suntan lotion and cats

calicocat

My cat has one ear that is white,and as she is getting older I worry more about cancer/sun etc as she is a real sun worshiper. I know you can put lotion on pigs , but has anyone done this with their cat ? Is it poisonous ? As I'm figuring she is going to try and take most of it off.

Fridaycat

calicocat wrote: »

My cat has one ear that is white,and as she is getting older I worry more about cancer/sun etc as she is a real sun worshiper. I know you can put lotion on pigs , but has anyone done this with their cat ? Is it poisonous ? As I'm figuring she is going to try and take most of it off.

I know people who put suntan lotion on their cats' ears - definitely recommended for white ears. Luckily mine all have dark ears, but if I was going to get it, I'd buy one for sensitive skin/babies/ kids.

They will of course try and lick it off, just make sure you rub it in a lot

walwin

I think you should give your vet a call and ask if it's safe to use on her.
I used to put sunblock on a white horse who had a pink nose and that was fine but cats can be so sensitive to so many things I'd check to be sure.

By the way, you're racing at York today
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=554445&r_date=2012-05-26#raceTabs=sc_

calicocat

:rotfl: well that was a bit of a battle. Didn't have kiddies one , so have just put on the one I have that you only need to put on once a day. Rubbed it in really well......so darling cat is no longer speaking to me and has gone in the house !

Thanks for swift reply , as she is a real sun-bunny and will bake in it for hours.

Ooo......she's back out and once agin speaking to me...............trauma over.

morocha

Ohh my black cat absolutely adores the sun too !!... she chose her spot and there is no way of moving her! I did not know about sun cream for animals !

[Deleted User]

I have been searching for a long time to find the right thing for white cats ears - there's one on the market specifically designed for them, however I didn't try this as the sun factor seemed really low (but if anyone has had any experience with it - feedback would be great!).

The vet advised any sunblock to be fine - I chose one for sensitive skin and babies - used it for the last 2 years without any issues (apart from one grumpy cat!)

D9

Fridaycat

The FAB website, in their article on skin cancer, state the following:

"Some cats will tolerate a sunblock of factor 15 or more on the vulnerable parts, however, cats being cats, most will groom it off fairly quickly!"

(http://www.fabcats.org/owners/cancer/squamous.html)

However, on another part of the website, they state that sun lotions can be poisonous:

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/poisons/home.html

So it is probably wise to check out which one you are using with your vet - good advice, walwin

calicocat

walwin wrote: »

I think you should give your vet a call and ask if it's safe to use on her.
I used to put sunblock on a white horse who had a pink nose and that was fine but cats can be so sensitive to so many things I'd check to be sure.

By the way, you're racing at York today
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=554445&r_date=2012-05-26#raceTabs=sc_

So I am ! I might have a bet......not that I really know how to do it. I am feeling lucky now as managed to lotion the ear without any damage to myself.

Actually she's not even bothered about it at all , but think rubbing it in well helps on that front , nothing for her to wipe off really.

calicocat

Well my vet seems to think it's ok....just as well now as it's on !

It's a factor 15 so hopefully will be ok after reading that link, and didn't put lots on.

Typically she's not sitting in the sun now

sfmedusa

Can I recommend that you have a web search for the cheapest current source of Petscreen?

Petscreen is a clear spray sunscreen which is SPF 23 and which dries into the coat without making the fur all sticky and clogged up with gloop.

As a spray they really don't like it going on to their ears and nose, but if you spray it into your hand first and then just rub it on to their ears they don't tend to mind too much. My first white cat already had precancerous changes in his ear tips when I adopted him aged 10, so from then onwards the sunscreen has been used from April to October every year for him and for my other white boy.

calicocat

Thanks , I will see if my vet will get it if my local pet warehouse doesn't have it.

Mine is 10 now , and worry about the sun ,she's only out when I am in ,but at times it seems like she is lying in it for ages.