Why does my unspayed female kitten have lumps under her nipples?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mellow. I recommend showing the bumps to her veterinarian tomorrow at the check in for surgery. You can be advised if they are anything to worry about for her. Older cats will develop mammary growths, but this would be unusual in such a young kitten. It is hopefully fine, but you do need to mention it. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is likely mammary gland hyperplasia which is benign growth of the breast tissue in cats. It can happen after the cat is spayed if they ovulated and were recently in heat before the surgery. It is secondary to hormonal influence. It should resolve on it's own. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Princess. Yes, I would make an appointment for her to see her veterinarian right away. Cats, that have not been spayed, are very prone to developing mammary tumors. The majority of these tumors are unfortunately cancerous. If this appears to be the case, her veterinarian may recommend some testing or discuss surgery with you. I hope this information helps!

If the nipples are more pronounced, and the area around them is enlarged, and she’s acting strangely then she’s probably coming into heat. You’ll know by her overly friendly or different behavior. If not then I recommend having your veterinarian examine these to determine the reason and prescribe treatment if needed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your cat.

A lump in such a young cat could be an infection, a small wound, an insect bite, a lymph node, or waaay less likely, a mass. If she's going to a full-service veterinarian tonight they can definitely give you a good idea of what's going on. If you're going to a vaccine clinic, they'll be more limited in what they can do but can still give you a good idea if it's something normal or concerning. Between now and then, just leave the bump alone so that doesn't get bigger from being messed with. Don't try to clean it or pop it or remove it in anyway. Good luck to you and Kitty!

It sounds as though Knox is exhibiting signs of a false pregnancy. Since she was spayed last month, it is not possible for her to actually become pregnant. Rarely, a portion of ovarian tissue (referred to as ovarian remnant syndrome) can remain after a spay, which then produces hormones and can cause signs of heat and possible pregnancy. I do recommend taking Knox to her vet for an exam and to consider blood hormone levels to determine if ovarian remnant syndrome is suspected. For further reading, take a look at this link: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3507. I hope that all goes well!

It is not likely to be a retained kitten if she had [a normal delivery](https://www.petcoach.co/article/queening-giving-birth-in-cats) and is behaving normally otherwise (no [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/vomiting/), [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/diarrhea/), [loss of appetite](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-isnt-my-cat-eating), discharge, etc.). It may be a hernia, but your veterinarian will need to make the diagnosis after a physical exam. If it is a hernia, a repair may be done if you decide to have her spayed. [Spaying](https://www.petcoach.co/article/spaying-ovariohysterectomy-the-benefits-in-cats) would strongly be recommended if she is not breeding stock or a show cat. This would prevent accidental or unwanted litters in the future. Spaying also decreases the risk of mammary gland tumors (breast cancer) and eliminates the risk of a pyometra (uterine infection) later in life.