Question

Some of my cat’s nipples have become extremely hard and swollen, but she isn’t pregnant. What’s going on?

Answer

Your cat has probably developed a condition called feline mammary hyperplasia complex. This is a benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the nipples and teats caused by hormones that cats produce during their heat cycle. It’s mostly a problem seen in young cats.

Having your cat spayed should solve the problem, though it may take some time after surgery for the enlargement to go down. The first step you need to take is bringing your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup. Your veterinarian can make sure that the swelling is, in fact, caused by hormones and isn’t dangerous, and you can make an appointment to have your cat spayed.