CAT owners have been urged to slather their feline friends in sun cream after a “lively” kitty had its ears amputated from skin cancer.
Pussycats are known for loving to bask in sunshine, but just like their owners can get sizzled if proper precautions aren’t taken.
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Katie Wood, a veterinary surgeon at SeaDown Veterinary Hospital in Hythe, Hampshire, issued an urgent warning that cat owners need to whack the factor 50 on their pets after a snow white kitty, Bobble, had their ears amputated having contracted skin cancer.
The four year old feline, described as “loving” by her devoted owner Karen Evans, already had peeling sun-damaged ears when she was rescued as a kitten.
Evans regularly applied sunscreen to her pet, but heartbreakingly discovered the damage had already been done.
She told The Times: “The skin was peeling off her ears and had no natural fur protection when we found her, so whilst I have always put sun protection on her ears, I was also prepared for the day when the original sun damage might result in something more sinister.”
When Evans discovered a cyst on Bobble’s ear, she rushed her to the vet, terrified.
Tests confirmed that it was cancerous, and to prevent the lethal disease from spreading further, the vets had no choice but to amputate in a traumatic, but life-saving surgery.
The horrific situation inspired vet Kate Wood to speak out, warning that just like humans, “cats with lighter skin and fur colours or less fur” are most at risk from “sunburn, which can lead to cancer over time.”
She stressed that the disease was much more common than pet owners realised.
She added: “The noses and ears are the most commonly affected areas in white or light-coloured cats.
“These parts of their bodies have little to no fur or pigmentation for protection, making them highly susceptible to sunburn.”
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Thankfully, Bobble’s owner, Evans, confirmed that her kitty is on the mend, adapting brilliantly and “is now doing wonderfully.”
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Experts emphasised that early signs of skin damage, such as redness, inflammation, hair loss and flaky or curly skin, particularly around the eyes and nose, are telltale signs of skin damage.
This comes as April was documented as the hottest in seven years, with temperatures hitting 28C.
