Pet sun cream plea after Bobble the rescue cat saved from skin cancer by Seadown vet

A FOREST vet has urged owners to consider sun cream for their pets after a cat had to be treated for cancer when it developed a tumour after getting sunburned.

The rescue belonging to Karen Evans, named Bobble, was suffering with bad sun damage to her skin when she found her.

She said: “The skin was peeling off her ears and had no natural fur protection when we found her, so while I have always put sun protection on her ears, I was also prepared for the day when the original sun damage might result in something more sinister.”

Worried, she took Bobble to Seadown vets in Hythe, near where she lives, where surgeon Katie Wood examined her. She found Bobble had skin cancer which meant she had to have an ear removed.

Katie said: “Given Bobble’s ear damage, I recommended amputation to ensure we removed the affected tissue and prevented further spread. Thankfully, the surgery was successful in removing all of the cancer, and Bobble has made a full recovery. She’s now doing wonderfully.”

Katie commented all pets are at risk of skin cancer. She explained noses and ears are the most commonly affected areas in white or light-coloured cats.

She said: “These parts of their bodies have little to no fur or pigmentation for protection, making them highly susceptible to sunburn. Early signs of sun damage include redness, inflammation, and hair loss in the affected areas.

“Over time, the skin may become dry, flaky, or even start to curl, especially at the tips of the ears. This is a sign that the skin is beginning to suffer from long-term exposure to harmful UV rays. In more severe cases, the skin can become thickened, and you may notice the formation of sores or lesions.”

Katie said pets should have sunblock applied to ears and noses and avoid being outdoors when the sun is at its hottest.

Karen said she always puts sunscreen on her pets: “They can burn in the sun just like us.” She said Bobble has now recovered completely.