Approximately 50-65% of skin cancer cases in cats are malignant. A cat’s habit of napping under the sun exposes them to the damaging rays of the sun. Cats with white or light colored fur and those with short fur or no fur also have a greater risk for skin cancer. 

Cats without protection will get burned when exposed to the sun for too long, as manifested by the redness and tenderness of the skin. Repeated burns on cats can progress to a more serious burn which will ultimately end in squamous cell carcinoma.

One way of keeping your cat protected is by applying a UV film over your windows to reduce the amount of harmful rays that can get in. Another way is using sunscreen with UVA and UVB coverage, with an SPF of 15 or higher, on your pet. Some body parts like the nose, ears, belly, groin and legs are more exposed and so application should be focused in these areas. 

Be sure to have your cat checked by a St. Thomas veterinary clinic. Click this link for more information.