White cats, pink ears, sun cream: I have questions

MyBottomDecides · 2022-04-14T08:23:16+00:00

2 1/2 cats out of 3 have the white fur /pink ears and nose combo (the half also has some black but still some pink skin and white fur). Having been greeted by a red-eared monster after a massive sunbathing sprawl in the week, I need to broach the suncream for cats thing for the first time and would be very grateful for advice. Which brand of suncream do they tolerate? Where do you get it? I can't say I've ever seen cat suncream for sale How often does it need to go on (please not daily) Don't they just wash it all off again? Any recommendations for application techniques that don't involve me losing a finger or eyeball? Obligatory photos attached!

Svalberg · 14/04/2022 09:50

We use a dog suncream. It's available online and at the vet (more expensive there naturally) & was recommended by the vet, who also said not to use the human stuff because they would lick it off. It has to be applied daily (sorry) in the morning before they go out and rubbed into the ears & nose. If they wriggle, scuff them & do it quickly! They won't like having it done, but I've seen cats with amputated ears due to skin cancer, so it's not negotiable

Svalberg · 14/04/2022 09:53

We also do it during winter so they stay used to it, but I reckon you could drop to every other day. Petkin Doggy Sunmist, available online or at Pets At Home is the one we use.

AwkwardPaws27 · 14/04/2022 09:55

We use Aniwell Filtabac - pdsapetstore.org.uk/products/aniwell-filtabac-antibacterial-cream

Unlike human suncream which would be very quickly washed off, this one only needs to be applied every few days. Its thicker, but I find it dries quite quickly and is quick to apply. It's also fine to apply to ears that have already got a bit pink.

I put a bit on my finger and thumb and sort of pinch her ear gently, smearing it across both sides simultaneously. Little dab on the white area of her nose too. She tolerates it pretty well provided Dreamies are provided immediately afterwards.

AwkwardPaws27 · 14/04/2022 09:57

(We checked with our vet first & they ok'd it)

Original poster

MyBottomDecides · 14/04/2022 11:58

This is great, thank you. All previous pets have been darker so thus is new territory for me. Off to stock up on suncream and dreamies!

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Toddlerteaplease · 14/04/2022 13:39

We used to use a kids coloured stick on our white cat. Fortunately he couldn't see that he had purple ears.

Fluffruff · 14/04/2022 13:59

I’m curious about this as we had a pure white cat when we lived in the Middle East. She never once for burnt and if outside slept in the shade of the damp flowerbed etc. So I wonder if white British cats are like the Brits abroad in a hot location roasting themselves till they burn?!

Original poster

MyBottomDecides · 14/04/2022 14:39

Toddlerteaplease we need a photo!

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Original poster

MyBottomDecides · 14/04/2022 14:41

Fluffruff this is definitely only something I've heard about here, not when i lived abroad. Maybe if they have access to hot sun all the time the novelty wears off. But I love the thought of lager lout lobster British cats!

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Nelliephant1 · 14/04/2022 14:43

My friends cat lost an ear to skin cancer, he was a nightmare at keeping suncream on and not licking it off. It's so important to keep them safe.

amylou8 · 14/04/2022 14:47

We had a rescue cat as a kid who had no ears due to skin cancer from sun burn, so it does happen. I guess like people some are more susceptible than others.

PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn · 14/04/2022 14:53

Would they tolerate a bonnet?

I think cats in broderie anglais look very fine.

AwkwardPaws27 · 14/04/2022 15:08

@Fluffruff

I’m curious about this as we had a pure white cat when we lived in the Middle East. She never once for burnt and if outside slept in the shade of the damp flowerbed etc. So I wonder if white British cats are like the Brits abroad in a hot location roasting themselves till they burn?!

I love the idea of British cats moaning about other cats hogging the sun loungers...

I think it depends on the cat though. I saw several white / white eared cats in Cyprus with very obvious ear and nose damage sadly, when on holiday.

Confusedcatlady1 · 14/04/2022 23:37

I use Filtabac on my cat’s ears too and as @AwkwardPaws27 says the lotion lasts for a few days so it doesn’t have to be applied every day. I purchased it through Amazon.

violetbunny · 15/04/2022 03:05

I'm not in the UK but I found a powder sunscreen works better than cream, otherwise it gets licked off. Where I live you can buy powder sunscreens for horses, it's the same kind of product.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 15/04/2022 08:01

@Fluffruff

I’m curious about this as we had a pure white cat when we lived in the Middle East. She never once for burnt and if outside slept in the shade of the damp flowerbed etc. So I wonder if white British cats are like the Brits abroad in a hot location roasting themselves till they burn?!

Foreign cats definitely get skin damage from the sun.

I went on holiday to Lanzarote and one of the white cats that roamed the hotel had both its ears missing - we asked the staff and they said it had cancer and both ears were removed by the vet. It also had some awful damage on its nose and face

Because all the cats are strays/semi-feral, suncream isn't an option so they just trapped it when they could, did the surgery and released it again. It was very sweet but looked most odd without it's ears!

lljkk · 15/04/2022 08:03

@Fluffruff

I’m curious about this as we had a pure white cat when we lived in the Middle East. She never once for burnt and if outside slept in the shade of the damp flowerbed etc. So I wonder if white British cats are like the Brits abroad in a hot location roasting themselves till they burn?!

yeah... I grew up in SoCal with white cats (well, red point Siamese) & we did nothing for their ears, too. No harm apparently done.

Original poster

MyBottomDecides · 15/04/2022 08:57

PP recommending Filtabac - I wasn't sure about using an antibacterial product on them, did that cause you any concerns? They're basically filthy dust-rolling beasts who like to nest in my rhubarb, so it seems pointless and a bit over-medicating. On the other hand, the staying on for a few days aspect could be a life-saver (or limb-saver)

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ppeatfruit · 15/04/2022 10:00

This is interesting because we had 2 white cats (pure white, not pedigree though ) 25 years ago and they didn't suffer from any problems at all. Maybe the strength of the sun\environment is worse for them now.

AwkwardPaws27 · 15/04/2022 11:02

@MyBottomDecides

PP recommending Filtabac - I wasn't sure about using an antibacterial product on them, did that cause you any concerns? They're basically filthy dust-rolling beasts who like to nest in my rhubarb, so it seems pointless and a bit over-medicating. On the other hand, the staying on for a few days aspect could be a life-saver (or limb-saver)

I'd prefer it wasn't antibacterial tbh but I prefer it to others I've tried so have stuck with it.

It's also handy to have if they do manage to get a bit burnt (miss a few days / have an unseasonably sunny day in February!) though, as obviously burns are a high infection risk.

Toddlerteaplease · 15/04/2022 11:35

@MyBottomDecides unfortunately he died about 15 years ago so I don't have any photos with purple ears. But he was the most beautiful regal cat I've ever met! I'll try and find a pic later.

TheBalletCats · 23/04/2022 10:52

Pets At Home do Petkin Sunscreen Wipes as well as their sunmist spray. As a PP said, it’s safe to use on cats; & certainly for some cats, wipes will be easier to use/a more practical option.