Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Examine your cat's skin monthly, looking for tumors, blemishes, scaly areas or color changes.
Step2
Be concerned if you find new growths, or if any existing growths change colors or become larger.
Step3
Note any areas that bleed easily or do not heal normally - these may mean trouble.
Step4
Groom your cat daily with a fine-tooth comb to help you notice small changes early.
Step5
Massage your cat often, feeling for masses or other suspicious areas. Fingers often find things that you will not see because of the hair coat.
Step6
Look closely at your cat's eyelids and lips and inside his mouth for irregular areas or color changes. If your cat's nose or ears are white, check them closely for scaly, bumpy or reddened areas.
Step7
Report any suspicious findings to your veterinarian.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 2/21/2006 Vets are willing to tattoo a dark color on vulnerable, light colored areas, such as pink nose tips or the tips of the ears - this avoids having to reapply sunscreen all the time, which can be toxic if ingested in quantity and your cat can look really cool!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I use children's colored sunblock on my white cat's ears and nose. This way, I can see when she has rubbed or washed it off, and I can re-apply as necessary.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Light colored cats (white or cream) have much less protection from the sun's rays. The best thing you could do is to apply a small amount of children's sunscreen to the ears and any other areas that have a thin coat.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 A white cat's pink skin is extremely vulnerable to the sun, especially where the fur is thin on the face and ears.
Examine these areas often and check with your vet at any sign of discoloration, lumps, or wounds that never seem to heal.