Cat owners are being urged to protect pets with light-colored ears from the risk of cancer due to excessive sun exposure.
Gracie, a seven-year-old white cat, had to have both of her ear flaps amputated after cancer was discovered in them. Vets believe the decision to remove her ears likely saved her life by preventing the cancer from spreading.
Last summer, the Bracknell and Wokingham branch of Cats Protection took in Gracie as a stray. The damage to her ears caused by prolonged sun exposure alarmed the staff. The cat was nicknamed “Crispy” because of the ear damage. At the time, Gracie was six years old and had both of her cancerous ear flaps removed as a precaution.
Gracie, now adopted by Beryl and Tom Henry in Bracknell, fully recovered from the surgeries. Despite her altered appearance, Ms. Henry quickly bonded with Gracie. “I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her,” she said. “Her looks don’t count… I love her to bits.”
Cats Protection advises that cats with pale or light-colored ears should be kept indoors during peak sun hours and given access to shaded outdoor areas. They also recommend consulting a vet about using special sunscreen for cats.
Thanks to quick action from the vets, Gracie’s condition did not spread beyond her ears. Nikki Butcher from Cats Protection stated, “Vets probably saved Gracie’s life by spotting the severity of the sun damage and treating her effectively.”
Cats with light fur or unpigmented ears and noses are especially vulnerable to sun damage. If caught early, the damage can often be treated with surgery, but in Gracie’s case, the damage was so severe that her ears had to be removed to the base. Additional tests confirmed that this was a life-saving decision.
Gracie’s case is not unique. Cats Protection sees many cats suffering from sun damage that could be easily prevented. In January, a 13-year-old tabby cat in Bredhurst, Kent, had its ears removed after pre-cancerous cells were found.
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