Do Male Cats Have Nipples?

This is a question asked by many cat owners. If you come to think of it, Human males have nipples too, so why not cats?

 

 

Cats are known to be placental mammals, and fall into the same category as horses, pigs, dogs, and of course, us!!

This means that their, and our young, form in the mother’s womb and she feeds them HER milk until they’re ready to take in solids.

 

 

HOW MANY NIPPLES?

 

Well the exact number of cat nipples can’t really be defined.

 

Although all cats nipples appear in pairs, the number of them differs.

 

When it comes to male cat nipples how many is a difficult one to answer. Some male cats will have four, six or even eight.

On the average though, the number is six.

 

And so you will find that even if cats are siblings who come from the same litter, they won’t all have the same number of nipples.

Their gender has nothing to do with how many nipples they will have.

 

When it comes to finding a male cats nipples, they occur in pairs down toward his pelvic area on his belly, and you will find male nipples black in color.

That’s of course if you wade through his fur!!

 

With females there is a large difference between pregnant cat nipples compared to normal. If not pregnant, she will have nipples that appear to look the same as a male cat’s nipples.

They look about the size of a large pimple.

 

WHY DO MALES HAVE NIPPLES?

 

It appears that when in the womb, both male and female fetuses begin development just the same.

Their different sexual characteristics only start to develop about 6 weeks into fetal development.

 

It is a Y chromosome that triggers the sex-determining gene to start producing male genitals.

If that Y chromosome weren’t involved, then the fetus would just continue developing as a female. 

 

Also, the Testosterone in the male kitten stops the production of mammary glands that are needed for feeding.

 

So then nipples are allowed to develop, as there just is not much of an advantage in the extra complication that would be involved in stopping them from developing. 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

So there you have it. It is true. Male cats have nipples, even though they have no practical use for them.

So, If you ever feel strange bumps on your cat’s belly, don’t panic! 

They are his nipples and are nothing to worry about!

 

If though you should see any changes taking place, so far as coloration, size or any abnormality,

such as being swollen or crusty, you may want to play it safe and have your fur baby checked out by a veterinarian.