This year is set to be one of the hottest on record as climate change continues to increase global temperatures.
As a result, this Sun Awareness Week (2nd - 9th May), Cats Protection, the UK’s leading feline charity, is offering advice on how to protect pets from cancerous sunburn.
White and pale-coloured cats in particular don’t have a pigment called melanin in their skin, which is what protects humans from sunlight.
This can leave them vulnerable to sun damage, usually around the ears, caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays, increasing their risk of skin damage and cancer.
Two cats that recently suffered from the effects of sun over-exposure were Dibbs and Gorgonzola. They were brought into Cats Protection adoption centres after getting severely sunburnt ear tips that had turned cancerous and needed to be removed.
Though both Dibbs and Gorgonzola have now recovered and have new homes, the charity is keen to make cat owners aware of sun exposure risks.
Worryingly it’s not always immediately apparent that sun damage has occurred, and it may take a few years before the damage is visible. But, once the early stages of cancer set in, cats require urgent veterinary treatment to prevent it from spreading.
Cats Protection’s Top Sun Safety Tips
- Keep pet cats indoors when the sun is at its hottest, typically between 10am and 3pm.
- Speak to a vet about suitable sunscreen for pet cats.
- Provide plenty of opportunities for shade outdoors, such as cat hides, large cardboard boxes, or plant plots placed close together.
- There is a risk of your cat becoming dehydrated in the heat, so always provide an outdoor water source.
- To stop cats feeling overheated, place a plastic bottle with frozen water inside a towel and place it in an area that the cat frequently visits
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline charity, founded in 1927 as the Cats Protection League. We ask that you use the name Cats Protection when referring to the charity.
Cats Protection is a national network of around 230 volunteer-run branches and 37 centres, helping around 200,000 cats and kittens every year
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