This post is also available in : French German Italian
Several of our friends (or their human) were these days in Phoenix, Arizona, for the 8th BlogPaws 2016 Conference. A brilliant sun and an overwhelming heat were also there, and we wondered :
Sun and cats, friends or enemies ?
The answer to this question is : a little both. We’re going to explain it to you :
Friends, because…
- The heat of the sun allows us to compensate for the light temperature reduction of our body while we have a nap.
- It also allows sick cats to save up their forces to fight better against the disease.
- Sun rays (ultraviolet rays) allow us to synthesize the vitamin D, essential to facilitate the absorption of calcium and phosphor and fix them to our bones. If we are lacking vitamin D and sun, we can be suffering from rickets.
Enemies, because…
- The heat of the sun can cause a dehydration and a heatstroke.
- Sun rays can cause a sunburn, especially to cats with a fair skin or naked cats.
- A sunburn can cause a dermatitis : the edge of the auricle (most of the time) loses its hairs, is irritated, and covered with crusts. An ulcer can form and gradually waste the ear away. Eyelids or truffle can also be suffering.
- An excessive sun exposure as well as repeated sunburns can cause a skin cancer, especially to cats with a fair skin, naked cats, or old cats. Our friend Harvey made the experience : he underwent the partial ablation of the auricle of his two ears because of a cancer. He very well recovered from it as you can see here.
“It is in the dose that is the poison” said Paracelse in the XVIth century, and it also applies to the sun. Have rather your naps in the shade !
Our human can be attentive to the time we spend in the sun, especially at the most intense hours, so that our sunbathing don’t put our health in danger. There is also a sunscreen for cat : no, no, we’re not kidding ! If you live in a region known for its intense exposure to the sun and if you care about your ears, think of it…
Very good advice here.
We do not usually get extreme heat here.
When it is hot,mum restricts our time on the porch.
WE purr for all animals that are outside in extreme heat.
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ
As we are from the UK we don’t often get an over dose of sunshine! Hannah has a very thick coat and rarely spends more than a few minutes in the sun. Lucy likes to go out but prefers pottering about when the sun shines which hasn’t been in abundance here his year!
that Pawracelsus was right… and I hope if we get sun this summer, then my daddy makes me the nap place in the shadow he promised me … last year LOL
We were always told that cats do not synthesize vitamin D through their skin upon exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, unlike humans.
We do love basking in sun spots indoors, but if we ever went out, we would need to wear sun protection (probably in the form of a shirt) so that we wouldn’t burn.
You have some great information and advice here. My kitties love to bask in the sun, but I always try to make sure that they don’t bake themselves, especially my ginger boy Evan. Thanks for sharing this with us!
We enjoy sun puddles in the house but we also have protective film over our windows.
The Florida Furkids
Great advice! We live in southern California, and just came back from Phoenix, so we are very familiar with the sun!
Somerime the sun can be downright brutal here!
Excellent post. I remember all poor Harvey had to go through with his skin cancer.
it is easy to forget that cats are prone to sunburn too
Great posty. Ya’ll look gawjus as always. Mommy tries to take us out fur strolls thruout da summer, cuz we don’t get sun puddles in da house and she was vit. D deficient and doesn’t want us to be.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
This was a most informative post! Thank you! I never knew there was sunscreen for cats!
Very interesting Claire, Pixie and Zorro. I imagine Kali would be more apt to get a burn than myself. She is white…my face and other points are black.
Really, we are bothered more by cold weather. Although it would be easy to overdo the welcomed sun.
Thanks,
Shoko
M’y Mistress is afraid RouXy aka pink n’ose light cet sunburnt!
A strié? No danger. There’s plenty of stade un m’y garden ans dater everywhere.
Good advice Pixie! We, like most cats, sure do love the sun 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
pixie & zorro…we R knot a loud out oh doorz but even layin in a sun puddle
inn side can get….few….H.O.T ~~~~~
thiz izza grate post N trooth full lee…we never new ther bee sun screen for
cats !!! 🙂 ♥♥♥
Sun in the windows is grate in the windows in the winter to warm up. In summer, a little bits here and there.
Interesting and very informative post. I knew about the dangers of the sun, but I”m a cat and I can’t help but seek out a sun puddle. M tries to limit my time in the sun tho, even tho I say no – she wins.
Great facts. The sun affected us animals just like it affects humans.
My Mom has had skin cancer several times so knows the danger for herself AND for me too! I’m a mostly indoor kitty but when we ARE outside, I’m in the shade. I don’t even like to feel the intense head of the sun on my poor ancient body!!!!
Hugs, Sammy
Mom has covered this subject as well. It is so important, and most cat and dog parents never think of it. Our angel cat Madison had some sun damage on his ears before we found out what the problem was. We are happy to see you reminding everyone of this very important subject. C.J. sends Zorro a kiss for his nose. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Since I’m an indoor only cat, I guess I don’t need to worry too much about getting a sunburn. I’ll be sure to watch my time in those sun puddles though!
We all love sun puddles but a little goes a long way! Very informative post, thank you!
We don’t go outside but we do love to nap in windows.
When we lived in Midway, Mommy used to worry about us cats getting sunburned…she is a red head…and would always makes us come, thanks for reminding peoples about it.
Great post guys!
Kisses
Nellie
Great advice, friends! We’re indoor only kitties, and we usually move after not too long in the sunpuddles — our black furs get hot quickly. 🙂 – Gracie and Zoe
I didn’t know that sun could be so harmful to cats or that there was sunscreen for cats. Thanks for this great information!
This is very good advice, guys. Mommy said it was HOT in Phoenix! It wasn’t too hot here, but she left the air conditioner on a timer for us.
It was very hot in Arizona for the conference. Bentley & Pierre wore the Pawz booties to protect their paws. Here at home, Bentley loves to nap in the direct sun for a few minutes each day. Then, he comes indoors and goes belly-up under the ceiling fan. LOL!
Like almost anything, enough is good, too much is bad… But since we are mostly indoors kitties, we think it is hard to get too much sun.
Good points!
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie