Last Friday, the day after Louis Catorze’s birthday, it was Beltane, the Celtic start of summer. And, as most of us rethink our sun protection at this time of year, so does Louis Catorze. I’m not joking.
His recent allergy flare-up, and/or possibly friction against Le Cône, has caused him to lose fur from his ears. This is what they look like now, whereas a few months ago they just looked like normal, furry black ears:
My friend Lizzi thinks they look like pigs’ ears, which is revolting but she has a point. And now we can’t stop thinking about this. When we see pigs on television (e.g. when James Martin went to that pig farm in Dorset), we actually look for ones with ears like Catorze. I know. We really need to get out more (although there’s a very good reason why we don’t at the moment).
Apparently sunburned ears are a thing, albeit usually for pale-coloured cats. So, after seeking the vet’s advice, I have, erm, purchased some sunblock for Sa Maj.
Cat Daddy spat his tea all over his laptop when I told him. But, given that this is a cat who loves the sun so much that he used to take refuge in the GREENHOUSE during 35 degree heatwaves, he simply cannot be trusted to know what’s best for him.
Anyway, my quest for a cat sunblock revealed that there aren’t many U.K. options available, I imagine because we’re not exactly known for our sun. I eventually found some which, naturellement, costs twice as much as the product that we use on ourselves, for around 1/5 of the quantity. But it’s a relatively small price to pay to save us the crippling embarrassment of having to look another living soul in the face and tell them that our black cat has burnt his bald piggy ears.
So now the Sun King can sunbathe to his heart’s content.
If your cat is pale, bald, piggy-eared or or stupid enough to cook themselves half to death in the sun, you may wish ask your vet’s advice about something like this: https://www.vetsend.co.uk/dermoscent-sunfree-dogs-cats/?search=Dermoscent%20SunFREE%20for%20Dogs%20&%20Cats&autocomplete=true
jesuisleroisoleil 
Yes, cats can get skin cancer from sun exposure – usually white or hairless cats, but…And of course you have to get a special sunblock because there are chemicals in human sunblock that are harmful to cats (and some have been poisoned by licking off a human’s sunblock) So yes, you are wise to protect Le Roi. Or else maybe bundle him up in an old fashioned sunbonnet…
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Hahahahahahaha! A bonnet! That would be the funniest thing in the world! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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How long before one of his pilgrims makes him one? Place your bets now….. 😉
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Someone did make him a bonnet once, although it wouldn’t have worked in this instance as his ears stick out of it. He wouldn’t wear it … but Oscar the dog did! 🤣
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Couldn’t you knit him some ear hats?
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I don’t even know what these are! Are they as they sound? Hats that you put over the ears? 🤣🤣🤣
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And with your luck Sa Maj will be allergic to said fancy sunscreen!!
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Nooooo! Let’s hope not! He seems to have been ok so far … 🤞
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You really won the lottery with that cat. What else could go wrong. Never mind. Plenty!
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Oh my goodness, you have pretty much just dared him to cause more havoc! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
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Oh that cat milks it! I had a white cat with pink ears in Zambia and he never got sun burnt because he lived in the shade. Hopefully the majestic one will do the same!
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But this is a cat who happily seeks out the hottest place during a heatwave. He cannot be trusted.
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A couple of years back I read about a sun-loving albino big cat (I think he was a serval) who ended up getting skin cancer on his nose. The poor guy’s nose had to be removed (he’s fine otherwise, though). Getting sunblock for a cat doesn’t seem like a bad idea at all.
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OMG, his nose was removed? 😱 That’s awful! Poor thing!
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It was pretty stomach-turning to see the photo 😦 Apparently he’s fine now (or was when I read about it), but still– sun damage is no joke.
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