About white cats and dogs. Just in heads up in case you didn’t know this, like I didn’t.

[raccoon]

White cats mean something special to me. In the ‘80’s I became the proud PA of a white cat.
When she was about 4 years old, the ends of her ears started looking bloody and wounded.

I found out that white cats (and dogs) sometimes get skin cancer on their ears or noses. The vet told me sometimes dog owners had the dog’s nose tattoed.

Ultimately I had to have part of this cat’s ears removed.

She spent a lot of time outdoors. I guess if an animal was totally indoors, this wouldn’t be an issue.

[NV Whino]

1. Sun block

Yep. Vet recommended it.

[Le Taz Hot]

2. I did not know that.

My Alaska LOVES outside and cries and cries if I don't let her out. I call her in at the end of the day and she sleeps in the house. I'd rather her be in all day but she'll have none of it. Now I have to figure out how to get sunscreen on her.

[csziggy]

3. Even cats and dogs with white markings can get skin cancer

We lost one of our barn cats, Stubbs, to cancer on her nose. She was a grey and white "tuxedo" cat, part Manx with a stub of a tail. She just showed up on the farm one day and we kept her as a barn kitty since she did not like being inside and was semi-feral. She preferred staying out in the pastures with the horses. For one thing, they protected her from any wandering dogs or other canines. She'd go into the barn when it was raining or really, really cold, but any nice day she was out in the pasture.

I thought the constant sores on her nose were from her hunting small prey - they looked like nips not a growth. It wasn't until her nose started eroding away I realized it was serious - and it didn't help that during that period I had lots of health problems. By the time I realized it was a problem, the cancer had invaded her mouth and probably her brain. I had to have her put to sleep.

RIP, Stubbs. I still miss you.

[pink-o]

4. The SF zoo had an albino kangaroo a few years ago

The keepers would slather him up in SPF50 every time they let him outside from the enclosure. Apparently white animals are just as susceptible to skin cancer as white humans.