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We all know why female cats would need nipples, to feed their kittens. But, why do male cats have nipples? Is there any specific reason why they have nipples and how many nipples do they actually have?
In this article, we will be diving deep into why male cats have nipples as well as why genetically they need to have nipples.
Let’s get straight into it.
Why Do Male Cats Have Nipples?
Nipples are formed in the worms way before the kitten’s sex is determined. It’s due to this that both male and female cats have nipples. Male cats will have parallel rows of 2 to 5 nipples, though these will be vestigial nipples, meaning they don’t necessarily serve any purpose in male cats.
On the other hand, female cats will use their nipples to feed their kittens for the first few weeks, normally during the first four to six weeks.
As they grow in their mother’s wombs the male fetus is indistinguishable from the female fetus. The development of the different gender-specific traits will only begin once the cat’s DNA triggers the sex hormones that cause the specific trait development.
The testosterone in a male kitten’s fetus will eventually start halting the growth of the mammary glands.
But, is it normal for male cats to have nipples? It’s perfectly normal for male cats to have nipples since both male and female get their nipples way before gender is determined.
How Many Nipples Do Cats Have?
Cats, just like many other mammals will give birth to multiple babies all at once. This means the “feeding stations” need to be sufficient enough to support all the kittens.
But, how many nipples do cats really have? Cats, in general, will have between 6 and 8 nipples. Some cats however are known to have fewer nipples while others have more than this.
This applies to both male and female cats. Interestingly, cats will always have an even number of nipples no matter the nipples count.
All the nipples are always located on the underside of the cat’s abdomen. You’ve probably noticed this while giving your furry little friend a belly rub.
Some cat breeds are quite hairy meaning that their nipples could be hidden from the extra fur and would require very close monitoring to be able to find their nipples. Others will have balding around their nipples making them very visible to our naked eye.
Are Cats Nipples Sensitive?
Nipples, in general, are quite sensitive, but this can be much more noticeable in certain conditions. The sensitivity could be from several reasons. One key reason could be purely medical-related. The other reason could be a sign of pregnancy – the sensitive nipples would be an indicator that you’ll soon be expecting additional members to your household.
Nipple sensitivity in cats could like be caused by inflammation of their breasts. If you notice that other than having a sensitive nipple, your cat is also experiencing redness, pain, and swelling; then your feline friend could be suffering from mastitis.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast that affects mostly animals with breasts including cats. This may affect one or multiple breasts and is always associated with swelling, redness, and pain on the affected breast. This has been known to mostly affect female cats.
Ensure to get your feline friend checked by your local vet as soon as you suspect your cat could be suffering from mastitis.
Let’s jump a little bit deeper on this topic and look at what causes mastitis, how to treat mastitis as well as preventing mastitis in cats.
What are some Causes of Mastitis in Cats? Mastitis is normally caused by bacteria that enter the teat canal (opening to the breast) causing inflammation and swelling. Mastitis is common in breastfeeding cats that live in dirty environments. It may also be caused by trauma from catfights or any sort of injury allowing a bacteria infection.
Kittens may also push dirt such as dirt, urine, or feces up their mom’s teat leading to bacterial infection that could later lead to mastitis. They can’t keep themselves clean like their mothers who are known to be great groomers.
Nursing female cats may also experience mastitis if there is a sudden accumulation of milk in their breast. This will occur if the kittens are prematurely weaned or the mother cat losses her kittens or if the kittens are not using all the breasts.
Treating Mastitis in Cats: Treating mastitis should be handled primarily by your vet. If the cause was a result of bacterial infection, it will need to treat with antibiotics. Special medicated wipes may also be recommended by your vet.
Your vet may also prescribe probiotics, pain medication, and anti-inflammatory medication to treat the symptoms and infection. If you have a nursing pet, ensure their bedding is regularly cleaned to prevent any further infections.
Preventing Mastitis in Cats: Cleaning your feline friend’s bedding area is the best solution to preventing mastitis in cats. Nursing cats tend to lie down with their teats facing the ground, exposing them to potential bacterial infections that could lead to mastitis.
There is a need to also ensure that kittens are feeding on all the teats and not on a selected few. You should also routinely check their teats and if swollen gently expressing them to help prevent mastitis.
Conclusion
Male cats have nipples because nipples in all animals are formed way before the gender of the kittens is determined. It’s because of this that male cats have nipples that don’t necessarily serve any purpose.
It’s perfectly normal for male cats to have nipples. The number of nipples and how they are position in your male cat’s body will always vary from breed to breed.
Why Do Male Cats Have Multiple Nipples?
Nipples are part of the body in a cat and other animals that are formed way before the cat’s gender is determined. The sex hormones will come later on and that’s when sexual traits will be determined. Most cats will have between 6 and 8 nipples even though some have been known to have more while others have been known to have less than this number.
Why Does my Male Cat Have Nipples?
Your male cat has nipples because nipples are formed way before the cat’s gender is determined. Once this has been determined the male nipples will seize growing or getting characteristics similar to those of their female counterparts as controlled by the sex hormones.
Do Male Cats Have More Than 2 Nipples?
Yes, male cats will have more than 2 nipples. They’ll normally have between 6 and 8 nipples. They have what is known as vestigial nipples which means they are non-functional nipples that don’t offer any specific benefit to the male cat’s body.
Why Do Male Kittens Have Nipples?
Male kittens have nipples because nipples in cats and other animals are formed way before the cat’s gender is determined. It’s recommended to look at other distinguishable body parts, other than nipples when trying to identify a kitten’s gender.
Do Male and Female Cats Have Nipples?
Yes, both male and female cats have nipples. Their nipples are formed way before their gender is determined. Male cats have vestigial nipples which serve no specific purpose in the male cat’s bodies.