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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Do you put sun cream on your cat's ears?

28 replies

hugoagogo · 13/06/2014 20:04

Is this a thing?

My cat has pale giant ears and my vet suggested I put sun cream on in the summer-Now I have guilt. Confused

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 13/06/2014 20:06

I was doing this 25years ago.

I am ahead of my time

Aked · 13/06/2014 20:08

Yes. Cats with pale ears can be prone to getting squamous cell carcinoma on the pinna. It's worth slapping a bit on:) No need for guilt, you didn't know, just try and do it a bit from now on.

Aliceinvodkaland · 13/06/2014 20:09

no! what crazy cat world do you all live in??? Shock

TitsCrossed · 13/06/2014 20:10

I tried but Titcat had other ideas. I no longer try but instead fret about skin cancers. She doesn't give a toss though.

Wolfiefan · 13/06/2014 20:12

The people we bought our first house from had an elderly cat that had to have the tips of each ear removed due to cancer.

georgedawes · 13/06/2014 20:12

We put sun cream on our white cat's ears all year round, they're very prone to skin cancer. Never bothered with our dark coloured cats.

hugoagogo · 13/06/2014 20:13

Can you get special cat sun cream?

I used ordinary, but now her lugs are all greasy.

OP posts:
georgedawes · 13/06/2014 20:29

Yeah we just used normal 35 or whatever we had. Our cat had greasy ears all year round but better than cancer! I liked the smell it reminded me of summer.

sleeplessbunny · 13/06/2014 20:31

ha ha ha ha
no I do not want to be torn to shreds thanks! (psycho cats here)

MayBlossom · 13/06/2014 20:48

We have just lost our (predominently) white cat. She had carcinoma on her white ear and had an operation in October which removed most of the ear. It initially appeared to be successful but wasn't and the carcinoma came back. We had tried to put sun cream on her ears but she often rubbed it off or ran away if she saw us approaching with the cream. Please do put sun cream on your cat's ears; nothing can be more unpleasant than the carcinoma and its consequences.

hugoagogo · 13/06/2014 20:56

I will definitely, be putting it on.

So sorry to hear about your cat May Sad

We lost our last cat to squamous cell carcinoma (in her mouth) last summer.

OP posts:
georgedawes · 13/06/2014 21:23

You get good at doing it quickly! Just pin them down and slop loads on.

Sorry about your cat may.

TitsCrossed · 13/06/2014 22:10

May Sad Thanks

I tried many tactics. Even when I got it on her she just washed herself furiously until it was all gone. Anybody any suggestions for the particularly awkward cat?

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 13/06/2014 22:48

might a spray one work - quick sneaky squirt from behind? (or do they need the insides doing as well?)

Hassled · 13/06/2014 22:51

Has anyone ever actually known a cat with a melanoma on their ear? Because I haven't.

Hassled · 13/06/2014 22:52

Sorry, MayBlossom - I hadn't read your post. So yes, someone has - I'm sorry about your cat.

NinetyNinePercentTroll · 13/06/2014 22:54

No. Black cats here, but mine wouldn't let me anyway. They'd fight to avoid it being put on in and immediately wash off whatever tiny speck made it onto their skin.

Catsmamma · 13/06/2014 22:54

we used to do Oscar orange's ears he is ginger and white...ear tips are white, but he never goes out now so we do not bother.

TitsCrossed · 13/06/2014 22:55

The spray was worse than the cream! The most success was with cream: I used to get some on my fingers then rub it on both ears at once from behind (so as to avoid claws/teeth) but she got wise and started to hide. Not even come out for Dreamies. Then time to go to work. Little git.

smugmumofboys · 13/06/2014 22:58

My old cat Vera needed sun cream on the white tips of her ears. One year we were a bit lax and she ended up having a really sore and swollen ear and needed some serious gel stuff on it which we had to wear gloves to administer.

MayBlossom · 14/06/2014 14:06

When Cleo started with the carcinoma the vet told us it was a common problem in cats with white ears. Maybe the effect is cumulative as Cleo was 13 when it started so had had years of sun exposure before it began to manifest itself. She had no problems when she was younger. Of course her tabby ear was totally unaffected. I have lived to regret not persevering with any method to get cream/spray on her ears; sadly Cleo has not.

FunkyFlanFlinger · 15/06/2014 13:34

Yes, I have a white Turkish Angora with mixed colour eyes and he has "pink" areas which require sun lotion. Vet was very clear from day one that I needed to apply it.

I am currently using Boots Soltan Baby Sun Cream which is a factor 50. It was recommended by Pets at Home and my vet as being the best one to use.

I apply to his ears, tail, and the area on the front of the head between his ears and eyes as that is also very pink. He does not even lick it off any more...

FFF x

RubbishMantra · 15/06/2014 16:40

I've got a very pale Devon Rex kitten. His ears are chocolate, but his back is very pink and the (white) fur is very sparse. Technically he's an albino. Should I be pitting sun block on all his pale bits when he goes in the garden? But could it make him ill if he licks it off? Confused

6cats3gingerkittens · 17/06/2014 14:22

YES,YES,YES.

Sonumb · 17/06/2014 14:30

I can't quite imagine trying to put suncream on my cats though thankfully my Maine Coon are grey, though I do have a cat with white ears.

I only have my ds's suncream it's blue when it goes on Grin I shall try Socat later

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