What should you know about mastitis in male cats?

Cats of either sex have nipples and mammary tissue. Affected tissue may be swollen, warm, red, painful, or leaking fluid. A cat may lick the area, hide, lose appetite, or become less active. A lump, wound, abscess, or skin change can have causes other than mastitis, including trauma or a mammary tumour, so a hands-on veterinary examination matters.

Arrange veterinary care and prevent licking if the veterinarian recommends a suitable protective collar. Keep the cat indoors, handle the area gently, and do not squeeze, lance, massage, or apply creams. Never give human pain medicine; some common products are dangerous to cats. Note when the swelling began, whether it is changing, and any discharge, appetite change, or difficulty walking.

Seek urgent veterinary help if the cat is weak, very painful, feverish, vomiting, refusing food, breathing abnormally, or has rapidly spreading swelling, dark skin, pus, or bleeding. A cat that cannot urinate, stand, or respond normally needs emergency care regardless of the mammary finding.

Ask whether the finding looks like infection, injury, an abscess, or a mass; whether sampling is needed; how to protect the skin; and which changes should bring the cat back immediately.