Sunburnt kitty??

Limerick has spent the week at my parent's house. The living room is often sun soaked in the after noon. So Limerick being a cat, slept in the sun all week. When were were on our way back I noticed his ears and skin seemed tan. He's acting normally and eating fine.

My question is, do cat's "tan" or get sun burned?

Actually, yes, they do! In fact, malignant melanoma on the nose and ears of white or light-colored cats is quite common.

~gf~

But Limerick's a black cat.

You asked if cats can tan or be sunburned and the answer is yes. Even black cats. I mentioned the light-colored cats only in the way of malignant melanoma - the darker cats do not seem to get this as often.

gayef is correct, cats do get sunburnt, even darker ones.

In my early 20's, I lost my 15 year old cat with whom I had grown up after her brave fight with malignant melanoma that began on her beautiful pink ears. She was pure white except for two little gray lines on top of her head. I wish I had known then what I know now about the dangers of the sun to our kitties' little ears and noses.

Excuse me, but does this mean that cats getting sunburned will develop cancer? Aren't we a bit going overboard here?

Originally Posted by yayi

Excuse me, but does this mean that cats getting sunburned will develop cancer?

Aren't we a bit going overboard here?

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Not at all - it simply means that light colored cats are more prone to malignant melanoma. No where did I say that all cats who get sunburned will develop malignant melanoma. I just said the ones who do get sunburned are more prone to it, just like humans who are frequently sunburned are more prone to it.

Cats of all colors can get sunburned, so if your kitty is going to be in the sun for long periods of time, you might want to rub some baby sunscreen on the exposed skin. Also, black cats can have their fur turn brownish if they are exposed too long in the sun.

http://www.fanciers.com/other-faqs/colors.html

Originally Posted by gayef

You asked if cats can tan or be sunburned and the answer is yes. Even black cats. I mentioned the light-colored cats only in the way of malignant melanoma - the darker cats do not seem to get this as often.

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ooo ok I get it

He slept in the sun while at my parent's house. The sun really can't reach my windows at my apartment so I'm not too worried about it. He's only 11 months old and very healthy. thanks for the imput!!!

we used to have a longhair black cat that was an indoor/outdoor cat (before we learned how bad that is). During the summer, he was always a really dark shade of brown, or a black with brown highlights (whichever term you wish to say, lol). Buffy, the cat we have now, is also a black, but she's an indoor cat. She loves to sleep in the sun, and we've had a lot more sun lately so she's starting to turn slightly brownish.

Marsh's an all-white cat and actually seems to avoid the sunny spots if he can. I've yet to find him lying in a sun spot, he's always in the shade (smart kitty! )