Cats in hats

[Chateau Miaou]

Hi

We've got a lovely 15-year old cat, Blobby, who loves to lie in the sun (even when it's really, really hot) - well, he didn't get much of a chance to do that when we lived in Scotland! Unfortunately, he loves it too much and developed skin cancer on one of his ears late last summer (he's mostly white with black blobs, hence his name). The vets tried to save his ear and removed part of it in the middle of October, but the cancer spread and they had to then remove the rest of his ear at the beginning of December.

He's still got his hearing in both ears, and is coping with it very well (better than I did when he first came back from the vets - he looked dreadful) and we're managing to resist calling him 'b uggerlug' instead of 'b uggerlugs' when he's up to mischief. [:)]

However, my serious question is, how do we stop him doing the same again this year and losing his other ear (or worse). He's already out there this afternoon, sprawled in the relatively weak February sun and I need to do something soon. I've tried putting suntan lotion on (not an easy task) and I don't think he'll appreciate a sun-hat of any kind. Does anyone have any suggestions, sensible or otherwise?

 

PS  I've also posted in the Animal Welfare forum without realizing that this was probably a more relevant forum, sorry[8-)]

[Pads]

Dont stop him life is to short not to do the things you want to in life, Instead rub in the higest factor sun cream as often as you can, he wont like it at first but will learn to live with it. you can get some for animals from the vets but it is very expensive, human cream works jut as well. I know of many animals including pigs who do this but if you have concerns ask your vet. Give him a hug from me poor buggarlug[;-)][:D]     

[WJT]

Oh poor Blobby. [:(]  I had a dog with a light coloured nose and the vet advised me to always put sunscreen on when he was in the sun.  I used to worry about him licking it off but it seemed to cause no problems. Hopefully as Pads said he will get used to it. I hope he was out enjoying it today. [:)]

[Chateau Miaou]

Hi all

Yes, he was out lying in the sun most of yesterday and lovin' it!  [:D]  He's a very sociable and active big cat - one of the most 'human' cats I've ever had.  He seems to think that whatever we do, he can do [eg, sitting at the dining table on any empty chair when we're eating as soon as someone goes to the kitchen for something].  Maybe he watches me sunbathing when I can and thinks he should do it too? [8-|]

I've been looking around on the internet too for ideas, but think that the high-factor suncream is the best option - we'll just get into a routine of putting it on first thing every day and again after lunch.  At least I don't have to worry about getting a water-proof one as he's not a big fan of the pool. [;-)]

Thanks for your support and advice - I'll let you know how we get on as the warm weather approaches . . .