Cats and suncream!

SillyMangoX

Does anyone else here have a white cat/white eared cat who needs suncream applied on hot days? My cat Cream (ironically!) detests it, he ignores me for ages after I put it on him no matter how much I bribe him. At the moment I'm using Ambre Soleir kids spf 50, as the vet told us to use any kids suncream, but does anyone know is there any specifically formulated for cats? I remember seeing one or 2 online a few months back but I would always be wary of buying anything like that online in case it isn't what it actually says.

I think that my cat's problem is that he can't stand the smell of the stuff, so if there isn't one specifically for cats, does anyone know of one for kids that doesn't have any smell at all? The kids one does smell considerably less than the adult one but the poor bugger still hates it..

Also despite applying it religiously on hot days he still occasionally comes home with red ears, so I don't know if its just the human ones don't work on cats or is he licking it off... ah the joys of white eared cats!

orchidsrpretty

I have a white cat and just use normal sunscream on her. She hates it but has to be done! She does lick if off though but im sure it works a little bit. Its funny to watch her : lick-oh yuck- lick- yuck-:) Poor little thing

If the wether is really hot my cat just lounges in the garden or in the house so she doesn't go far, but if your cat is away for a couple of hours try calling him back every hour or so for a top up!

sparkle_23

My two girls are both white eared! One is completely white apart from her tail and 2 ginger spots on her head. The other girl is a tortie and white. When they were at the vet getting their Vac she told me that they would need suncream on their ears and lil pink noses!:D They've mainly been living in the shed as they're only babies but now they are starting to venture out I'm gonna have to put suncream on them... They let me comb their hair so it shouldn't be too hard.... I hope! If anyone finds out what suncream is the best for them I'd love to know. I couldn't stand having them mad at me!

gud4u

Get her a hat:) joking.

I use a zinc stick or ambre solaire do an spf 30 and 50 in a stick as well. I sometimes put it on my fingers and rub it in. I have to use it above my jack russells nose. It lasts longer too.

Phoenix Park

SillyMangoX wrote: »

Does anyone else here have a white cat/white eared cat who needs suncream applied on hot days? My cat Cream (ironically!) detests it, he ignores me for ages after I put it on him no matter how much I bribe him. At the moment I'm using Ambre Soleir kids spf 50, as the vet told us to use any kids suncream, but does anyone know is there any specifically formulated for cats? I remember seeing one or 2 online a few months back but I would always be wary of buying anything like that online in case it isn't what it actually says.

I think that my cat's problem is that he can't stand the smell of the stuff, so if there isn't one specifically for cats, does anyone know of one for kids that doesn't have any smell at all? The kids one does smell considerably less than the adult one but the poor bugger still hates it..

Also despite applying it religiously on hot days he still occasionally comes home with red ears, so I don't know if its just the human ones don't work on cats or is he licking it off... ah the joys of white eared cats!

ha, cats can be hilarious alright. This made me laugh!

Solair

Cats detest many of the fragrances we find nice, particularly anything with notes of citrus.

The scent of orange will actually make a lot of cats gag!

planetX

my white cat is long-haired - she gets furious if I make her ears sticky, she knows when I'm coming with the bottle, even if I hide it in a pocket. I've only put it on during hot spells in the summer, I wonder if that's enough? Never used it on her nose, that wouldn't stay on for a second...

Solair

I wonder if something like Parasol or P20 would work?

It's odourless and lasts all day but there's absolutely no way you could put it on the cat's nose, it's quite chemically when it goes on initially.

You can definitely buy cat-specific products online.

Sigma Force

A baby sun cream maybe one for sensative skin that might not contain fragrance might help. But to be honest with white cats they are so prone to skin cancer they shouldn't be allowed out during the day (aside fromt the risk of traffic/dogs/cat fights etc). If you have to let him out then avoid letting him out in the heat of the day even at this time of year so avoid letting him out between around 12 and 6 pm.

Traonach

You can get the cat's ears tattooed black under general anaesthetic. Problem solved......

SillyMangoX

Thanks for the advice everyone! I would absolutely love to be able to leave him in during the day but its just not feesable unfortunately. I kept my cats inside for over a year when I got them first but he was just so miserable it broke my heart, he would walk around pacing up and down crying and crying all day so I really can't put him through that again.

That zinc stick thing, what exactly is that? Is that just the sunblock that comes in stick form? I think we used to have that for my brother to put over a mole but it was bright green! haha

How does the tattooing work? Would he look very strange with it done (I know it wont be as bad looking as if he gets skin cancer!) Does any vet do it or will it have to be a specialist, and does it cost much?

Thanks!

Themadhouse

P60 in hand, warm it up and rub on ears. try and keep him in in peak times on really sunny days.
If you play with or wipe his ears regularly through the year it makes it easier.
We have two all whites here and a black and white with one white ear and they just have to put up with it. Ours are let out into the enclosure early in the morn on good days and then not until after the sun has moved around. They will never like the cream or the restricted access but its worth it to limit their likelyhood of getting cancerous tumours.
we will start this in april if the temps rise to over 15 degrees.

SillyMangoX

Is p60 like p20? I always hated the smell of p20 as a kid, I can't imagine my cat would like it at all, I found it a bit too chemically. He just cowers and folds his ears back the second he hears the bottle opening, poor mite! He's getting better at not putting up a struggle now though, when I'm away in college my mum is succeeding on getting it on him without me to hold him steady and move his ears up straight again.

You're lucky you only have to do the cream from April onwards, my baba has a habit of getting burnt on days when it isn't even sunny so we have to do it all year round!

He doesn't seem too bothered though, he's panned out across my chest at the moment so I must be forgiven for the time being!

SillyMangoX

Hmm do you think the hat will work gud4u??? :P


He came 3rd in a competition in our vets with this picture! Ain't he adorable??

The Sweeper

A white zinc stick like you'd use surfing, or Filtabac (animal suncream). The zinc is good because it's thick and hard for them to get off.