cat sunscreen

morg_monster

Hiya
After getting an email from Battersea about the dangers of light coloured cats in the sun (well, their noses and ears) I was just wondering if we should be putting sunscreen on our tortie's nose? Half of it is in a gingery bit; half in a black bit. So the lighter bit it isn't as pink as if it was a white patch, but it isn't dark either. She doesn't really sunbathe that much; but maybe just because it's too hot to do so at the moment!
Anyone know?! And any recommendations for sunscreen that's cat safe? And will they just lick it off immediately if it's on their nose?!

scaredy_cat

a vet on bbc news at the weekend said a human sunscreen which is non toxic should be ok to use on cats - their ears and noses are the area which burn.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/8805108.stm

trets77

we have a pure White cat and have been putting Suncream on her for about 10+ years ( since we owned her) .

any high street brand is fine . we have stuck probably a dozen brands on her nose, which she has licked off without ever getting ill . Use a very high protection cream is my advice

only problem is it makes her ears a matted mess of dried suncream all summer , but she is more then used to it and thats a hell of lot better than having no ears .

our personal fav is this stuff

http://www.transsurf.co.uk/suncream/panama-jack-sun-block-lotion-surf-n-sport-spf75.aspx

at SPF 75 it's up to the job of protecting her very pink ears and nose , and goes on like glue and stays on .

Cat now 12 years old and healthy as a Kitten.

morg_monster

Thanks v much. I think I will just use my ultrasun on her then! Luckily her ears are pretty dark so only the nose to worry about!

clancy

I got a cat & dog sunblock from pets@home which i put on my cats ears & nose daily in this weather as they love laying in the long grass next to my house...

Sagz_2

My tabby/white cat has white ear tips but every time I've used sunclock on her (4 different brands) her ears have become swollen and 'crispy'. Discussed with the Vet and the only advise was to keep trying different brands as she was obviously allergic to the ones I'd tried.

Does anyone know of a natural sunblock? I know tomato is supposed to work for humans (when eaten) but she doesn't like them!

morg_monster

I was going to suggest a zinc oxide sunblock (the white stuff cricketer's use) as its a physical rather than chemical sunscreen, in case it is the chemicals she is allergic to, but a quick google discovered zinc is poisonous to dogs and cats (as always can't find any actual info on HOW poisonous).
Titanium oxide sunblock however looks much safer, maybe try one based on that (with as few extra ingredients as possible? (I read this)

loulou123

I always used a childs sunblock on my dog, as i figured that a child was more likely to get it into their mouth then an adult would! never had any bad reactions or anything.

picklepick

Norbertsmum wrote: »

My tabby/white cat has white ear tips but every time I've used sunclock on her (4 different brands) her ears have become swollen and 'crispy'. Discussed with the Vet and the only advise was to keep trying different brands as she was obviously allergic to the ones I'd tried.

Does anyone know of a natural sunblock? I know tomato is supposed to work for humans (when eaten) but she doesn't like them!

And tomatoes are another thing thats toxic to cats so best not to pursue that route!

Fire_Fox

Thread on cat safe and lick-proof sunscreens here, apparently the ingredient to watch for is salicylates.
http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,31697.0.html

sophisticat

The vet on the Beeb advised using a waterproof sunscreen - I most certainly wouldn't!
We tried a child's waterproof sunscreen (like the poster above; I figured what wouldn't hurt a child shouldn't hurt a cat) and the cat came in from the garden a couple of hours later in a dreadfully overheated state because they lose heat through their ears and the waterproof version stopped her from sweating.
I now use a baby's sunscreen, not waterproof! and this has been fine for several years.