FIRST-AID FOR KITTY SUNBURN PAIN

Long sunny days can bring misery for people—but cats are sun worshipers and love sunbathing. Cats are very well protected against the sun by their fur, and don’t routinely suffer from sunburn. When they do, it’s the hairless or thinly-furred areas of the body that are most at risk, like the ear tips, bridge of the nose, and the tummy. White cats are at highest risk.

Sunburn isn’t a medical emergency, but it can be painful and chronic sunburn can lead to cancer. When the cat’s skin burns, it turns red, can blister, become crusty, and peel. In severe cases, the tips of the ears can dry out, lose hair, and the edges curl. When that happens, the pet will need medical attention. But first aid is usually all that is needed to take care of minor sunburn pain. 

An easy, effective treatment is a cold water spray from a plant mister every half hour or so. Cats hate being sprayed, so soak clean washcloths with ice water and apply as cold compresses to the affected area.

Witch hazel is available at supermarkets or pharmacies and helps cool inflamed skin by evaporation, but doesn’t sting like alcohol. Dab some on with a cotton ball three or four times a day to soothe the burn.

Over-the-counter sprays contain local anesthetics that temporarily numb the pain of sunburn. Cats, though, tend to lick off the spray and some of these products won’t be good for them if swallowed. Ice is a safe and quick alternative—hold an ice cube against the burned area to numb the pain.

Sunburn dries out the skin. Aloe vera creams not only moisturize but also help heal burns faster. You can use the gel directly from the plant by breaking off a leaf and squeezing out the liquid. Or use a commercial product that contains aloe. Apply several times a day to the sore spots.

Vitamin E not only helps speed the healing, and soothes the burn, but also works great to prevent scars from forming. Squeeze the oil from a vitamin E capsule and spread on the pet’s nose or ear tips once or twice a day. You’ll need several capsules to apply to a belly burn. Vitamin E isn’t a problem if the cat decides to lick it off—it’s actually good for the pet on the inside, too.

AMY’S TOP TIP: The most dangerous times of day for sunburn are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. so keep susceptible pets indoors during these hours, and draw the shades so window-worshipping cats aren’t exposed. Lure your cat to a safe resting spot with a treat like KittyKaviar.