Sunscreen that's safe for cats

Is there a sunscreen that is safe for cats ?

I've been looking on Internet and can't find anything here in the UK that's safe if the cat licks it off. I was wondering if you had anything in others countries that I could have shipped here.

Or am I looking for something that doesn't exist yet ? :lol3:

I thought their fur would be a sunscreen.   

FhiCat said:

I thought their fur would be a sunscreen. :lol3:  

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Ah lol ! :lol3:

My fault I should have explained more in my post - Yes their fur would be a good sunscreen but my one cat doesn't have any fur He's an hairless Canadian Sphynx

I just used whatever sunscreen was at the house for my white cat, but then I was only doing ears and nose. It was the same sunscreen that I used on my little (human) one, so I assumed it was fairly safe. His ears and nose looked pretty awful by summer's end because he didn't wash those areas very often, and the layers of sun screen turned sticky and wax-like, and everything stuck to it. He was given the option at the front door - sun screen (which he hated) or stay in.

Canadian Sphynx? We have indigenous hairless cats?

cocheezie said:

I just used whatever sunscreen was at the house for my white cat, but then I was only doing ears and nose. It was the same sunscreen that I used on my little (human) one, so I assumed it was fairly safe. His ears and nose looked pretty awful by summer's end because he didn't wash those areas very often, and the layers of sun screen turned sticky and wax-like, and everything stuck to it. He was given the option at the front door - sun screen (which he hated) or stay in.

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Thanks cocheezie Yeah if it was just his ears and nose I would use kids sunscreen. Unfortunately though his ears and nose is about the only place he does actually have some tuffs of hair. :lol3:
It's really his shoulders and back that could do with some protection. I'm pretty sure there is an ingredient in sunscreen which is toxic to cats if they ingest it.

cocheezie said:

Canadian Sphynx? We have indigenous hairless cats?

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You do in deed have indigenous hairless cats :nod: Most people think the sphynx breed is Egyptian due to its name But nope it orientated in Toronto, Canada.
Now not to be confused with the other hairless breeds from Russia - the Peterbald and Don Sphynx (Donskoy)

I'd go to a sunscreen clothing store and see if there is a sun-blocking baby onesie that you could modify.

Gosh, those cats must be cold in our Toronto winters (even inside).

Edit: try here https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SimplySphynx

cocheezie said:

I'd go to a sunscreen clothing store and see if there is a sun-blocking baby onesie that you could modify.

Gosh, those cats must be cold in our Toronto winters (even inside).

Edit: try here https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SimplySphynx

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Oh wow cocheezie I can't believe I didn't think of this :doh3:

He does have his own wardrobe full of clothes - jumper, hoodies, t-shirts etc.. But I only tent to put them on him in winter when it's colder to keep him warm.
I never even thought to put them on him in summer, I guess I was thinking he would get too hot :lol3:
But as long as I only put a thin t-shirt or vest on him he'd be fine. Oh I feel like such an idiot now :anon:

Thank you again cocheezie :bigthumb:

Unfortunately, I find that even good brands like Neutrogena and their baby versions are loaded with chemicals. It's completely unnecessary. I, personally, cannot use any of the chemical sunscreens (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octyl salicylate, etc.). They make my skin burn like crazy (like a chemical burn). I have to stick with natural sunscreens. Some oils are natural sunscreens, such as coconut oil, and are gentle enough to use on a cat's skin. A lot of cats like the taste of coconut oil, though, so chances are he'll have a field day licking it off.     Zinc oxide is totally safe for humans and babies, but there is a toxicity risk in cats. Many of the pet-specific sunscreens I have come across are marketed for dogs and horses only.

These websites say absolutely no zinc and no salicylates, but titanium dioxide may be okay in small quantities on the nose and ears:

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/what-you-need-to-know-about-pet-sun-protection-this-summer

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/qt/petsunscreens.htm

http://cats.answers.com/basic-needs/why-cats-need-sunscreen

You may find these two links helpful:

http://sphynxlair.com/community/threads/is-sunblock-or-sunscreen-safe-for-my-sphynx-cat.17949/

http://www.crowriveranimalhospital.com/pdf/17-2010 Natural Sunscreen.pdf

I was also going to suggest a newborn baby onesie to protect the cat's back and shoulders. 

Thanks goholistic :bigthumb: I'm going to look into these natural sunscreens too

Great response! I love this forum! Jack will get his kitty-lick-proof sunscreen... yay!

GemsGem said:

Ah lol !

My fault I should have explained more in my post - Yes their fur would be a good sunscreen but my one cat doesn't have any fur

He's an hairless Canadian Sphynx

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I don't have anything really but felt like adding that I love Sphynxes. They are gorgeous. 

I've never heard of sunscreen for cats before. I lost one cat to a cancer that began in the sebacious (ear wax) gland, and I've been wondering whether sun exposure had anything to do with it. I'll have to check those links out.

Thanks, goholistic .

Margret

I've been worrying about the risk of too much sun. We're high up in the mountains here and it's easy to get a sunburn, even on a fairly cool day. Forest is our only cat that has white ears and nose and he loves to sit in the sun. I've heard that white cats are more prone to skin cancers, is that true?

Thanks for the links @GoHolistic  I'm going to check them out too.

There sunscreen for cata? I mighr have to look into it

This is just what I was looking for!!!

Thanks @Norachan  for sending me the link to this thread.

Thanks @GoHolistic  for your links to other sites for information.

I'm going to go get something so my Ghost won't get burnt any worse than he already has. He don't like being kept in the house but I don't want to take a chance of him getting worse.

I had the exaxt same question.

There is sunscreen for cats and dogs and it is called Dermoscent Sunfree (I believe). I ordered this but it suddenly was out of stock and I don't know if it comes back.

This is the only sunscreen I found.

I have contacted my vet and the vet assistent said you can use baby sunscreen. However, on the internet I read different things about this. Some say it is safe, some say it is toxis if they lick it off. I just want to be sure if a sunscreen is safe before I use it.

It's for one of my cats, she has big ears and a light skin and fun (white) on the ears and nose and it is recommended to use sunscreen on these places since she has had cells in her ear which weren't right They are removed, but it it is good to use sunscreen for her during the summer.

I just still can't find the truth about this..!! Some people say it is safe, others say it is toxic. Quite weird that even some vets don't know about sunscreen for pets?

Anne3007 said:

 
I had the exaxt same question.

There is sunscreen for cats and dogs and it is called Dermoscent Sunfree (I believe). I ordered this but it suddenly was out of stock and I don't know if it comes back.

This is the only sunscreen I found.

I have contacted my vet and the vet assistent said you can use baby sunscreen. However, on the internet I read different things about this. Some say it is safe, some say it is toxis if they lick it off. I just want to be sure if a sunscreen is safe before I use it.

It's for one of my cats, she has big ears and a light skin and fun (white) on the ears and nose and it is recommended to use sunscreen on these places since she has had cells in her ear which weren't right They are removed, but it it is good to use sunscreen for her during the summer.

I just still can't find the truth about this..!! Some people say it is safe, others say it is toxic. Quite weird that even some vets don't know about sunscreen for pets?

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 I found out all kinds of good information on the links @GoHolistic  posted. It is well worth the read. It tells you what to look for in the ingredients. There are several ingredients that are toxic to cats. I have my list of toxic ingredients to look for and will be getting some sunscreen for Ghost this week.

But there is no sunscreen for cats for sale on the internet?

I can't find it..I do find some information but I can't find a website that has a sunscreen for cats for sale. Quite weird actually!

The problem with finding a sunscreen safe for cats is that most sunscreens contain zinc and/or  some form of octyl salicylate or titanium oxide--al of which are toxic to cats. Can anyone suggest a good product?

I've read that sunscreens with zinc, titanium oxide and octyl salicylate should not be used on cats.  After reading so much small print  stating ingredients that I'm now cross-eyed, I think  that "Aveno's Active Naturals protect+hydrate broad spectrum SPF 70" might be OK   (bar code:  8137-115180).

The active ingredients in this product are:  Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, and Oxybenzone.  (The only thing I can find online is that some people feel these ingredients are not too safe for people!)