabethan (cone) collar so that bacteria or a secondary infection are not introduced.

I see what you mean about Pepper's nipple, it is a big redder around the base and more enlarged than the nipple in the third picture. What I am a bit worried about is the small lump, and due to that, yes I think it should be checked out by a vet to be safe. I don't think it's a serious issue, but I cannot say that for sure without seeing her, so having it checked out by a vet is best. Give her vet a call now to make her an appointment. I hope this helps!

This looks like the nipple and surrounding skin is inflammed from an injury or contact with something irritating. You can clean the area with a warm wet cloth. I wouldn't put anything on it as that may make him lick it. This should improve over the next few days. If it gets worse, more discharge or he's itching the area then I would take him in for an exam. He may need an antibiotic injection and something to reduce the inflammation. From the photo this is nothing to be overly concerned about. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Harper.

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.

Hi there, I would have your vet check Milo. It's nothing urgent, but it could be a small mass that is growing around the nipple and it may need to be removed. Your vet can test the area first and tell you what the next best step is. I hope that helps and thanks for using Pet Coach!

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