Madame was reading an article recently which suggested that white cats are particularly prone to problems with their ears in sunny weather: some sort of cancer.
It reminded me that the two white cats we’ve encountered here in our town both had obvious ear problems - parts cut out, in the end - and the two owners both said it was some sort of disease.
This is correct. We have always had cats, and when Mum heard the unhomed cats I was supporting were having white kittens after a productive large white tomcat moved into the area here, she warned me white cats often have skin cancer on their ears, and to watch out for it.
Lots of UV at home and here, so perhaps white cats in low UV places have a relatively lower incidence but it sounds like it’s a thing to watch for (so I suppose pink or scaly or skin-flake-shedding spots, or if kitty rubs his ear excessively). My current cat may have evolutionarily developed as he’s black on top of his head and his ears, and patched black on his spine though otherwise mostly white.
This may sound like a joke question, but it isn’t - can you get sunhats for cats?
Yes, China makes them. But like collars many cats will get rid of them
Are you thinking of a chateau? Because that’s a different thing.
Chatchapeau?
Kepi de chaton?
One of our cats, predominately white, has had both ears removed as he had cancer in both. No joking matter and it was despite applying zinc cream when we realised the danger. He would insist on lying in the sun even when in the 30’s.
That was 4 years ago and he is still going strong.
We have a cream we bought for our mostly white cat to put on his ears to protect them from the sun and for small patches on his belly and back legs where he sometimes gets a bald patch. Thing is, cats usually lick the cream off very quickly. This cream has cinnamon in it and he doesn’t lick it off. Magic.
Can you tell me more? Our dog has a white patch above his nose that goes pink in the sun.
My big white male had to have most of both ears amputated as he developed cancer on them by way of big scabs. White cats are extremely suceptible to this and he managed another few years until he passed because I think it had metastacised and spread to his stomach. Putting sun cream on does no good whatsoever.
We got it from Amazon, and we need to get it out so I’ll post details when I find it
Found it on Amazon
https://www.amazon.fr/BEAPHAR-DERMACARE-Colloidal-Essential-Relieves/dp/B0BCHH61H3
It has clove in it not cinnamon, we were told cats won’t lick it off and he doesn’t. Not sure about dogs
Fifteen years ago, I caught a number of semi-wild cats, under TNR (trap neuter release), one of which had cancer along the edge of her ears. Sun induced. She wasn’t all white but I suppose genes has an input.
You can see her much reduced ears and stitches after surgery.
She and her brother, both fairly docile, were adopted as ‘farm’ cats by a fishing hotel to safe guard the fish bait in their store barns from mice!
Low blood supply area possibly?
Yes, can get frostbite as well.
To stop my dog licking the vet’s cream off her calloused elbows, the vet recommended lavender oil. Now my dig smells lovely and the fur is growing back on her elbows.
The stuff I got on Amazon has eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and clove. That probably covers all bases !
