My neutered male cat has firm spots on his belly. Is it normal?
The area that you have circled in the photo is an area that we can feel mammary tissue (which males also have), fat or even lymph nodes. The most common thing we feel is fat which accumulates in the pouches on either side (which is likely what you are feeling in your female). Neutering or spaying a cat can decrease their metabolism and lead to weight gain, so it is common to find that they have more fat in that region after they are neutered or spayed. However, fat is normally quite soft and should not feel really firm, so I would recommend having your vet evaluate the area and make sure that it is normal. And presuming that it is, you can put Prince on a diet now, so he doesn't continue gaining weight! (Sorry Prince!)
I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025