As the warmer summer months approach, more and more people will be donning hats, sunglasses and slapping on the sunscreen. But what about our furry friends, cats? To many, it seems laughable that a cat would need any further protection other than its fur. But is that enough? What are some of the dangers faced by outside cats that spend hours in the baking summer heat? Read on to learn more about the importance of applying sunscreen to outside cats.
Risk of Sunburn
A cat's fur offers a lot of obvious protection, but it does not protect cats from sunburn when exposed to the sun. An outside cat will not develop skin cancer on unexposed parts of its body that are naturally shielded from the sun, but there are many parts of a cat's body that require protection. A cat's ears and nose are constantly exposed to the sun during the hotter summer months. These parts of a cat's body are also very delicate and can burn easily, as the skin is thinner, with very little natural protection from the sun's rays.
Application
When applying sunscreen to a cat, it is important to make sure that you only apply it to exposed parts of the body where the skin is thin and delicate. Cat owners should also bear in mind that applying sunscreen to a cat's legs and other easy to reach areas will most probably result in the cat licking off the sunscreen to try and get rid of it, which could cause harm to your cat.
An Outside Cat Owner's Responsibility
Cat owners who allow their outside cats to roam around outside for long periods of time should make sure that they dab some sunscreen onto their cat's ears and nose before their cats step outdoors. Cats will not thank their owners for applying sunscreen to their bodies, nor will they understand why they are being subjected to this treatment. But this simple action can help to protect the delicate parts of a cat's body that are more susceptible to sunburn and the risk of skin cancer. Although a sunburnt cat will not be so easy to detect as a sunburnt 10-year-old child, cats that are sunburnt will be in pain and could end up with serious long term problems if they are not properly protected.
