How can we protect our cats from sunburn and, potentially, skin cancer? What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke in cats?
Let’s start with sunburn, an easy fix. Our indoor and outdoor cats can get sunburned.
Outdoor cats sunburn especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Short-haired cats and cats with white coats have a higher risk of sunburn.
Feline Sunburn
Sunburn (solar dermatitis) is a precursor of skin cancer in cats. Sunburned areas of cats are found typically on the tips of the ears, lightly haired regions in front of the ears and/or the top of their noses.
Cats with little or no pigment (color) on the tips of their ear flap and top of their noses need sunscreen, whether they are indoor or outdoor cats.
Outdoor cats are exposed to the sun’s rays but ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) can cause sunburned ears and noses even on an indoor cat that sunbathes by the window.
Glass windows can filter some, but not all UV rays. This is particularly important for the light-colored, sunbathing cats.
Early signs of UV-induced skin damage sunburn are inflamed red skin, scaling skin, flaking skin, peeling skin, blisters and possibly hair loss.
Choosing the Right Sunscreen
While there are some sunscreen products marketed for pets, they are usually not tested by the Food & Drug Administration. So the effectiveness and safety of these products is unknown.
The main ingredients to avoid when picking a sunscreen for pets are zinc oxide, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and a group of chemicals referred to as salicylates.
With repeated exposure to zinc oxide on the skin, pets can develop zinc toxicity, which can damage the red blood cells.
Salicylates are products in the same category as aspirin, and when applied to the skin, your pet may develop mild skin redness and irritation. PABA also may cause skin irritation and possible toxicity if ingested while grooming. (Call poison control ASAP.)
Speak to your veterinarian about the best sunscreen product that is pet-safe to use. You should test first by applying a small amount of sunscreen on a patch of your cat’s skin and wait 24 hours to be sure there is no adverse reaction.
Make sure you use SPF 15 or higher and that it is waterproof. Do not use human sunscreen products on cats as they may be toxic to them.
Signs of Heat Exhaustion
Cats do not often pant. Normal panting may occur for a short time after rigorous exercise or when stressed, but a cat panting for no obvious reason and continuing on a warm day usually means they are too hot.
Panting in a cat is called open-mouthed breathing. Signs in cats of heat exhaustion or hyperthermia (body temperature above normal) include agitation and restlessness. The cat cannot get comfortable and it looks for a cool spot or area to get away from the heat.
While they search, they are possibly drooling, panting and stopping to obsessively groom themselves.
All of these actions are to bring their body temperature down. Grooming excessively allows their saliva to moisten and moisturizes their fur, thus allowing for more cooling air flow.
They may also try to hide and refuse to eat.
A cat’s normal body temperature ranges form 100 to 102. Hyperthermia is a temperature above 102. When their body temperature reaches 105 or more, that cat will have heatstroke.
Emergency Response
Heat exhaustion or hyperthermia can quickly become heatstroke if a cat doesn’t find reprieve from the heat. Cats having heatstroke have the symptoms of panting (open-mouthed breathing), increased respiratory rate, drooling, anxious behavior, bright red tongue, gums that are pale or dark red, crying (vocalization), weakness, depression, no appetite, hot ears, diarrhea, disorientation, seizures, lethargy, vomiting, and may be lying on its side completely stretched out, or even death.
If your cat displays any of the symptoms of hyperthermia or heatstroke, get your cat to a cool, well-ventilated area; put cool water on their paws, head and chest; or apply cold compresses.
Call your veterinarian or emergency pet clinic immediately. Or just put your cat in its carrier, put the carrier in your car and turn on the A/C, and call your veterinarian or ER from your car to let them know you are coming in with a critical patient.
Cats hide illness well so, when it is hot, please keep your eye on your cat and be sure its environment is cool.